Carnaval vitorioso para João Ramos

Um Carnaval vitorioso para João Ramos

João Ramos foi o grande vencedor da primeira prova do campeonato Português de Todo-o-Terreno aos comandos de uma nova Toyota Hilux T1+ .

Esta primeira prova do Campeonato de Portugal de Todo o Terreno foi uma agradável substituição ao Carnaval para os
verdadeiros amantes do desporto motorizado. Em Beja, durante 3 dias, esqueceram-se os disfarces, as máscaras usuais, as brincadeiras e os desfiles, para se lembrarem os barulhos dos motores que estavam calados há muito tempo e o pó e a velocidade que muitos esperavam ver e sentir de novo.
A primeira prova do campeonato Português de Todo-o-Terreno teve início no passado
dia 24, sexta-feira, e acabou no dia 26, domingo. Sexta-feira teve início o prologo que
teve como vencedor João Ramos aos comandos de uma Toyota Hilux T1+ com o tempo de 6:13:9 minutos. Logo atras aparecia o bicampeão nacional Tiago Reis ao comando
de uma antiga Toyota Hilux T1 com o tempo de 6:15:4 minutos ficando apenas a 2 segundos do primeiro lugar. Para fechar o pódio seguiu-se Lourenço Rosa – Adventure, o estreante
do CPTT, ao volante de uma Toyota Hilux T1+ idêntica à de João Ramos com o tempo de 6:22:3. O primeiro classificado dos T3 foi Alexandre Pinto Bač aos comandos de um Bombardier Can-am da equipa Benimoto com o tempo de 6:23:3, que ao fazer este
tempo chegou ao 4º lugar da geral. Rui Sousa ao volante de uma Isuzu D-Max conquistou a vitoria na categoria T2 e alcançou a 44º posição à geral com o tempo de 7:47:8. Já na categoria T8 foi Nuno Matos aos comandos de um Opel Mokka Proto que
conseguiu esse feito com o tempo de 6:45:2 que o colocou na 12º posição à geral.
Menção honrosa ao campeão nacional de ralis Armindo Araujo que compareceu a esta prova aos comandos de um Bombardier Can-am T3. O mesmo conseguiu alcançar o tempo de 6:27:9 que o colocou na 6º colocação da geral, sendo o terceiro melhor T3.
Outro nome importante de se falar é o de Luis Portela Morais que mostrou a sua nova e única máquina, o Overdrive OT3, que após um furo fez apenas o tempo de 8:12:5 que o colocou na 46º posição à geral e na 13º posição nos T3.
No sábado dia 25 teve lugar a primeira SS1. A mesma contava com 145,50 KM ao longo das terras do Baixo Alentejo. Esta primeira especial contou com a vitoria de João Ramos
com o tempo de 1:51:46:4. De seguida seguia-se Tiago Reis que continuava na luta para tentar chegar ao lugar cimeiro. O mesmo obteve o tempo de 1:52:00:3 ficando apenas a 13,9 do primeiro Lugar. Alexandre Pinto encontrava-se logo na 3º posição,
conquistando o 1º lugar nos T3, com o tempo de 1:55:06:7 a 3:20:3 minutos do primeiro lugar. Luís Portela Morais conseguiu uma fantástica reviravolta ao passar da 46º posição
para a 8º posição da geral com o tempo de 1:57:45:8 ficando a 5:49.4 minutos da primeira posição. Lourenço Rosa que teve um início excelente de prova, caiu até à 11º
posição da geral depois de ter sido penalizado em 4 minutos. Nuno Matos não conseguiu aguentar o 12º lugar à geral e desceu até ao 20º lugar mantendo o 1º lugar da categoria T8 com o tempo de referência de 2:07:08:3. Rui Sousa, ao contrário de Nuno Matos conseguiu subir lugares na geral. Conquistou o 37º lugar e manteve o primeiro lugar na categoria T2 com o tempo de 2:20:19:5.
No último dia de prova era onde tudo realmente se decidia.
A luta estava acesa entre João Ramos e Tiago Reis, mas quem a levou a melhor foi João Ramos que conquistou a vitoria à geral e na categoria T1 com o tempo de 3:34:23:2. Tiago Reis seguido logo atras a 1:56.3 alcançando o tempo de 3:36:19:5. Alexandre Pinto teve problemas e acabou na 11º colocação da geral que fez com que o derradeiro campeão da categoria T3 fosse Armindo Araújo com o último lugar do pódio à geral com o tempo de 3:41:52:8 a 7:29:6 do primeiro classificado. Luís Portela Morais mais uma vez mostrou como se passa por cima dos maus momentos e conquistou o 4º lugar à geral e o 2ª lugar nos T3 com o
tempo de 3:43:28:6 a 9:05:4 do primeiro classificado. Na categoria T8 após Nuno Matos desistir com problemas no motor, foi Nuno Tordo que conquistou o 1º lugar da mesma
com o tempo de 4:03:07:5 depois de levar uma penalização de 5 minutos. O mesmo conquistou o 19º lugar à geral. Rui Sousa por outro lado conseguiu manter o primeiro lugar na sua categoria obtendo também o 33º lugar à geral com o tempo de 4:29:21:0
depois de levar uma penalização de 2 minutos. Já Lourenço Rosa não teve um agradável fim de prova após desistir fazendo com que a sua primeira prova do CPTT fosse um fracasso.
#16ValvulasWhoElseinTheWorld ?

Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup 2023, round 2, Magny-Cours (F): Charlie Collins impresses at the PESC race in Magny-Cours

Zac Campbell scores pole position and wins the sprint race Charlie Collins clinches victory at the feature race by over six seconds Defending champion Diogo C. Pinto is the new series leader Former Porsche Junior Laurin Heinrich wins the All-Stars sprint
Round two of the Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup was again dominated by the VRS Coanda team: Zac Campbell won the sprint race, with his teammate Charlie Collins clinching victory at the feature race. Laurin Heinrich, the 2022 Porsche Junior, underlined his sim racing talent in the All-Star competition.

Stuttgart. Scoring second place in the feature race at the Circuit de Nevers in France, defending champion Diogo C. Pinto has moved into the lead of the Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup (PESC). Driving for Team Redline, the Portuguese sim racer crossed the finish line about 6.6 seconds behind Charlie Collins after 20 laps. Earlier in the day, Collins’ VRS-Coanda teammate Zac Campbell won the sprint race over half the distance. A collision in the feature event, however, signalled an early end to the American’s race. The esports one-make cup with the digital Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is contested on the iRacing simulation platform. At ten rounds this season, 30 competitors fight for prize money totalling 200,000 USD.

In Magny-Cours, Zac Campbell took up where he left off at the season opener in Hockenheim: on the 4.411-kilometre Formula 1 circuit, the American qualified for P1 with a mere 0.005-second advantage. This earned him crucial points for TAG Heuer Pole Award and the first grid spot for the sprint. Lining up behind him: Britain’s Sebastian Job from the Oracle Red Bull Racing Esports squad, title defender Diogo C. Pinto (Team Redline) and Cooper Webster. Driving for Oracle Red Bull Racing Esports, the Australian won the 2022 rookie classification.

Campbell also dominated the sprint race. After ten laps, he beat Webster, Pinto and Job to the flag. Trailing the leading pack were the two Altus Esports sim racers Oscar Mangan from Italy and Jordan Caruso (Australia), as well as Finland’s Tuomas Tähtelä and Charlie Collins. The Welshman was trailed over the finish line by his younger brother Bryn. Finishing eighth, however, proved hugely advantageous for him: It meant that he could tackle the feature race from pole position, while sprint race winner Campbell was relegated to P8 on the grid.

When the lights turned green, Charlie Collins immediately catapulted into the lead and attempted to pull clear of the field. Campbell had less luck: a collision in the Adelaide hairpin threw him out of the race. Tähtelä initially settled into second place followed by Job, Pinto and Caruso. Job then launched an attack that saw the Finn drop back to fifth place. Towards the end of the race, a gripping three-way battle for second place unfolded. On the final lap, Pinto made the decisive move and outbraked Job – a tactic that earned him the championship lead. Caruso also got past. Almost at the same time, Webster squeezed past Tähtelä and moved into fifth place. Charlie Collins took the flag as the undisputed winner with an advantage of 6.605 seconds.

Casey Kirwan shines among content creators in the All-Star races
Guest driver Laurin Heinrich again underlined his sim racing talent at round two of the Porsche TAG Heuer Esport Supercup: the Porsche contract driver dominated the qualifying on the Circuit de Nevers in Magny-Cours and went on to win the eleven-lap All-Star sprint race at the wheel of his 911 GT3 Cup. The German crossed the finish line with a comfortable lead of more than three seconds over esports professional Casey Kirwan, Emily “Emree” from Australia, and American Tyson “Quirkitized” Meier.

The grid for the 17-lap All-Stars feature race lined up in the reverse order of the sprint race results. Two other specialists from the world of real racing shared the front grid row: Brazilian Tony Kanaan – 2004 IndyCar champion and 2013 Indy500 winner – started from pole position, with Porsche works driver Laurens Vanthoor lining up next to him. The Belgian fluffed his start and fell far down the field. Heinrich also lost ground when a rival shunted his car into a spin. This handed the lead to Kanaan, while Casey Kirwan launched his charge through the pack. After the second lap, the American had already progressed up the order to sixth. Shortly after, he was running in second place. At the halfway mark, Kirwan swept past Kanaan to snatch the lead and cross the finish line first with a 12-second advantage. Second place went to Oliver “Basic Ollie” Furnell from the UK ahead of Jaroslav “Jardier” Honzik from the Czech Republic and the Spaniard Xabier “Heikki360ES” Sánchez. After an excursion off the track, Kanaan fought his way back to finish in seventh.

