Category: WEC

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Audi Nissan Porsche Toyota WEC

2015 LM24: Quick reference guide to LMP1 cars

Porsche 919 hybrid

The official FIA WEC website brings us a quick reference guide to the class of 2015 LMP1 cars. This year we have representation from Audi, Nissan, Porsche and Toyota. And the best thing about LMP1 is that the cars are all different.

Front-engined, mid-engined; rear wheel drive, front wheel drive, all wheel drive; petrol, diesel and all with varying types of energy recovery systems. It really is a technological masterclass, which will eventually heavily influence the cars we drive on the roads.

In order to try and equalise performance the cars have strict fuel flow limitations they must adhere to. That is, each car has a capped amount of fuel it can use on a single lap, using the 13.6km Circuit de la Sarthe as the basis.

You can download a full season PDF guide (54mb) from the WEC website, which goes into greater detail. After the break a quick reference guide is all yours.

The 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans will take place on the weekend of 13–14 June, with an official test session to be held this Sunday.

[Source: FIA WEC]

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Nissan WEC

Nissan postpones race debut of GT-R LM Nismo

2015 Nissan GT-R LM Nismo

Nissan has withdrawn its radical new GT-R LM Nismo from the opening two races of the WEC season in order to focus on its Le Mans challenge.

Speaking to Autosport Darren Cox, Nissan motorsport boss, said: “Our main aim for this year was always Le Mans and we have decided to re-focus on that race.

“It’s no secret that with such a different car that we have faced a number of challenges, so right now we would rather be testing in April and May rather than racing.”

That means Nissan’s front-wheel drive focused LMP1 racecar will be absent from the 6 Hours of Silverstone and the 6 Hours of Spa and won’t make its track debut until the 24 Hours of Le Mans in mid-June.

The GT-R LM Nismo ran into problems with its engine mounts during its last test session, held at Sebring. There are also suggestions the car has failed its crash test. The required modifications would not leave enough time for the homologation process to take place before the Silverstone race.

Nissan will also miss the official season prologue at Paul Ricard (27–28 March).

World Endurance Championship CEO Gérard Neveu said: “Nissan is not the first manufacturer to miss the start of the season and they won’t be the last: Toyota previously did the same and they are now our world champions.

“To build an LMP1 hybrid programme is very challenging; it takes some time and we fully trust Nissan to be on the LMP1 grid of the WEC from Le Mans.”

[Source: Autosport & WEC]

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Nissan WEC

2015 Nissan GT-R LM Nismo revealed

2015 Nissan GT-R LM Nismo Nissan has just revealed information and photos for its 2015 LMP1 challenger, the GT-R LM Nismo. And if you think it looks a bit wacky just wait until you cop a load of the car’s specifications. The GT-R LM Nismo is a front-engined, front-wheel drive racer. Yes, really, it’s a front-wheel drive; a bum dragger! It has 14″ rubber on the front axle and 9″ on the rears. It is, quite literally, totally arse about compared with what we’re used to seeing in top line motorsport. Remaining relatively true to its GT-R badge the petrol engine is a twin-turbo 3.0 litre V6. Ben Bowlby, Nissan LMP1 Team Principal and Technical Director, is the man responsible for this madness, or perhaps outright brilliance, only time will tell. He explains himself by saying: “The Nissan GT-R LM NISMO is in automotive-speak a front-engined, front-wheel-drive car. The internal combustion engine drives the front wheels and the energy recovery system harvests energy from the front wheels. We’ve used the relatively low-powered internal combustion engine to drive the front wheels and then we add power from the ERS to augment acceleration. “The regulations have allowed us the freedom to create a significantly different looking car. Nissan are bold challengers who are prepared to innovate in order to get a high performance outcome so we’ve turned the whole concept of the conventional LMP1 car of 2014 on its head. The result is that our car looks different as the cockpit has been moved significantly rearwards to accommodate the engine at the front of the car.” Former F1 driver an winner of the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans Marc Gene has been named as the driver who will lead the charge in the GT-R LM Nismo. He’ll be taking part in the full 2015 WEC calendar and has realistic hopes for the year ahead and is hopeful of a good showing at Le Mans. “This season we should just focus on learning about and improving the car every time we head out onto the track,” Gene explained. “Making it to the finish would already be an achievement on it’s own. I hope we can show that the car is competitive, especially at Le Mans. “I like the aggressive look of the car, which is a consequence of a well-thought and different design, not seen before at Le Mans. From the very first laps I felt very comfortable. I could feel the very powerful engine and high efficiency of the aerodynamics.” This is one wacky racer that will be fun to watch in 2015!

