16:24 minute video showing the Pro rally team
Olaf Dobberkau and Alexandra König driving a Porsche GT3
Olaf Dobberkau /Alexandra König
Porsche GT3
PRO RALLYE TEAM
Rally Action and Sound Pur
DRS Champion 2010
Marco Holzer Becomes Porsche Factory Works Driver
Marco Holzer (born July 30, 1988 in Bobingen, Bavaria) is a German racing driver (age 22). He has competed in such series as the FIA GT3 European Championship, Rolex Sports Car Series, Formula 3 Euro Series and Formula BMW ADAC. Marco Holzer: Official websitePorsche Junior star graduates to works driver for 2011. After his three year training stint as a Porsche Junior, Marco Holzer has now been signed on as a factory pilot.
Stuttgart. Porsche Motorsport heads into the 2011 racing season in strong form. The works driver squad grows from eight to nine pilots. After his three year training stint as a Porsche Junior, Marco Holzer has now been signed on as a factory pilot. Established pilots Joerg Bergmeister, Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, Wolf Henzler, Marc Lieb, Richard Lietz, Patrick Long and Patrick Pilet continue their contracts in 2011.
Porsche Factory Works Drivers 2011: Jörg Bergmeister, Patrick Long, Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, Richard Lietz, Marco Holzer, Marc Lieb, Patrick Pilet and Wolf HenzlerAs part of the “Night of Champions” season-closing celebration in the R&D Centre at Weissach, Wolfgang Dürheimer, Board Member for Research and Development, praised the excellent performance of the Porsche works drivers: “Aside from the technology of the vehicles and the performance of the teams, our pilots contributed significantly to the huge success that we achieved in 2010. They are the ones who had to make the right decisions within fractions of seconds and deliver their best performances in our cars over many hours.”
Two Porsche factory pilots received special distinctions in the 2010 season. Timo Bernhard, the first to win the world’s four major long distance races and hence the Motorsport Grand Slam, was selected by a jury of experts as the ADAC Race Driver of the Year. Richard Lietz, who won the GT2 classification at the Le Mans 24 Hours as well as the championship title of the Le Mans Series, received the Austrian Race Driver of the Year award by the Austrian Motorsport Association committee (OSK).
In his speech, Dürheimer stressed the special role of motorsport for the future of the automobile: “Right now, motor racing has the historic chance to take the lead in important technological advances. Fielding the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid, we have shown how you put crucial ground-breaking technology to the test with success on the race circuit. We will continue to determinedly blaze a trail and we believe that sooner or later other manufacturers will follow suit. But to do this you need courageous and visionary rule-makers who recognise this opportunity and, in conjunction with manufacturers, implement the new challenges in a clear, stable and long term system of regulations.”
Furthermore, Dürheimer applauded the impressive career of the RS Spyder sports prototype. After a total of 12 championship titles, 13 overall and 35 class victories in the American Le Mans Series, the Le Mans Series and at Le Mans, the RS Spyder programme was concluded as planned.
Matthias Müller, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG, accentuated the special position in international customer sport: “30,000 racing victories, more than 500 teams throughout the world and over 2,000 units of the 911 GT3 Cup produced – such numbers are unparalleled anywhere on earth. Every Porsche carries racing genes. And these genes will also be present in the Porsche models that we develop in the future. Because these vehicles are the basis for the race cars that will bring home victories in the future in the hands of our customer teams worldwide.”
Source: Porsche AG
What’s new? More power, for one thing.
Porsche has made extensive changes to the 911 GT3 RSR to be competitive in the coming season on the routes of the world.
Her world premiere of the 2011er version of the world’s most successful racing car in the GT racing season party “Night of Champions” at the Development Centre Weissach. When developing the GT3 RSR had a redesigned aerodynamics at the front and rear, changes to the suspension kinematics and on the engine in the foreground.
The naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six gets a 5-hp bump to 455, the full power of which is unleashed at 7800 rpm. Maximum torque is 332 lb-ft, and the powerhouse still redlines at a screaming 9400 rpm. Vrroooom!!!
To achieve the slight power gain, Weissach engineers tweaked the engine control to adjust even more precisely to differing fuel quality. The intake is also reworked, while the exhaust system is entirely new. The four-valve-per-cylinder engine sports individual throttle bodies and dry-sump lubrication. It’s an evolution of a tried-and-true engine, not the new, direct-injection powerplant now used in most of Porsche’s street-legal 911s.
The task of routing the power to the rear wheels falls to a sequential six-speed gearbox with a three-disc carbon clutch. The traction-control system is adjustable and tuned to enable maximum acceleration. Eighteen-inch BBS wheels are fitted; the fronts are wider than last year’s—12 inches instead of 11—while the rear wheels remain a staggering 13 inches wide. The suspension is completely adjustable. Despite a galvanized-steel body, the new long-distance racer weighs a claimed 2690 pounds.
From the outside, you can tell it’s the 2011 model by the LED taillights taken directly from the street-legal current-gen 997. There is a new front lip spoiler with improved airflow; the rear is also tweaked, adding additional apertures for ventilation. While the rear now looks much like the current 997, the GT3 RSR curiously keeps the looks of the “phase-one,” pre-2009 997 at the front. The cutout for the front turn signals looks almost exactly like that of the 2004–2008 models. It’s a surprising decision as the GT3 Cup and the GT3 R, the RSR’s sister models in Porsche Motorsport’s lineup, showcase the latest 911 styling in full.
The 911 GT3 RSR is not street legal, and the price is steep: In Germany, Porsche will charge €410,000 before taxes. At current exchange rates, that’s more than half a million dollars. But for those on a budget, Porsche Motorsport will offer a kit to upgrade last year’s model to 2011 specs.
