For the first time in 63 years, the Formula 1 World Championship visits Florida. The Miami Grand Prix will be full of so many VIPs, that one has to wonder if some of them are just simply important.
On Saturday the FIA World Endurance Championship is at one of the greatest race circuits on the planet - Spa-Francorchamps. We preview the races above and provide race coverage of last weekend's MotoGP in Jerez, Formula E Monaco, INDYCAR from Barber Motorsports Park and IMSA from Monterey.
Jay Geils Memorial TV Links:
Friday, May 6th: Formula 1 - Miami FP1 2:25 PM ET ESPN2 - FP2 5:25 PM ET ESPNEWS
Saturday, May 7th: FIA WEC - Belgium 6:30 - 8:00 AM ET - 12:00 - 1:30 PM ET MOTORTREND
Formula 1 - Miami FP3 12:55 PM ET ESPNEWS - Qualifying 3:55 PM ET ESPN
Sunday, May 8th: Formula 1 - Miami Grand Prix Sunday 2:00 PM ABC
Formula 1 Crypto Miami Grand Prix 3:30 PM ET ABC
ENJOY YOUR RACE WEEKEND!
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FORMULA 1 - Formula 1 rolls into Florida this weekend for the first time since the very first USGP was held in Sebring in 1959. (Although some early 1950s Indy 500s counted towards the World Championship).
The debut Miami Grand Prix sees interest in F1 in the States on the rise, right along with the money it takes to attend an event in America. There are unconfirmed rumors of Mercedes trying to overcome their missed shot at the design of their 2022 car, by partnering with the Miami Dolphins this weekend. The Miami International Autodrome circles the Hard Rock Stadium where the Fins play their home games. Since the Mercedes F1 W13 E Performance has been heavily effected by aerodynamic "porpoising", racing around the Dolphins home field could be the advantage that the German Formula One team needs.
Speaking of Formula One teams. VW, through Porsche and Audi, want in on the game. Somebody convinced the guys with the cash in Wolfsburg, that they can make money in the sport.
The German giant is setting its sights on 2026, when the next change in rules of the current 2022 formula is scheduled to take place. Periods of change in technology open an opportunity for new manufacturers to have an even playing field with those that have upgraded and refined the technology of existing rules and regs.
The challenge of the unknown is ahead and on tap in the present this weekend in Miami. Beyond the unprecedented demand for VIP hospitality that the teams have experienced for the debut race, the task at hand is focused on the tarmac of the Miami International Autodrome.
A multi-stop race is possible in Miami, despite it being a street circuit. Early estimates suggest a shorter than average pit-lane time loss, meaning additional stops won’t be punished as harshly as they are at the likes of Imola and Singapore.
Correct tire choice is crucial on new tracks, making practice running essential. Tropical heat, high humidity and the ever-present threat of rain are all factors, though the C2, C3 and C4 range that wwere used in Jeddah provides a handy reference.
Understanding the circuit and reacting to and adapting through the weekend is certainly all that can be done to prepare. But teams also must factor in Safety Car probability. There has been a Safety Car at three of the last six races that were new or returned to F1 since 2020 (Imola, Portimão, Mugello, Qatar, Istanbul, and Jeddah). There’s also been a Safety Car in every race so far in 2022.
The 19-turn, 3.4-mile circuit starts out heading over an exit ramp and under flyovers, featuring some uneven ground which could catch drivers out as the grip levels change. Once clear, Turns 14 and 15 form a chicane with an uphill approach, a mid-corner crest, and an elevation drop on exit, creating a sharp series of corners. There are 19 corners,with three DRS zones and a qualifying lap time is expected to be in the 1m 28s range.
Passes most likely will take place at the end of those DRS zones; Turns 11 and 17, with a more uncertain chance at Turn 1. On the first lap, or after Safety Car restarts, we may see some overtaking into Turn 4 if cars are racing through the first three corners.