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Porsche WEC

That’s gotta hurt!

Scene of Mark Webber's crash at 2014 6 Hours of Sao Paulo

These tyre marks were left by Mark Webber following his spectacular crash at the 2014 6 Hours of Sao Paulo. No wonder Mark had a “stinking headache”!

The image was posted to Instagram by Lucas di Grassi.

[Source: Lucas di Grassi]

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Porsche WEC

Porsche debuts 2015-spec 919 Hybrid

2015 Porsche 919 Hybrid

Porsche has been busy working away on its 2015-spec 919 Hybrid since mid-December. But the car’s first serious testing got underway at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi on the weekend.

The turbocharged 2.0 litre V4 internal combustion engine still beats at the heart of the 919, sending its power to the rear wheels. While electric power boosts performance and grip by feeding the front wheels.

The first WEC race takes place on 12 April at Silverstone in England.

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Audi Porsche Toyota WEC

Best photos of the 2014 WEC season

2014 6 Hours of Shanghai

In the 2014 WEC season the three main LMP1 teams all got something they wanted. Toyota won the drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships. Audi won yet another Le Mans and Porsche found its way to the top step of the podium in the final race of their return to the top flight.

Now you can get something from the WEC year too by taking a look at our gallery of the best images brought to you right here on AUSmotive.

We trust you’ll like looking back at the season that’s gone and make sure to click the headings if you’d like a recap of each race.

Stay tuned for a similar look back at the 2014 WRC and F1 seasons.

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Audi Porsche Toyota WEC

2014 6 Hours of Sao Paulo in pictures

2014 6 Hours of Sao Paulo

As you can see we’ve enjoyed a quiet break here at AUSmotive HQ and it’s a bit remiss to be starting the year with an update that’s well over a month old. That said, here’s a gallery of images from the final WEC race of the 2014 season.

It will be remembered for a few reasons. First, it was the maiden win for Porsche since their return to the LMP1 category. Their progress in 2015 will be well worth watching.

Second, it was the final race for Audi’s Tom Kristensen, who, thanks to his incredible nine wins at La Sarthe is known as ‘Mr Le Mans’. Kristensen’s #1 Audi R18 finished third and it was great to see him on the podium in his farewell appearance.

Finally, Mark Webber had a very big shunt towards the end of the race, which subsequently ended under yellow flag conditions. Thankfully, Mark escaped with nothing more than a “stinking  headache”.

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WEC

2015 WEC calendar confirmed

2014 6 Hours of Bahrain

The 2015 WEC calendar has been published following ratification from the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

As with this year there will be eight races in all. However, the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo has been dropped and replaced with the 6 Hours of Nürburgring in late August.

The season will begin at Silverstone in April and finish in Bahrain in November. The flagship 24 Hours of Le Mans will be held on 13–14 June.

Next year will bring the added interest of Nissan joining the LMP1 fun alongside defending champions Toyota and fellow competitors Audi and Porsche.

Check out the calendar in full after the break.

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Formula 1 McLaren WEC

Fernando forced to shelve 2015 Le Mans plans

Fernando Alonso, starting the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 2014

We don’t know yet, officially, that Fernando Alonso will be racing for McLaren in 2015. We do know that Alonso wants to race at Le Mans.