Technical description Porsche GT3 RSR (2011 model year)
Engine
Water-cooled six-cylinder boxer engine; 3,996 cc; stroke 80.4 mm; bore 102.7 mm; 455 hp (335 kW) at 7,800 rpm; max. torque 450 Nm; air restrictors 2 x 28.6 mm; max. revs 9,400 rpm; four valve technology; dry sump lubrication; individual throttle butterflies; fuel injection.
Transmission
Porsche six-speed gearbox with sequential jaw-type shift; oil/water heat exchanger, single-mass flywheel; hydraulic disengagement lever; three-plate carbon-fibre clutch; rear wheel drive; limited slip differential 45/65 percent.
Body
Monocoque body (basis GT3 RS) of hot-galvanised steel; aerodynamically optimised front end with front spoiler; aerodynamically optimised front underfloor; adjustable rear wing; 90-litre FT3 safety fuel tank with fast filling function; air jack; welded-in safety cage; race seat (driver’s side only) with flame retardant upholstery; six-point seat belt adapted for use of the HANS Head and Neck Support; electric fire extinguishing system.
Suspension
Front axle: McPherson spring strut axle; Sachs four-way gas pressure dampers; double coil springs (main and auxiliary); front axle arms adjustable for camber; adjustable sword-type anti-roll bar; power steering.
Rear: Multi-arm axle with rigidly mounted axle sub-frame; Sachs four-way gas pressure dampers; double coil springs (main and auxiliary); rear axle tie-bar reinforced and infinitely adjustable; adjustable sword-type anti-roll bar. Complete suspension infinitely adjustable (height, camber, track).
Brake system
Brake system with balance bar control.
Front: Single-piece six-piston aluminium fixed callipers; inner vented, 380 mm diameter; racing brake pads.
Rear: Single-piece four-piston aluminium fixed callipers; inner vented, 355 mm diameter; racing brake pads.
Wheels
Front: Three-piece BBS light-alloy wheels (12J x 18 ET 34); central bolt.
Rear: Three-piece BBS light-alloy wheels (13J x 18 ET 12.5); central bolt.
Electrical system
Motec display with integrated data recording; multi-function display with integrated gearshift indicator; adjustable traction control; battery: 12 volt, 80 Ah, 140 Ah alternator.
Weight
1,220 kg
Video Edited and Produced by @RLavigne42
Name: Robert Lavigne
Location: Toronto, Canada
Web: http://rlavigne42.com
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The pace of leading-edge technological development in motorsport has once again been recognized by the prestigious Professional MotorSport World Expo Awards, with Porsche’s innovative 911 GT3 R Hybrid project scooping double honours at a ceremony in Cologne, Germany on Tuesday 16 November.
In the awards, which are given annually as part of the industry showcase, Professional MotorSport World Expo, the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid was named “Vehicle Development of the Year”, while team leader,
Dr Daniel Armbruster, was named “Design Engineer of the Year”, for his work on the project.
Photo by: Dede Seward
Porsche’s 911 GT3 R Hybrid has raced with success throughout the 2010 season: in November it was the fastest GT car of all in the ILMC race at Zhuhai in China. For Awards judge Charles Armstrong-Wilson, this car “changed public perceptions about hybrids by introducing fresh technology to a new area of motorsport, and showing how it could be incorporated into a race vehicle that has much in common with a road car.”
“We spent a lot of time working to make this unique and innovative concept work,” said Dr Daniel Armbruster, project manager, Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid. “This car is our race laboratory. We learnt a lot about this new technology at the Nürburgring 24h; we then made some big steps forward between then and the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta and the 1,000km race in Zhuhai. There, the 911 GT3 R proved both its speed and efficiency: It was the fastest GT car in the race, lapping the second-fastest one three times, and it made one fewer pitstop compared to all the other GT cars.”
The judges said Porsche: “changed public perceptions about hybrids by introducing fresh technology to a new area of motorsport and showing how it could be incorporated into a race vehicle that has much in common with a road car. Rather than learning to live with the compromises [of] a hybrid system, Armbruster and his team found ways to derive unexpected benefits from the installation.”
Armbruster commented:
“Porsche is proud to receive these awards. We worked hard to make this unique and innovative concept work. The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid is our race laboratory – we learned much about this new technology at the Nürburgring 24 Hours; then made some big steps forward on the way to the 1,000km race in Zhuhai.”
sponsored by Hewland Engineering
Dr Daniel Armbruster led the Porsche Motorsport development team behind the firm’s first hybrid racing car. The Awards jury was hugely impressed by such an innovative project. Said one member of the panel, “Rather than learning to live with the compromises from incorporating a hybrid system, Armbruster and his team found ways to derive unexpected benefits from the installation.
There was also praise for Porsche’s use of the Williams Hybrid Power (WHP) KERS technology,
which the judges described as
“a correct and innovative move to finally demonstrate this expensive development from Formula 1 in the wider sport.”
The WHP electromechanical composite flywheel was considered runaway winner as “Powertrain Innovation of the Year”.
Ian Foley, managing director of WHP commented:
“2010 has been a breakthrough year for Williams Hybrid Power, with the success of the program with Porsche Motorsport demonstrating that our flywheel technology is robust in the harshest of racing environments.”
Future applications for Williams Hybrid Power’s (WHP) electromechanical composite flywheel could include anything from Formula 1 cars to buses or rapid transit systems. Awards judge David Tremayne, from Grand Prix + [plus], commented, “KERS is a valuable accessory that F1 is revisiting for 2011. The flywheel solution has always seemed the most logical and ‘green’ to me, and Williams’ system, though as yet unraced in the big league, is seminal.”