Fernando Alonso: "I enjoy racing in America and we’ve seen in recent years how big Formula 1 is becoming over there. Miami is another new one and I’m curious to see how the circuit is in real life. I think we’ve seen that after four races the racing has seen mixed results. There were quite a few overtakes in Bahrain and Saudi. While in Australia and Imola, it was difficult to overtake as expected. I think it’s still too early to judge. Bahrain and Saudi created unique overtaking opportunities, so perhaps it was more track specific as to why we saw more overtakes there. It’s clear already though that it’s easier to follow the cars ahead and because the cars are all suffering with varying levels of tire degradation, it’s creating different strategies and opportunities in the race."
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Miami International Autodrome |
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Prior to the race weekend, seven-time F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton teamed up with seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady for 'The Big Pilot' golf challenge hosted by IWC Schaffhausen at the Miami Beach Golf Club, an 18-hole golf course located in the heart of South Beach.
The two G.O.A.T.s formed 'Team Mojave Desert' to take on 'Team Lake Tahoe', formed by retired running back Marcus Allen and the CEO of non-profit Dibia DREAM, Brandon Okpalobi, for a longest-drive and closest-to-the-pin challenge.
Formula 2 will not be racing in support of the Miami Grand Prix. We do have the W Series this weekend in Florida. The international single-seater motor racing championship for women drivers will kick off their 2022 season with a doubleheader weekend.
W Series Miami presented by Hard Rock is Round 1 of the 2022 season, which includes 10 F1 support races – the most the series has ever staged in a single season. From Miami, W Series will stage races at the F1 grands prix weekends in Spain, UK, France, Hungary, Japan – W Series’ first race in Asia – USA (COTA), and Mexico where the season will end with a double-header.
American driver Chloe Chambers will make her debut in the series this weekend. The 17-year-old from Hudson Valley, New York teams with two-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick at Jenner Racing; the newly formed team owned by American Olympic athlete Caitlyn Jenner.
Chloe Chambers: “I’m loving the W Series experience so far. I’ve been impressed by the professionalism and organisation of whole team – it’s so well run, and the cars are incredible to drive. I can’t wait to get started in Miami, the first of two home races for me this year. The series is making great strides in the USA and I’m excited to be part of such a spectacular event at the Miami Grand Prix.
“I feel comfortable in the car, and I’ve got used to the speed already. For this season, I’m going in with a clear mind and willing to learn. With Caitlyn Jenner as a team boss and two-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick as a teammate, I couldn’t have two better people in my team to learn from. Both have a wealth of knowledge about sport and racing, and I’m looking forward to working with them, and the entire Jenner Racing Team, as the season progresses.”
The Miami Grand Prix debuts this weekend. The race will be broadcast live on ABC at 2:00 PM Eastern. In addition, ESPN's SportsCenter will broadcast live on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Also Good Morning America will air reports from the Miami Grand Prix. For practice and qualifying times and channels, refer to the Jay Geils Memorial TV Links above.
INDYCAR - Last weekend at Barber Motorsports Park, Pato O'Ward took his first victory of the season at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama presented by AmFirst in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet. He admitted that he had to put the distraction aside of contract negotiations that have been ongoing. McLaren would do well to lock in the young, fast driver to a long-term. contract
O'Ward edged 2021 champion and reigning GP of Alabama winner Alex Palou to the checkered flag by .9800 of a second. NTT P1 Award winner Rinus VeeKay finished third in the No. 21 SONAX Chevrolet.
O’Ward climbed from ninth to fifth in the standings with his first victory since winning Belle Isle-2 last June. There was also movement at the top of the championship, as Palou took the lead with his third podium finish in four starts this season in the No. 10 The American Legion Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. The Spaniard leads Scott McLaughlin, 144-141, as just 10 points separate the top four drivers in the standings. Two-time series champion Josef Newgarden, who led the points entering this race, dropped to third after finishing 14th in the No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet.
The race, which took place in dry, sunny conditions after morning thunderstorms, unfolded as a strategic duel between drivers who chose a three-stop strategy and those who opted for two stops. Newgarden, Colton Herta, Romain Grosjean and Marcus Ericsson were among the contenders who elected for three stops, hoping they could lean harder on their Firestone tires during shorter stints.
But that strategy unraveled when rookie Callum Ilott spun his No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet into the gravel trap adjacent to Turn 9 on Lap 32. That incident triggered the only full-course caution of the race and essentially returned the entire 26-car field to the same tire strategy.