Yet, if we’re to believe recent reports, McLaren has prevented Alonso from pursuing a drive at the 24 Hours of Le Mans next year, most likely to have been alongside fellow F1 alumni Nico Hulkenberg at Porsche.

As well as Ron Dennis’ controlling ways other factors likely to have contributed to scuppering Alonso’s plans include sponsorship clashes such as, Pirelli tyres (F1) v Michelin (WEC) and the more obvious clash of McLaren Automotive as a competitor to Porsche’s road cars.

[Source: Adam Cooper]

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Porsche WEC

“I’ve got a stinking headache”

Mark Webber, 2014 6 Hours of Sao Paulo

Mark Webber spent last night in hospital after crashing out of the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo yesterday morning. He suffered bruising and concussion but is in good spirits and has had teammates visit him to wish him well. Former F1 driver Rubens Barichello also popped in to say g’day.

“I’m quite sore this morning, am pretty bruised and have got a stinking headache,” Mark said. “I’ve got no recollection of the accident or how it happened. The team is looking into the details to find out more.

“Thanks to the medical team at the track and here at the hospital, who did a great job and are looking after me very well.

“On a positive note, it’s great that the boys in the number 14 car managed to bring home the victory, which is a fantastic way to finish off the season. I’m already looking forward to getting out there again next year.”

Word via twitter says that Mark has just been released from hospital and he will soon be making his way to his home in England.

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Porsche Video WEC

Mark Webber OK after big crash in Sao Paulo

Mark Webber crashes heavily during closing stages of the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo race.

The final FIA WEC race for the year, the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo, ended behind the Safety Car after a massive crash involving Mark Webber.

Webber, driving the #20 Porsche 919, appeared to have some contact with a Ferrari 458 which saw both cars crash into the concrete barrier on the outside of second last corner at the Interlagos circuit. Details are not clear as to the cause of the accident but the entire left side of Webber’s car was ripped apart after he already lost control before hitting the wall.

Early reports suggest that both Mark and the Ferrari driver are okay. The official FIA WEC twitter feed has confirmed Mark is “awake and alert” in the medical centre.

Webber, who helped put the #20 car on pole position, was taken away on a stretcher and was able to give a thumbs up sign to the crowd at television audience.

You can see video of the incident after the break.

In better news for Porsche the #14 919 won the race, the teams’s first WEC race victory. Toyota did enough to secure the manufacturers’ championship, beating Audi to that title the first time.

We’ll have a photo gallery and reports from all three LMP1-H teams later this week.

UPDATE: A second video, with English commentary, has been added below.

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Formula 1 WEC

Porsche signs Nico Hulkenberg for Le Mans

Nico Hulkenberg

Force India Formula 1 driver Nico Hulkenberg is the first person named to drive the factory Porsche team’s third 919 Hybrid at the 6 Hours of Spa and 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015.

It’s both rare and welcomed to see an active F1 driver taking part in categories such as the World Endurance Championship. We hope the 27-year-old German does well.

“Porsche and Le Mans—this combination probably attracts every race driver,” Hulkenberg said. “I’ve been a Porsche fan for a long time and have been watching their return to the LMP1 class closely.

“The desire grew to drive that car at Le Mans. I am very pleased the 2015 Formula 1 calendar allows for it and I’m grateful to my Sahara Force India Formula 1 Team’s generosity to let me go for it. Now it’s up to me to work hard to satisfy both commitments.”

Team Principal Andreas Seidl explains Hulkenberg will have a steep learning curve in the short-term switch from F1 to WEC and shared sentiments of gratitude towards Force India.

“Having caught the interest of another world class driver like Nico is validation for the job the entire Porsche LMP1 crew had done in our first WEC season,” Seidl said. “Now we will prepare Nico for his new challenges such as dealing with the traffic of the slower GT cars and racing into the Le Mans night.

“We’re looking forward to working with Nico and we want to thank the Sahara Force India F1 Team and team principal Vijay Mallya for loaning him to us.”

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