Accepting the award at the presentation in Cologne, Ian Foley, managing director of WHP commented, “2010 has been a breakthrough year for Williams Hybrid Power, with the success of the programme with Porsche Motorsport demonstrating that our flywheel technology is robust in the harshest of racing environments. This is an excellent example of how motorsport can accelerate the development of new technologies, enabling WHP to get our product to market in the shortest timeframe.”
For more information on all the 2010 Awards winners, please visit: http://www.professionalmotorsport-expo.com/winners_10.php
[Source: Professional MotorSport Expo]
Porsche has unveiled today at the Los Angeles auto show the new Porsche Cayman R and has also released the first video of the new model.
Go to START LIVE BROADCAST to listen to the Porsche press conference broadcast live from the Los Angeles Auto Show starting 7:55 p.m. German Time. Porsche plans to live stream the introduction at 10:55 am PST or 1:55 EST. Enjoy the entertainment brought to you by Porsche !
The Porsche Cayman R is powered by a supped up 3.4-litre six-cylinder engine developing 330 hp (243 kW). The Porsche Cayman R has a DIN unladen weight of just 1,295 kilograms (2855 lb). The engine of the Porsche Cayman R may be coupled with either a standard manual gearbox or the trick PDK transmission. The company says its engineers have worked hard to improve the power-to-weight ratio in the case of the Porsche Cayman R. The manual gearbox version has 3.9 kilograms (8.6 lb) per horsepower while the PDK has 4.0 kilograms (8.8 lb) per horsepower.
Equipped with the 6-speed gearbox, the Porsche Cayman R needs 5 seconds to get from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) and with the PDK requires 4.9 seconds for reaching the same speed. If you equip your Porsche Cayman R with the Sport Chrono package, the same sprint times are reduced to 4.7 seconds. the top speed of the Porsche Cayman R is rated at 282 km/h (175 mph) with the manual and at 280 km/h (174 mph) with the PDK.
The Porsche Cayman R features a 20 mm lowered ride height, a distinctive fixed rear spoiler, new alloy wheels, black-framed headlights and black exterior mirrors.
The Porsche Cayman R price starts at 69,830 EUR and the new model will go on sale in February 2011.
Porsche Press Release: World debuts in Los Angeles: Cayman R – the new top-of-the-range model for the mid-engine coupe Lightweight car with exceptionally sporting ambitions.
Stuttgart. The Porsche alphabet reserves the letter R for very special sports cars: R for responsive and refined – but most especially for racy. The new Cayman R combines all these attributes without compromise. 55 kilograms (121 lb) lighter and with ten horsepower more than the Cayman S, the new mid-engine coupe from Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is designed for spectacular road behavior. With its specially adapted sports chassis, it provides an even more precise driving experience than the Cayman S. The Cayman R makes its world debut today at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The new mid-engine coupe is powered by a tuned-up 3.4-litre six-cylinder engine developing 330 hp (243 kW). In the standard configuration it transmits its power to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox that propels the car from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.0 seconds. Or there is the option of the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) that reduces its acceleration time to 4.9 seconds. For even more impressive sprinting performance, the Cayman R can be supplied with one of the optional Sport Chrono packages, taking it to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.7 seconds. The new mid-engine coupe is capable of a top speed of 282 km/h (175 mph) with manual gearbox, or 280 km/h (174 mph) with PDK. Its NEDC fuel consumption is 9.7 l/100 km (29.12 mpg imp.) with six-speed gearbox and 9.3 l/100 km (30.37 mpg imp.) with PDK.
The main aim during the design of the Cayman R was to improve the two-seater even further in its performance, driving dynamics and agility through consistent weight reduction. With a DIN unladen weight of just 1,295 kilograms (2855 lb) the Porsche engineers were able to reduce the power-to-weight ratio of the coupe with standard manual gearbox to 3.9 kilograms (8.6 lb) per horsepower, with the PDK version weighing 4.0 kilograms (8.8 lb) per horsepower. The largest savings were achieved through the use of lightweight components and doing without convenience equipment. As for the 911 GT3/GT3 RS and Boxster Spyder, an optional lithium-ion lightweight construction battery is also available. In addition, the top model in the mid-engine coupe is equipped with the lightest 19 inch wheels the entire Porsche range can offer. The complete rim set weighs less than 40 kilograms.
The Cayman R’s purpose and purist character can be seen at first glance. The extended silhouette of the bodywork, which has been lowered by 20 millimeters (0.79 in) compared to the Cayman S, combined with the distinctive fixed rear spoiler, the high-quality silver-painted wheels and numerous sporting highlights on both the interior and exterior, ensures an individual appearance. The black-framed headlights, black exterior mirrors and the “PORSCHE” lettering on the side – in contrasting black or silver, depending on the body color – take design cues from classic Porsche racing cars.
Precisely this lettering was the trademark of the first Porsche with the “R” designation, the 911 R of 1967. It was created for racing sport use in a small series of 19 cars. The “R” was a prototype based on the standard coupe with a 210 horsepower Carrera 6 engine and, thanks to its many plastic components and extremely sparse equipment, weighed only 830 kilograms (1830 lb).
The new Porsche Cayman R will go on sale from February 2011. The price in Germany will be EUR 69,830 inclusive of 19 percent VAT and country-specific equipment items.
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One “name” you will be hearing more about next year & in the future is flywheel battery technology.
This video relives the dramatic events of the 24 Hour Race at the Nürburgring. Although the 911 GT 3 R Hybrid failed to score a sensational victory, it showed the potential of Porsche Intelligent Performance.