Nearly every driver pitted either just before or after Ilott’s incident, with VeeKay leading O’Ward, McLaughlin, Palou and Alexander Rossi as the top five on the restart on Lap 35.
Dutch driver VeeKay built a lead of 2.0875 seconds over O’Ward by Lap 60. VeeKay, O’Ward and McLaughlin pulled into the pits for their final stops in lockstep on Lap 62, with VeeKay and O’Ward taking new primary Firestone tires, while McLaughlin opted for used primary tires on his No. 3 Sonsio Team Penske Chevrolet.
VeeKay won the race off pit lane, but O’Ward pounced on the out lap. He passed VeeKay with a brave outside move in the hairpin Turn 5 and never trailed thereafter.
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Pato O'Ward Silenced His Critics at Barber Motorsports Park |
Pato O’Ward: “It sucks to be at war within your own team, right? I’m glad there have been very positive talks for the future. I wanted to do it for these guys, for Arrow, for McLaren SP, Team Chevy. I was tired of being 10th and 11th and fifth, so I said, ‘Let’s get a win under our belts so we can claw our way back into the championship fight.”
Up next for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES are two races at the hallowed ground of the sport, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The GMR Grand Prix is set for Saturday, May 14th on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile IMS road course. The 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge will run Sunday, May 29th on the 2.5-mile oval. Both races will be televised live by NBC
DragonSpeed and Cusick Motorsports announced that they will combine forces to field NTT INDYCAR SERIES veteran Stefan Wilson in the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge this month.
INDYCAR announced adjustments to Indianapolis 500 Qualifying this year. On Saturday, May 21st and Sunday, May 22nd. After Day One of qualifying from Noon - 5:50 PM ET Saturday, May 21st, Day Two will include two rounds of qualification attempts to decide the first four rows, including pole position.
Starting in reverse order of speeds based on Day One, each of the top 12 drivers will have a guaranteed attempt to post a traditional four-lap qualifying time starting at 4:00 PM. The fastest six will advance to the Firestone Fast Six at 5:10 PM to determine positions one through six and compete for the NTT P1 Award for pole. The slowest six will fill out starting positions seven through 12 according to their recorded time.
In the Firestone Fast Six, each entrant is again guaranteed one attempt and will qualify in reverse order based on their Top 12 qualification results. The fastest wins pole position, which includes a $100,000 prize, with the remaining five drivers filling out the remainder of the first two rows.
Championship points will be awarded for those who advance to the Top 12 qualifying session. The Indy 500 pole winner will receive 12 points, the second fastest will receive 11, and points awarded will decrease by one-point increments down to 12th fastest (one point).
A Last Chance Qualifying session for spots 31-33 is scheduled from 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET on Sunday, May 22nd if there are more than 33 entries competing for a spot in the race. Each entry is guaranteed one attempt and can make multiple attempts until time expires. If multiple attempts are made, previous times are withdrawn, and the fastest non-qualified car assumes the 33rd spot.
Live coverage of the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge starts at 11:00 AM Eastern on Sunday, May 29th on NBC.
FORMULA E - Mercedes-EQ's Stoffel Vandoorne put in a tactical drive on the streets of Monte Carlo last weekend to win the 2022 Monaco E-Prix Round 6 and take the ABB FIA Formula E Drivers' World Championship lead.
Vandoorne was on the right side of a mid-race Full Course Yellow and Safety Car, which threw race strategies up in the air - the Belgian besting Mitch Evans after a race-long battle with the help of some measured energy management.
Starting P4, Vandoorne had hit the front after then-leader Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team) retired from the lead with technical issues on Lap 16. Once at the head of the pack, Vandoorne seized control and made good on both restarts to take the flag in first with race pace and energy in-hand.
Jean-Eric Vergne followed in third, sparring for the race distance with those ahead and fending off the late attentions of Envision Racing's Robin Frijns who came home fourth - the Dutchman extending his consistent run of form with the TAG Heuer Fastest Lap also under his belt. That made it a joint-high of three podiums for Frenchman Vergne and he remains the only driver to score points in every race this season.
