Autosport International 2010 - Part 3

Time to round up coverage of Autosport International with another tiny selection of what can be seen, above the Fiat 500 Abarth, which will form a 1 make racing series this year

Surprisingly the only Group C/GTP car at the show, the Nissan NPTI

A treat for the ears in the Le Mans Series in 2010 - the JMW Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT2

Not as common here as in America but the new Camaros look great

Standing still rather than trying to pan it at high speed - the 2008/9 Time Attack winning Roger Clark Motorsport Impreza - The Gobstopper

A pair of classic rallying Lancias - 037 and Delta Intergrale

Group B Metro 6R4

Peugeot 205 T16

and former works Imprezas of the much missed Colin McRae and Richard Burns

The Ginetta-Zytek LMP1 car of Beechdean-Mansell Motorsport - to be driven by Nigel Mansell and his sons in 2010

The Drayson Racing Lola-Judd LMP1 car, to be raced in the American Le Mans series in 2010

This wraps up coverage of Autosport International, but there is a lot more to come, even though the season is quiet

Le Mans Series 1000km of Silverstone - Part 2

Part 2 and its onto the 1000km race. A big thanks to Sportscarpros for sorting media access to this 1 for me. The race would last for just over 5 hours and 30mins, plenty of time to visit almost every part of the track and for experimenting with my photos. Here are some observations from the day, far too much to cover, could easily put 4/5 parts to this event

The Kolles Audi R10 TDi at the start, leads the petrol powered chase. The TDi is a clue that this car is diesel powered, yet was still very competitive - Diesel power having several wins at Le Mans now

The race marked the swansong of the GT1 class in the Le Mans Series, but only 3 cars competed,the Larbre Saleen S7-R

The Luc Alphand Corvette C6R -easily the loudest car on track with its rumbling V8

and the Gigawave Aston Martin DBR9, the Aston won this round but the Corvette took the series

Henri Pescarolo looks a bit apprehensive before the start, he should be - his car will be starting at the back, but overtake everyone to lead, then slide down the order with a gearbox problem...

Tomas Enge looks a bit happier, he is on the front row and will end up 3rd

Probably the best known driver in the race today , none other than 1992 F1 World Champion Nigel Mansell, but he is pictured here waiting to go back out on track during the race, as his Ginetta Zytek LMP1 car was in its garage, having a wishbone replaced

The second loudest car after the Corvette, the Drayson Racing GT2 Aston Martin V8 Vantage

The Lola-Aston Martin B09/60, the 007 car is leading the championship and is favourite to win

The Saleen makes a pitstop

and the #007 Aston, typically 5-8 pitstops are needed during the course of the race, more if the car is giving problems. This car finished 3rd overall, but enough to seal the LMP1 championship

The Speedy Racing Sebah Lola Aston Martin LMP1, 2nd overall
008 Aston, 12rd overall

The Team WFR Embassy-Zytek LMP2 car, eventually finishing 14th
The laps tick down, but its not over til its over


The Ibanez - Courage C75 LMP2 car, which placed 17th

The Felbermayr-Proton Porsche 997, 7th in GT2 but enuogh to win the GT2 championship

And the winner overall was the LMP1 Team Oreca Matmut - AIM - completing 195laps - or 1000km in just over 5 hours 30mins.

Ive really enjoyed the 3 sportscar events Ive attended in 2009 and Ill be going to a few more in 2010, bigger and arguably better than the events Ive covered mostly until now!

Le Mans Series 1000km of Silverstone - Part 1

Back to Silverstone and more sportscar racing in the form of the 6th and final round of the Le Mans Series , covering the event for Sportscarpros

Once again its a big event compared to the events that I normally attend

With a busy press centre hosting well attended press conferences

Not to mention a 'tyre war' of sorts

But all expensive and proper equipment, no knockoffs in evidence here

Another attraction was the main support race - the Classic Endurance Racing championship, with a scene from the 1970's as the former Mario Andretti Ferrari 712, driven by Paul Knapfield has a small lead at the end of the Hangar Straight, leading into Stowe corner

Unlike the March 75S which expired on the next lap......

and passed by this stunning Porsche 936

Porsche 911 RSR - still the definition of what a racing Porsche is for many people

BMW M1

Porsche 935

Gulf-Mirage GR7

Lola T294-BMW

Matra 670C, this car and its previous versions won Le Mans overall in 1972, 1973, and 1974,and won the World Sportscar Champion in 1973/4. Sounded immense.....

a bit like this infact


But it retired after leading, after the 712 had led also

The gas turbine powered Howmet TX certainly the most distinctive car on the grid. Click on the wikipedia link, and watch the video below



But there had to be a winner and it was Bobby Rahal in his own Lola T290, a car he drove earlier in his career and now personally owns

More soon

Video - FIA GT Championship

Found this video to give you an idea of how fast and loud these cars are. All the GT1 cars are V8's, including the Nissan GTR, with the exception of the Maserati MC12 which is a V12

Suggested Volume Setting = 11

Sound like Thunder, go like Lightning - FIA GT Championship

Drifting and Time Attack are good, but the odd time a good old fashioned race can be better, so what could be better than exotic sportscar racing and the FIA GT championship at Silverstone

Nothing like a multi million dollar grid, this is the GT3 cup

Or a multi million dollar pit area, no jeeps pulling trailers here, but plenty of trucks, hospitality areas and motorhomes
And all the action, covered on the big screen

Onto the action and the main race, the RAC Tourist Trophy, won by the K plus K motorsport Saleen S7R

Second was the VitaPhone Racing Maserati MC12

Third was the SRT Corvette C6R

There will be new rules for the GT1 category and there were 2 new cars running to these rules, firstly the awesome Ford GT, build by Matech Racing

and the eagerly awaited Nissan R35 GTR, run by Gigawave Motorsport and Nismo. The GTR retired, but the Fords managed 8th and 10th

The winner in GT2 was the ProSpeed Porsche 997 GT3 RS, seen here behind another rumbling GT1 Corvette. GT2 was Porsche 997 vs Ferrari F430, with a sole Aston Martin

on the grid

and behind the Wiesmann GT MF5 safety car

Also on the bill for the weekend was the FIA European GT3 Championship, both races won by the distinctive Morgan Aero 8 GT3, seen here overtaking a Ferrari F430 Scuderia

The GT3 had the biggest and most varied grid though, aswell as the Morgan and Ferrari it featured:

Lamborghini Gallardo GT3

Audi R8 LMS

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S

Jaguar XKR-S

Ford GT

BMW Alpina B6 GT3

Viper Competition Coupe

Corvette Z06R GT3

Aston Martin DBRS9

But the main attraction was still the GT1 cars for most, late on Saturday evening you could have a good look around them as they left scrutineering

But they belong on the track, making you feel your ear drums vibrate and your stomach rumbling.....