Marc Lieb, Porsche Factory Driver
Patrick Long, Porsche Factory Driver tests the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid at the Lausitzring in Germany in July 2010.
Porsche’s 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car used the technology for the first official race in North America on Oct 2nd, 2010 in the final round of the 2010 American Le Mans Series. (It finished in the middle of the pack.)
Following the season finale of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, the Porsche racing laboratory raced at the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup in Zhuhai on 7 November 2010.
The relentless pace of the Porsche GT3 Hybrid of Joerg Bergmeister Porsche Factory Driver and Patrick Long Porsche Factory Driver was impressive. The first GT first to finish the race – but ranked outside classification – finished in sixth place overall in the 1000 km of Zhuhai and made only four pit stops! A performance that earned the German manufacturer the Motul trophy for technological innovation.
“The first race in China with the 911 GT3 R Hybrid was a complete success,” says Hartmut Kristen, Porsche Head of Motorsport. “The car contested the entire race without the slightest technical problem. The excellent pit stops by our factory squad from Weissach and an absolutely perfect performance from the drivers also contributed to this success. The development work on the hybrid system that we conducted since the last race in Road Atlanta has paid off. Today, we showed impressively just what potential the hybrid technology has. This result is a great motivation for continuing our work on the project. This was definitely not the last race for the 911 GT3 R Hybrid.”
The 911 GT3 is Porsche’s first hybrid racer and the precursor to the Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid production car, which will launch in 2012. Detlev Von Platen, CEO of Porsche North America, says the flywheel technology used in both of the cars represents the future of Porsche.
“This car will define the next 60 years of Porsche,” Von Platen said.
The Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid
Flywheel technology uses two electric motors at the front axle to supplement the engine (in this case, a 480 horsepower rear-mounted engine). It converts kinetic energy gathered while braking into electrical energy and stores it in a flywheel. Then during acceleration, that energy moves to the front wheels, which support the combustion engine. The process leads to a decent reduction in fuel consumption and an increase in cruising range; the big advantage in races is that the car has to refuel less often, buying it precious minutes on the course.
It’s an exciting advance in making cars more efficient without sacrificing speed and agility–the 918 is no shrinking violet, with an expected 500-plus horsepower all-wheel-drive and 0-62 mph time of 3.2 seconds. Porsche says 900 prospective buyers have already signed up to buy it.
What do you think – is flywheel tech the power of the future? What other car technology should we be watching for?
We hope that this will be just the start of the evolution of hybrid systems developed for Formula One moving across to applications where they can contribute to cleaner and more powerful vehicles.
The Porsche 911 is probably the most well-known vehicle Porsche has ever made and the 911 GT3 R Hybrid will be the latest in the racing line that Porsche has been putting out for competition Gran Tourismo racing. This latest incarnation is not a hybrid in the traditional sense, because instead of batteries, it has a flywheel.
The flywheel is made by Williams Hybrid Power and is a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS), first developed for Formula One racing. When it proved to be inconclusive in its payoff in that racing venue, Porsche agreed to try it for GT racing. The first prototype of the KERS-enabled 911 Hybrid to be racing this year.
The front axle of the 911 has two 60kW electric motors which will drive the axle when a boost is needed. Otherwise, the 911 GT3 will have the usual 4L flat six mounted in the rear of the vehicle in traditional Porsche style. The other modification is for battery storage and braking.
When the driver applies the brakes, such as when rounding a turn, the energy is absorbed by the two motors, which rotate backwards to become generators. That energy is sent to the KERS flywheel, mounted at the center of the car under the right side floor. The rotor inside the KERS module is capable of rotating up to 40,000rpms, storing the kinetic energy of braking.
The energy is stored for 6-8 seconds, during which time the driver can access it to gain an extra power from the 120kW of motor boosting the engine’s push to accelerate the car. This results in both faster pickup speed and fuel savings, both very important to GT racing.
The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid’s first race was at the Nurburgring in May. This is a 24-hour race and the 911 hybrid will acted as a racing laboratory to test the KERS system for GT racing and spearhead the technology there.
Williams Hybrid Power is hoping to be able to commercialize their KERS system for other vehicle applications. Teaming up with the Qatar Science & Technology Park, the two partners will go forward as the Williams Technology Center to work on R&D with commercial goals.
Porsche is Spearheading this technology and if you think about engineering and racing, the name Porsche always comes up. There may be no better company to make this technology road worthy.
Lots of Potential in many markets where start-stop and bursts of speed and/or power are required, including heavy applications like garbage trucks and construction equipment.
Failed in F1 where the AT&T Williams team used KERS in their Formula One racer and failed to see much return and instead had a lot of headaches with the technology.
Not for Regular Cars as most normal passenger and long-distance vehicles will see little benefit from this kind of technology.
Although the technology is evolving quickly, other tech such as hydraulic power storage and lighter, better batteries may catch up before KERS is really ready for the mainstream. Time will tell, of course, and for racing, this could be a technology with great potential.
http://www.porsche.com/intelligent-pe…
A successful season finale for Porsche:
At the 1,000 kilometre race in Zhuhai/China, the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid impressed once again with its performance and efficiency. The innovative sports car from Weissach, piloted by Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA), was by far the fastest GT vehicle in the field at its eagerly awaited premiere in Asia. Porsche factory drivers Marc Lieb (Germany) and Richard Lietz (Austria) claimed second place in the GT2 class with the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR on China’s oldest race track. With this result, they secured the team championship for their Felbermayr-Proton squad at the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, run for the first time this year.