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Stoffel Vandoorne Leads the Formula E Field Through Tabac |
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Antonio Felix da Costa made it two DS TECHEETAHs in the top five, with Lucas di Grassi coming home sixth for a solid haul on home soil for ROKiT Venturi Racing - though Edo Mortara retired late on having run much of the race alongside his teammate in the points.
Nick Cassidy (Envision Racing) finished seventh, with Sebastien Buemi (Nissan e.dams), Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti) and reigning champion Nyck de Vries rounding out the top 10.
All that left Vandoorne six points clear atop the Drivers' standings, and Mercedes-EQ 15 points ahead of DS TECHEETAH in the Teams' running.
Stoffel Vandoorne: "It's a fantastic feeling. Monaco is one of those very special races that every driver wants to win. We had a tough weekend here last year but we really managed to turn things around this time. Our goal was to qualify well up the field, and after that, it was obvious to me that we could be top contenders as well. And that's how it went. We were really flying today, so many thanks to the team for putting such a strong car at my disposal. My start to the season wasn't easy, but consistency is paying off now. I'm really pleased about that. I feel like I've been fighting up front all season. I've had a few pole positions but couldn't quite convert them into wins, so this weekend, I decided not to qualify on pole but to go for victory instead, and that strategy worked."
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship and the City of São Paulo, alongside SPTuris and GL Events, signed a contract at the Monaco E-Prix that will see the all-electric race series head to Brazil for the first time, subject to FIA approval.
The five-year agreement, with the option of renewal, means the city of São Paulo could play host to the world’s foremost electric Motorsport championship from Season 9 – the beginning of Formula E’s new Gen3 era.
The Berlin E-Prix doubleheader weekend is up next on May 14th and 15th.
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MOTOGP - Francesco Bagnaia won a tight Gran Premio Red Bull de España in Jerez in front of a packed house. The Lenovo Ducati rider barely edged the Monster Energy Yamaha of Fabio Quartararo by 0.285.
The two were in a class of their own, pulling out a 10 second gap on the field, with Aprilia Racing's Aleix Espargaro taking the final podium spot in front of Repsol Honda Team's Marc Marquez and Pecco's teammate Jack Miller. Espargaro's podium brought an end to Aprilia's MotoGP concessions after six years.
The battle for the victory went right to the final lap with Bagnaia holding an advantage of just half a second. As they came through the fourth and final sector Quartararo was closing, just a quarter of a second away. But Bagnaia stood firm, withstanding El Diablo's pressure to take the Jerez win.
It was Pecco's first since the season-closing race in Valencia last year and a second for the Bologna factory in Andalucia in as many years. Quartararo's third podium visit of the season saw him stretch out his Championship leader from nothing to eight points, with the 20 points for second place proving very valuable.
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Bagnaia Focused on Victory |
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Francesco Bagnaia: "It’s a beautiful day. We struggled a lot at the start of the season, during the tests, and we never stopped working. I had the luck to race in Portimao. Even with the pain, I was able to fight to have the same feeling again as last year, and finally this weekend everything went well. I’m so happy. I’m so happy we are back at our potential, or more. Because, last year in this track, we were struggling more compared to Fabio – Fabio was unbeatable – and today, we have done an incredible job. So, I want to say thanks to all the people who have helped me this week with my shoulder problems, and I just want to enjoy today, and give a huge hug to my family at home, to my girlfriend that is at home with my little dog. I’m so happy."
After the race, teams had a test at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto. Pramac Racing's Johann Zarco ended the Jerez Test at the top of the timesheets, the Frenchman putting in a 1:37.136.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Brad Binder was P2, followed by Monster Energy Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo. Two-time 2022 race winner Enea Bastianini got a feel for the new Ducati GP22 front fairing. The KTM riders rolled out their version of the long exhaust. Yamaha confirmed that they will have a new aero package at the Italian GP later this month.
As their era without concessions begins, Aprilia Racing were working on suspension, electronics and swingarm settings with Spanish GP podium finisher Aleix Espargaro and teammate Maverick Viñales, both joined on track once again by Test Rider Lorenzo Savadori.
Team Suzuki Ecstar duo Joan Mir and Alex Rins were testing suspension items and swingarms, comparing them to the ones they’ve already tested. Mir finished P6 on the timesheets with a 1:37.756, Rins was P8 and just 0.024s off his teammate’s time.