“The first race in China with the 911 GT3 R Hybrid was a complete success,” says Hartmut Kristen, Porsche Head of Motorsport. “The car contested the entire race without the slightest technical problem. The excellent pit stops by our factory squad from Weissach and an absolutely perfect performance from the drivers also contributed to this success. The development work on the hybrid system that we conducted since the last race in Road Atlanta has paid off. Today, we showed impressively just what potential the hybrid technology has. This result is a great motivation for continuing our work on the project. This was definitely not the last race for the 911 GT3 R Hybrid.”
On the 4.319 kilometre Zhuhai International Circuit, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid, which started in the special GTH class, was not only the fastest but also the most economical GT vehicle. Thanks to its ground-breaking drive concept, it made one less pit stop and completed three more laps than the next GT opponent. “Our car ran perfectly from the first to the last lap,” said Joerg Bergmeister. “That was another super test of the hybrid system under race conditions – and the most successful conclusion I could think of.”
Patrick Long, his teammate with whom he won the GT title of the American Le Mans Series for the second time straight this season, said: “The performance of the Porsche factory mechanics was world class. We had the most efficient and at the same time fastest GT car. Now, that’s what I call Porsche Intelligent Performance.”
In the GT2 class, the race for start driver Marc Lieb did not begin very promisingly: Right in the first lap in a tussle with a Ferrari his 911 GT3 RSR suffered tyre damage which relegated it to last place. With a breathtaking chase through the pack, he and his teammate Richard Lietz quickly managed to catch up with the front-runners. At the halfway point in the race, the Felbermayr-Proton pilots, who clinched the GT title of the Le Mans Series for the second consecutive time this season, were already running third. Shortly afterwards they then overtook a Ferrari.
“Unfortunately we didn’t have enough for victory, but it’s still a great day for Porsche,” said Richard Lietz. “Obviously it was somewhat frustrating when Marc was forced back into the pits in the first lap with a torn-off valve. But we didn’t let that upset us and simply concentrated on working our way up the front again. Actually, it was huge fun – not least because our chase ended on the podium.” Marc Lieb added: “That was almost a perfect year for our team. Today we were very fast, but experienced a bit of bad luck early on in the race.”
With the second 911 GT3 RSR fielded by the Felbermayr-Proton team, Martin Ragginger (Austria), Christian Ried (Germany) and Gianluca Roda (Italy) occupied fourth place – despite the botched and unnecessary overtaking manoeuvre of a Peugeot prototype that forced Martin Ragginger into the gravel trap in the last hour of the race. The former Porsche-Junior had to pit and lost ten minutes. In the Felbermayr-Proton camp, however, elation prevailed. “That was a fantastic year for our team. Firstly our win in Le Mans, then the Le Mans Series victory and now the best team in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup – you can’t really do more,” said Christian Ried, team boss and driver at Felbermayr-Proton. “To be so successful, everything has to run smoothly and that was exactly the case in our team. We didn’t retire once. Despite never having started from pole position, we won three races. That can only work with a good car, strong drivers and a super team.” One of the first to congratulate the crew was Hartmut Kristen: “I’m particularly thrilled that Felbermayr-Proton won the team classification.”
Despite his strong drive, Richard Westbrook (Great Britain) didn’t manage to see the flag with the Prospeed Competition 911 GT3 RSR. The double Supercup winner and former FIA GT champion was on course for a podium result with his teammate Darryl O’Young (Hong Kong) when a clutch problem in the 119th lap signalled the end. “What a shame. We were looking very good in third place,” he commented. “Our mechanics tried their very best to repair the car but time ran out for us.” Local hero Darryl O’Young said: “It was a fabulous experience to drive on this track with the 911 GT3 RSR and to be cheered by so many fans. I became more and more familiar with the car. Under normal circumstances we would have finished on the podium. That would have been a highlight in my career. What a shame it didn’t work out.”
Race result GT2 class
1. Müller/Werner (D/D), BMW E92 M3, 202 laps
2. Lieb/Lietz (D/A), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 202
3. Bruni/Vilander/Melo (I/SF/BRA), Ferrari 430 GT, 199
4. Ragginger/Ried/Roda (A/D/I), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 192
5. Ehret/Quaife/Kirkaldy (D/GB/GB), Ferrari 430 GT, 191
6. Giroix/Goethe/Fatien (F/D/F), Lamborghini Gallardo, 187
Final standings team classification GT2 class
1. Felbermayr-Proton, Porsche, 72 points
2. AF Corse, Ferrari, 57
3. CRS Racing, Ferrari, 47
Final standings manufacturer classification GT2 class
1. Ferrari, 120 points
2. Porsche, 113
3. BMW, 69
The ILMC 2010 is now complete. Next appointment is as soon as next March 19th at Sebring in the 12 hours, for the first round of a competition that seems, certain to be even more hotly contested.
Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, round 3 in Zhuhai, China
A successful season finale for Porsche: At the 1,000 kilometre race in Zhuhai/China, the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid impressed once again with its performance and efficiency. The innovative sports car from Weissach, piloted by Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA), was by far the fastest GT vehicle in the field at its eagerly awaited premiere in Asia. Porsche factory drivers Marc Lieb (Germany) and Richard Lietz (Austria) claimed second place in the GT2 class with the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR on China’s oldest race track. With this result, they secured the team championship for their Felbermayr-Proton squad at the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, run for the first time this year.