Suzuki is talking about leaving MotoGP at the end of the year, although nothing official has been announced by the manufacturer. The FIM and Dorna reacted with the following statement:
Following recent rumors of Suzuki departing MotoGP at the end of 2022, Dorna Sports has officially contacted the factory in order to remind them that the conditions of their contract to race in MotoGP do not allow for them to take this decision unilaterally.
However, should Suzuki depart following an agreement between both parties, Dorna will decide on the ideal number of riders and teams racing in the MotoGP class from 2023.
Dorna continues to receive high levels of interest from a number of both official factories and Independent Teams looking to join the MotoGP grid as the sport continues to set a global example of close competition, innovation and entertainment, reaching hundreds of millions of fans around the world.
Interest from these parties has been re-confirmed in the past 24 hours.
The SHARK Grand Prix de France is up next from the Bugatti Circuit at Le Mans. The race is next Sunday, May 15th and will be televised on a same-day basis at 4:00 PM Eastern on CNBC.
WORLDSBK - The next round of the Superbike World Championship isn't for another two weeks, so let's look back at what we've seen so far in 2022. Three of the opening six races have been decided by less than a half second. With Alvaro Bautista back on a Ducati, the top tier is no longer a two-bike battle between Toprak Razgatlioglu and Jonathan Rea. An early season battle has put last yer's two protagonists at odds. That hard racing resulted with them in the gravel at the last round at Assen.
Last year's World Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu has yet to win a race in the first two rounds and he is 45 points out of first in the 2022 Championship.
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Toprak's Title Defense is Off To a Slow Start |
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HRC's Iker Lecuona is having a great rookie season so far. A top six on his debut at MotorLand Aragon in Race 1 was backed up when he got to Assen, a circuit that he nor Team HRC had tested at prior to the season starting. Two fifth places in the opening two races of the Motul Dutch Round led to his debut podium in Race 2.
After riding a Ducati in MotoAmerica last year. Loris Baz is shining in his return to the world stage on the Bonovo Action BMW. He is the top BMW in the standings and has been the benchmark for his fellow BMW riders most of the time this year. Cracking the top six for Michael Galinski’s Bonovo squad for their best result in WorldSBK, Baz is once again showing his capabilities.
Alvaro Bautista leads the Championship, with Rea 18 pints back in second. The series is showing a good deal of parity in the early going this season. In Race 2 at Assen, for the first time in five years, five different manufacturers locked out the top five places in a race.
In terms of stats, the year where five manufacturers inside the top five happened the most was in 2010, when it happened eight times. However, five isn’t the limit: there’s been times when six manufacturers have locked out the top six and twice where seven manufacturers have managed to lock out the front seven places – the last of which was in 2011 at Donington Park in Race 2. The next best year was in 2000, when seven races saw the top five places locked out by different makes of machinery, showing that parity has always been a staple of WorldSBK
NBC network's broadcast coverage of WorldSBK will start with the Portuguese Round on May 21st - 22nd. NBC will broadcast half of the season's 12 rounds. The other five rounds after Portugal are: Emilia-Romagna, the UK Round, the Czech, Indonesian and the Australian Rounds.
Remaining 2022 WorldSBK Calendar:
Circuito Estoril, Portugal May 20th – 22nd
Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”, Italy June 10th – 12th
Donington Park, UK July 15th – 17th
Autodrom Most, Czech Republic July 29th – 31st
Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, France September 9th – 11th
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain September 23rd – 25th
Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal October 7th – 9th
Circuito San Juan Villicum, Argentina October 21st – 23rd
Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit, Indonesia November 11th – 13th
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Australia November 18th - 20th.
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MOTOAMERICA - Going into the 2022 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship, not many would have placed money on Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne not winning until the fourth race of the season. But that’s how it played out with the defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion finally notching his first victory of the 2022 season at the last round at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Thus far in 2020, Gagne’s record looks like this: DNF (mechanical), third, DNF (crash), victory. Gagne’s start to his title defense was dismal: Saturday’s crash, combined with Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC rider Danilo Petrucci’s third-straight win, left Gagne 59 points behind the Italian.
Danilo Petrucci took his third win of the season in front of Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz in Race 1 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. This after sweeping the weekend in his MotoAmerica debut at Austin's Circuit of the Americas.
So, with his first win of the year and the 18th of his MotoAmerica Superbike career, coupled with some key DNFs, Gagne now finds himself 34 points behind Petrucci and 26 behind Scholtz with VIRginia International Raceway up next May 20th - 22nd. For tickets, visit VIR. |
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Petrucci Living in America |
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The Italian was surprised and happy after his debut at COTA. Danilo Petrucci: “Definitely I have to be happy for this weekend. I didn’t know what would be my level. The only thing I knew was this track. Fortunately, our bike is really good on braking and on maximum speed. I can carry that speed in the corner. I need to brake hard and pick up the bike in the straight. Definitely have to say thanks to all my team because we had really quite few chances to ride and to make experience. The bike was better now. It was really great to fight with Mat (Scholtz). As I told you yesterday, we go to Atlanta, which is a completely new tack for me.
MotoAmerica announced this week that Yuasa Batteris Inc. has become the new title sponsor of the Stock 1000 class for the 2022 racing season. It is now the MotoAmerica Yuasa Stock 1000 class. Sponsor announcements may seem trivial to the casual fan, but for event professionals, sanctioning bodies and promoters, it is the lifeblood that keeps the motors running. Every new sponsor announcement represents growth.
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Alboreto: Gasoline in the Veins - The story about the man who grew up to realize his childhood dream of driving a Formula 1 car for Enzo Ferrari is now available once more in the United States.
Alboreto: Gasoline in the Veins is written by Michele Alboreto's brother Ermanno and details his early years and rise through the racing ranks.
It also tells about his character outside the car and that is the contribution that we are most proud to be associated with. It began with an interview during Michele's Indy car career and a request to use it in his life story. We also contributed interviews with his teammates and racing legends like Giacomo Agostini.
Listen to that interview HERE.
For ordering information, simply reply to this update for details. There are a limited number of copies here in America, you will save international shipping prices by getting your copy right here.
There is also a Facebook page for the book HERE.
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FIA WEC - Robin Frijns topped the first practice today at the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps weekend. The Dutch driver put the LMP2 car of the home team Belgian WRT squad to the top of th etimesheets to lead all cars in all classes.
The next three fastest cars were also LMP2 class cars, with the No. 22 United Autosports Team car leading its No. 23 teammate. The No. 38 JOTA LMP2 car was P4, with the top four in the 2:05 second bracket.
Glickenhaus Racing was the top Hypercar in the four-car category. Romain Dumas sent a 2:06.233 Spa lap today. Mike Conway, in the No. 7 Toyota was second in class at 2:06.976.
The No. 8 Toyota was next, with Ryo Hirakawa coming to a halt in the Toyota on the final lap causing a red flag after the session had come to a close. The Alpine ELF Team of Nicolas Lapierre, Matthieu Vaxiviere and Andre Negrao were P4 in Hypercar.
Porsche GT Team were fastest in LMGTE Pro, with Kevin Estre going quickest in P1. The Spa expert turned a 2:14.563 lap today.
Porsche Director Factory of Motorsport Alexander Stehlig: “After our big win recently in Sebring, where we clinched first and third place, and last year’s victory at Spa, our goal is clear: We want to win there again. Our greatest desire this year is to secure the title with the 911 RSR. To do this, we have to earn maximum points this weekend. We started the season well in Sebring, but there’s still room for improvement. Most notably, we want to keep working on our pit stops. If we manage this, and everything runs smoothly in the race, we should be able to bring home a one-two result. That would be the perfect rehearsal for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is coming up in June.”
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Kevin Estre Fastest in LMGTEPro in P1 at Spa
The sister Porsche GT Team car of Gianmaria Bruni and Richard Lietz was second in class, followed by the two AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT Evos. Corvette Racing's lone C8.R of Tommy Milner and Nick Tandy was the sixth fastest GT car today at 2:16.372, one place behind the No. 46 LMGTE Am Porsche 911 RSR-19 of Team Project 1.