“The first race in China with the 911 GT3 R Hybrid was a complete success,” says Hartmut Kristen, Porsche Head of Motorsport. “The car contested the entire race without the slightest technical problem. The excellent pit stops by our factory squad from Weissach and an absolutely perfect performance from the drivers also contributed to this success. The development work on the hybrid system that we conducted since the last race in Road Atlanta has paid off. Today, we showed impressively just what potential the hybrid technology has. This result is a great motivation for continuing our work on the project. This was definitely not the last race for the 911 GT3 R Hybrid.”“Our car ran perfectly”On the 4.319 kilometre Zhuhai International Circuit, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid, which started in the special GTH class, was not only the fastest but also the most economical GT vehicle. Thanks to its ground-breaking drive concept, it made one less pit stop and completed three more laps than the next GT opponent. “Our car ran perfectly from the first to the last lap,” said Joerg Bergmeister. “That was another super test of the hybrid system under race conditions – and the most successful conclusion I could think of.” Patrick Long, his teammate with whom he won the GT title of the American Le Mans Series for the second time straight this season, said: “The performance of the Porsche factory mechanics was world class. We had the most efficient and at the same time fastest GT car. Now, that’s what I call Porsche Intelligent Performance.”
Breathtaking chase through the packIn the GT2 class, the race for start driver Marc Lieb did not begin very promisingly: Right in the first lap in a tussle with a Ferrari his 911 GT3 RSR suffered tyre damage which relegated it to last place. With a breathtaking chase through the pack, he and his teammate Richard Lietz quickly managed to catch up with the front-runners. At the halfway point in the race, the Felbermayr-Proton pilots, who clinched the GT title of the Le Mans Series for the second consecutive time this season, were already running third. Shortly afterwards they then overtook a Ferrari.
“Unfortunately we didn’t have enough for victory, but it’s still a great day for Porsche,” said Richard Lietz. “Obviously it was somewhat frustrating when Marc was forced back into the pits in the first lap with a torn-off valve. But we didn’t let that upset us and simply concentrated on working our way up the front again. Actually, it was huge fun – not least because our chase ended on the podium.” Marc Lieb added: “That was almost a perfect year for our team. Today we were very fast, but experienced a bit of bad luck early on in the race.”Felbermayr-Proton first in team classificationWith the second 911 GT3 RSR fielded by the Felbermayr-Proton team, Martin Ragginger (Austria), Christian Ried (Germany) and Gianluca Roda (Italy) occupied fourth place – despite the botched and unnecessary overtaking manoeuvre of a Peugeot prototype that forced Martin Ragginger into the gravel trap in the last hour of the race. The former Porsche-Junior had to pit and lost ten minutes. In the Felbermayr-Proton camp, however, elation prevailed. “That was a fantastic year for our team. Firstly our win in Le Mans, then the Le Mans Series victory and now the best team in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup – you can’t really do more,” said Christian Ried, team boss and driver at Felbermayr-Proton. “To be so successful, everything has to run smoothly and that was exactly the case in our team. We didn’t retire once. Despite never having started from pole position, we won three races. That can only work with a good car, strong drivers and a super team.” One of the first to congratulate the crew was Hartmut Kristen: “I’m particularly thrilled that Felbermayr-Proton won the team classification.”
Despite his strong drive, Richard Westbrook (Great Britain) didn’t manage to see the flag with the Prospeed Competition 911 GT3 RSR. The double Supercup winner and former FIA GT champion was on course for a podium result with his teammate Darryl O’Young (Hong Kong) when a clutch problem in the 119th lap signalled the end. “What a shame. We were looking very good in third place,” he commented. “Our mechanics tried their very best to repair the car but time ran out for us.” Local hero Darryl O’Young said: “It was a fabulous experience to drive on this track with the 911 GT3 RSR and to be cheered by so many fans. I became more and more familiar with the car. Under normal circumstances we would have finished on the podium. That would have been a highlight in my career. What a shame it didn’t work out.”StatisticsRace result GT2 class1. Müller/Werner (D/D), BMW E92 M3, 202 laps2. Lieb/Lietz (D/A), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 2023. Bruni/Vilander/Melo (I/SF/BRA), Ferrari 430 GT, 1994. Ragginger/Ried/Roda (A/D/I), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1925. Ehret/Quaife/Kirkaldy (D/GB/GB), Ferrari 430 GT, 1916. Giroix/Goethe/Fatien (F/D/F), Lamborghini Gallardo, 187
Final standings team classification GT2 class1. Felbermayr-Proton, Porsche, 72 points2. AF Corse, Ferrari, 573. CRS Racing, Ferrari, 47
Final standings manufacturer classification GT2 class1. Ferrari, 120 points2. Porsche, 1133. BMW, 69
The ILMC 2010 is now complete. Next appointment is as soon as next March 19th at Sebring in the 12 hours, for the first round of a competition that seems, certain to be even more hotly contested.
Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid celebrates debut in ChinaIntercontinental Le Mans Cup, round 3 in Zhuhai, ChinaThe race in China marks an exciting conclusion to the year.
Last exit Zhuhai:
With the race premiere of the innovative Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid in China, Porsche sets another highlight to conclude a successful year of motorsport. At the 1,000 kilometre race in Zhuhai on 7 November, Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA) take the wheel of the ground-breaking sports car from Weissach, which features two electric motors at the front axle each developing 60 kilowatts to supplement the 480 horsepower combustion engine.The first outing of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid in China is awaited with much anticipation. Porsche uses the final race of the newly created Intercontinental Le Mans Cup season to showcase its prototype, which perfectly embodies the philosophy of “Porsche Intelligent Performance’, to the important market of China. At its first race, Porsche Motorsport’s ‘rolling test laboratory’ caused a sensation by almost winning the Nürburgring 24 hour race. The Hybrid-911 led the overall classification until shortly before the flag. At its race debut in the United States of America, the #911 vehicle thrilled not only the fans at the 1,000 mile classic at Road Atlanta with its strong performance. Environmental politicians, who had come from Washington D.C. especially, were obviously impressed, stating that Porsche was forging the way of the future in motorsport with this vehicle.http://www.youtube.com/v/vdM0Pgevjuc?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999
Exciting conclusion to the yearFor Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Long, who clinched the GT class title of the American Le Mans Series this season with the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR for the second time in a row, the race in China marks an exciting conclusion to the year.