This is Tommy Milner's first time driving at the legendary circuit and he talked about thee anticipation ahead of this weekend. Tommy Milner: "It's my first time at Spa. This race will be the first time it really feels like a new championship for me and the team. I've driven Spa for thousands of laps on a simulator and I've been doing more on our Driver in the Loop with the team and engineers. I'll be ready to go but driving a new track is always something new and unique. As we saw at Sebring, the competition is very, very tough. I'll be a little bit on the back foot compared to some of these guys who have driven these tracks already in their careers. With the help of the simulator at Chevrolet and my sim at home, I'm excited about getting that experience of learning the track. It's a great challenge to drive a track like Spa and I'm ready for it.
"For Spa, Eau Rouge and Raidillon are the obvious highlight sections of Spa – much like at Laguna Seca, the Corkscrew is the highlight of that track. But the whole track itself is what's exciting at Spa. There is a lot more than just that sequence of corners to start the lap. I'm certainly excited for that. For me most of all, I'm excited to take on the challenge of learning a new racetrack.”
TF Sport was P2 in LMGTE Am, with Ben Keating, Marco Sorenson and Henrique Chaves in the No. 33 Aston Martin Vantage AMR. The No. 56 Team Projerct 1 Porsche was P3 in class.
Portions of the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps this weekend can be seen on MOTORTREND TV on Saturday, May 7th. The first segment begins at 6:30 AM. Segment two airs at Noon Eastern time.
Check out the full results from Free Practice 1 today at SPA. |
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IMSA - As has come to pass in recent years, once again, the Acura ARX-05 was the car to have at the Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship Presented by Motul at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. For the second year running Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque took the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing DPi to the top step in Victory Lane.
Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian made it an Acura 1-2, with Tom Blomqvist in the No. 60 tailing Alburquerque to the finish. The No. 10 Acura led 111 of the 117 laps completed Sunday, with Albuquerque at the wheel for the final 90. The win was Acura’s fourth straight at WeatherTech Raceway. The No. 31 Action Express Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R of Tristan Nunez and Pipo Derani took third place.
Filipe Albuquerque: “I knew it was going to be a long stint, but the engineers said this is the best strategy to win. I said, ‘Let’s do whatever it takes for the win.’ This was an important race for us because we know this track suits our car. So, it was very important to do pole position and win.
“We grabbed it, but it was not easy,” Albuquerque added. “We were flat out. It was a tough race, but I think that’s the beauty of endurance racing. Even if you are a couple tenths faster, traffic puts you back.
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Acuras on Parade at Laguna Seca |
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In LMP2, Louis Deletraz teamed with John Farano to take the class win in the No. 8 Tower Motorsport ORECA LMP2 07. The No. 18 Era Motorsport ORECA driven by Dwight Merriman and Ryan Dalziel was P2. The No. 81 DragonSpeed USA ORECA of Juan Pablo Montoya and Henrik Hedman finished third in the LMP2 class.
LMP3 cars were not entered at the Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship Presented by Motul. They will be racing at the next round at Mid-Ohio, but the GTD PRO Class skips the next two rounds and won't be seen again until Watkins Glen.
In GTD PRO Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell. bounced back from their Long Beach misfortune to take the No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3R to Victory Lane in Monterey. The two were a half minute in front of the furious battle for the final podium positions.
Three cars – the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3, the No. 25 BMW M Team RLL BMW M4 GT3 and the No. 3 Corvette Racing Corvette C8.R GTD – battled for second and third during the final laps, with Ben Barnicoat prevailing in the No. 14 Lexus over Connor De Phillippi in the No. 25 BMW.
Antonio Garcia finished fourth in the No. 3 Corvette that he shares with Jordan Taylor, 1.442 seconds behind Connor De Phillippi.
In GTD, Jan Heylen celebrated his birthday by ripping through the largest class in the series to take victory in the No. 16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R, which he shares with Ryan Hardwick. The Belgian charged from eighth place to win the GTD category by 5.517 seconds over the No. 39 CarBahn with Peregrine Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3.
Westphal nipped Bill Auberlen in the No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 by 0.037 seconds at the finish line. Sorry Bill.
Next on the calendar is the Lexus Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio on Sunday, May 15th. The broadcast is on USA Network at 2:00 PM Eastern.
Here's the 2022 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship SCHEDULE. |
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