“Having the chance to contest my first race in Asia with the 911 GT3 R Hybrid is something quite special,” says Joerg Bergmeister, who has already manned the Hybrid racer on the Nürburgring. “For me, this project was great fun right from the start. It is a completely new technology for which there is no basis. So, as a driver, you can also contribute a great deal more than would normally be the case. And, of course, better still is when you see how everything runs so smoothly.” Patrick Long is also looking forward to the race: “It’s a great experience to be able to work on a project that writes history. Many only dream of such a thing, but for me this dream comes true.”
On the 4.319 kilometre Zhuhai International Circuit, which was completed in 1996 as China’s first permanent race track, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid competes in the GT Experimental class and hence is not eligible to earn points. Its innovative hybrid system was developed specifically for use in the race car, differing significantly in its configuration and components from conventional hybrid systems. An electric front-wheel-drive with two electric motors supplements the four-litre flat-six at the rear. Under braking, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid converts kinetic energy into electrical energy and stores it in a flywheel. During acceleration, this energy is automatically delivered to the front wheels, supporting the combustion engine. This leads to a reduction in fuel consumption and increases the cruising range on the circuit. Moreover, drivers can manually utilise the stored energy with a boost-paddle on the steering wheel for overtaking. Performance on call.
The most successful GT racerRacing alongside the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid in Zhuhai, which borders the Macau peninsula in southern China, are three Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. At the wheel of the most successful GT racer this season, which also won the environmental Michelin Green X Challenge as the vehicle with the best overall efficiency, are two favourites in the GT class, Porsche factory pilots Marc Lieb (Germany)and Richard Lietz (Austria).
This season the pair has already clinched their second Le Mans Series title in succession. Former Porsche-Junior Martin Ragginger (Austria)
as well as Gianluca Roda (Italy)and Christian Ried (Germany) share driving duties in the second Felbermayr-Proton 911 GT3 RSR.
The double Porsche Supercup champion and former FIA GT Championship title holder
Richard Westbrook (Great Britain) teams up with
Darryl O’Young (Hong Kong) in the 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Prospeed Competition.
The race in Zhuhai starts on Sunday, 7 November, at midday local time (0.5.00 hrs CET) and runs over 1,000 kilometres.
LMP1
LMP2
Formula Le Mans
GT1
GT2
GT-Experimental
GTC
KILLED: German supercar mogul Uwe Gemballa
It does seem that the police have struck some kind of deal to perhaps take statements and use it later to get to the big fish
Jacob Zuma
The Sunday Times can today reveal exclusively that 28-year-old Thabiso Mpshe of Pretoria was arrested quietly on Friday and appeared in the high court in Johannesburg that afternoon.
As revealed previously in the Sunday Times, the businessman’s body was found buried in Atteridgeville just over a month ago, on September 28.
He vanished a day after arriving in South Africa for a business deal in February – and shortly afterwards he had called his wife, Christiane, to tell her he had been involved in accident and needed her to transfer à1-million to a bank account.
Police spokesman Colonel Vishnu Naidoo said yesterday: “It is still unclear how Gemballa was murdered, but indications are that he was suffocated. He had no visible injuries.”
Naidoo said he was “not at liberty to say” if Mpshe pleaded guilty or whether the prosecution struck a deal with him.
When asked why the arrest in such a high-profile murder case was kept so low key, Naidoo said: “We need to protect any investigation, and it would not be to our benefit to talk about some successes for fear of jeopardising investigations.
“We are happy and satisfied that an arrest was made.”
Top criminal attorney William Booth said the hastiness of the conviction and sentence sounded most “unusual”.
Booth, chairman of the Criminal Law Committees of the Cape Law Society and the Law Society of South Africa, while not able to comment on this case, said: “It does seem that the police have struck some kind of deal to perhaps take statements and use it later to get to the big fish.”
Gemballa, who was in serious financial trouble with the German authorities, evidently came to South Africa on a business trip to set up a local franchise of his company, Gemballa Automobiletechni, which specialises in tuning Porsches and Ferraris for the rich and famous.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said it was not unusual for a criminal case to be disposed of within a day.
“If the person has an attorney (and) witnesses, prosecutors and all the other roleplayers are available, including a judge, the matter can be dealt with within a day.
“This was demonstrated with the World Cup special courts that were set up.”
Mhaga said it was commendable that cases could be dealt with so speedily. “If someone is caught red-handed for shoplifting, and if he pleads guilty, and if he has an attorney available, then the case can be finalised in an hour.”
But this is also entirely dependent on whether the court roll can accommodate an additional case on the day or not.
Martin Schaefer, spokesman for the German consulate, said: “The corpse is being flown to his (Gemballa’s) home. We have offered our consular services in terms of issuing official documents for customs and the like.”
via auto-racing.speedtv.com
Media Release | Posted September 17, 2010 Atlanta, GA
Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Long will tackle the 1,000 kilometer race in Zhuhai,China on November 7 with the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid.
This marks the first event in China for the innovative sports car from Weissach, which features two electric motors at the front axle each developing 60 kilowatts to supplement the 480 horsepower combustion rear-engine. The race on the Zhuhai International Circuit, in which the 911 GT3 R Hybrid is not eligible for points, is the third and final round of the newly-inaugurated Intercontinental Le Mans Cup after Silverstone and Road Atlanta.
“It’s a fantastic conclusion to the season to drive this car in China after the race debut on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife,” says Joerg Bergmeister. The Porsche factory pilot was part of the driver crew at the wheel of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid when it demonstrated the potential of its leading edge technology at the 24 hour race on the Eifel circuit and was on course to victory until shortly before the flag. In the American Le Mans Series, Bergmeister and Long are on the brink of successfully defending their GT class title with the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.
With a 22-point lead in the drivers championship, but only a single point lead for Porsche in the manufacturers points, the pair will drive the Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 RSR at the Petit Le Mans event at Road Atlanta on October 2.
Long has tested the Hybrid in Germany, but the China event will be his first racing experience in the unique race car. The race in Zhuhai is a great chance for Porsche to showcase its “rolling race lab” 911 GT3 R Hybrid – which perfectly embodies the philosophy of ‘Porsche Intelligent Performance’ – to its important market of China. At the same time, Porsche is lending its support the new Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, organized by the Automobil Club de l’Ouest (ACO)
Photo : Nicolas COUSSEAU – ACO/Nikon
We could not find a better teacher than Dr.-Ing. Daniel Armbruster, project manager of the Porsche hybrid (without a helmet and standing In the photo), to explain this technology which had it’s second race Petit Le Mans.
The 1000 kilometers of Zhuhai will be run at the 4.3-kilometer track near the south Chinese beach resort of Macau, on November 7 at noon local time.
http://www.lemans.org/en/races/intercontinental-le-mans-cup/1000km-zhuhai/presentation.html
Practice and qualifying will be held on Friday, November 5 and Saturday, November 6. There is an eight-hour time difference with Europe.
History: Located near Macau, Zhuhai City has a place in the history of motorsport. In 1994, it was in its streets that the first international race was held in China. The popular success of the 3 hours Zhuhai encouraged local developers to build the first permanent circuit in the country. It was inaugurated on the 31st of October 1996. A technical circuit with 14 turns, the track offers good overtaking opportunities, particularly in its 900 metre straight.
Country: People’s Republic of China
1000Km Zhuhai 2010: November 5-6-7
Circuit length: 4.317 km
Distance: 1000 km
The Automobile Club de l’Ouest launches Intercontinental Le Mans Cup in China
Here is the TV distribution (pdf)
A race that promises 1,000 km of thrilling competition…
Thirty television channels have already expressed their intention to broadcast all or part of this first major endurance race to be held in China, an event destined to become a benchmark in this motorsport discipline. Among them are five Chinese networks, including Zhuhai TV (live TV) and the national broadcaster CCTV, the two major European specialist cable networks, Motors TV and Eurosport, Speed Channel in the Americas, as well as national network TV2 in Denmark (the birthplace of Tom Kristensen – eightfold winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans).
Such coverage, not to mention the significant representation from printed media and radio represents a potential audience of hundreds of millions, who will be privileged witnesses to this tremendous development of international endurance racing that has the 24 Hours of Le Mans as its flagship.
Via:Gestalten
This book with 144 pages and 21 × 26cm format was release on January 2010 and is priced at $ 40, 00. The book is the collection of more than hundred examples on race car design, documenting the carefree anarchy which these vehicles were created in.
At the same time, the book not only gives the readers a chance to know how graphics modulate the look of the vehicle but also the opportunities to imagine their own possibilities for graphic design in motor sports.
Go Faster gives meticulous attention to minutest details and discusses how the numbers, stripes, logos and colours in vehicle are not a willy nilly affair but purposefully placed by the designer team. Well, this book comes out to be a perfect gift for the racing nerds and car freaks.
While the go-faster stripe is a classic design element of the racing car, the look of these vehicles is rarely created by a designer. Sven Voelker looks at the unexplored area of fast and furious graphic art in the new book,…….
Go Faster…
A documentary on the life and career of Ayrton Senna, the great Brazilian Formula One driver, will open in theaters in Japan on Friday.
http://www.youtube.com/v/z9SJYmFi0m0?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999
This is one of the few movies that will result in theatres full of grown men in tears.
The documentary on the life and career of Ayrton Senna, the great Brazilian Formula One racecar driver, will have a special screening in Suzuka, Japan, on Thursday, as teams prepare for the Grand Prix of Japan, according to The Globe and Mail. The film opens in theaters across Japan on Friday.
The film, “Senna,” was directed by Asif Kapadia and produced by Working Title Films and Midfield Films. The filmmakers received tremendous access after the Senna family gave its approval. “The most emotional time in my life was going to São Paulo to pitch the story to his sister, Viviane,” said Manish Pandey, who wrote the film and also served as an executive producer. Bernie Ecclestone, the commercial rights holder to Formula One, also opened up his archives to the filmmakers.
Senna died during the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, in 1994, at the age of 33. He was a three-time champion and held the prospects for more. Although there are drivers with more championships (Michael Schumacher has seven, Juan-Manuel Fangio has five, Alain Prost has four) Senna is considered by many current top Formula One drivers as the best ever.
“I really didn’t want to do a film about the death of Ayrton Senna because I thought it would really miss the point of him, even if the plan was to do three days at Imola with flashbacks,” said Pandey. “I really wanted to make it cinematic by giving him the classic three-act structure of the story: The ascendancy of the guy, his massive meteoric rise and then the third act about his death.”
“Senna” will have its official world premiere in São Paolo next month. A release date for the United States has yet to be announced.
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