The voters have decided: PESC round 3 will be contested in Long Beach
Fans of the Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup have cast their votes on iRacing’s social media channels: In two weeks, the Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup entourage heads to ‘virtual’ California. On 4 March, the digital Long Beach Grand Prix Circuit hosts round three of the sim racing one-make cup contested with the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. The 3.167-kilometre street circuit around the Long Beach Convention Center runs in a clockwise direction and served as a racetrack since 1975. Its unique features include a tight right-hander at the end of the lap and a sweeping start-finish straight along the Pacific coast. Between 1976 and 1983, Formula 1 raced here on a temporary track. Since then, the circuit has hosted the ChampCar and IndyCar Series as well as IMSA races. The Long Beach E-Prix of the FIA Formula E Championship has been held on a shorter 2.131-kilometre version since 2015. The PESC celebrates its debut on this track. The sprint race runs over 13 laps with the feature race contested over twice the distance.

Comments after the race
Charlie Collins (UK/VRS Coanda):
“My qualifying was horrible, there’s no way around it. Still, I finished the sprint race in eighth place which meant I started the feature race from pole position. On lap one, things turned chaotic behind me after the start. Luckily, I wasn’t affected and managed to control the race. Now we’re off to the spectacular Long Beach circuit. That’ll be exciting!”

Diogo C. Pinto (P/Team Redline): “I was hit with technical issues before the start of today’s race. I didn’t know if I could even start. Luckily, things worked out. I was very pleased with my qualifying and my sprint race result. I was really lucky in the feature race: at the start, I saw a gap, grabbed it, and gained a lot of positions. My tyres were still in great condition at the end. I had to battle hard for second place – it was definitely a tough but fair move, which earned me second place.”

Jordan Caruso (AUS/Altus Esports): “We worked hard as a team and reaped the rewards. I finished third with my teammate Oscar Mangan in the top eight. He put in a huge effort in practice and made great progress. I benefited from this as well. We deserve these results, even if it still sometimes seems a bit weird: one minute everything’s going well, and the next minute I suddenly lose a few tenths of a second. I can’t really explain it properly right now.”

Results
Magny-Cours, sprint race

1. Zac Campbell (USA/VRS Coanda)
2. Cooper Webster (AUS/Oracle Redbull Racing Esports)
3. Diogo C. Pinto (P/Team Redline)
4. Sebastian Job (UK/Oracle Redbull Racing Esports)
5. Oscar Mangan (I/Altus Esports)

Magny-Cours, feature race
1. Charlie Collins (UK/VRS Coanda)
2. Diogo C. Pinto (P/Team Redline)
3. Jordan Caruso (AUS/Altus Esports)
4. Sebastian Job (UK/Oracle Redbull Racing Esports)
5. Cooper Webster (AUS/Oracle Redbull Racing Esports)

Overall standings after the second of 10 rounds
1. Diogo C. Pinto (P/Team Redline), 138 points
2. Charlie Collins (UK/VRS Coanda), 136 points
3. Jordan Caruso (AUS/Altus Esports), 122 points
4. Zac Campbell (USA/VRS Coanda), 100 points
5. Sebastian Job (UK/Oracle Redbull Racing Esports), 87 points

Four drivers still in contention for the Clio Ice Trophy title

14A David BOUET (FR), WRM BY CHANOINE M. / SRD RACING, action 14B Lucas DARMEZIN (FR), WRM BY CHANOINE M. / SRD RACING, action 21A Daniel DE VILLAR (FR), DRIVELAND / PUZZLE MOTORSPORT, action 21B Markel DE ZABALETA (ES), DRIVELAND / PUZZLE MOTORSPORT, action 20A Alex ESPANOL (ES), DRIVELAND / PUZZLE MOTORSPORT, action 20B Guillermo MILLAN (ES), DRIVELAND / PUZZLE MOTORSPORT, action 77A Emma CHALVIN (FR), WRM BY CHANOINE M. / SRD RACING, action 77B Tom LE JOSSEC (FR), WRM BY CHANOINE M. / SRD RACING, action 09A Marin LE JOSSEC (FR), RX EVOLUTION FR, action 09B Bryan DUFAS (FR), RX EVOLUTION, action during the 2023 Clio Ice Trophy 2023 – GSeries G3 on the Circuit Andorra – Pas de la Casa, on February 04, 2023 in Encamp, Andorra – Picture Damien Doumergue / DPPI

The third Clio Ice Trophy meeting featured some spectacular battles on Pas de la Casa’s Circuit Andorra. While Dylan Dufas (RX Evolution) was fastest in qualifying, Lucas Darmezin and David Bouet answered in the finals to secure another double win the #14 WRM by Chanoine Motorsport / SRD Racing Clio Rally5. They will battle for the title, as well as Dylan Dufas and Alex Español (Driveland / Puzzle Motorsport) next Saturday!

Porsche Penske Motorsport Shows Strong Pace in 24 Hours of Daytona

Despite not getting the results that Porsche Penske Motorsport would have liked in their debut event, both Porsche 963 show considerable pace at the season-opening 24 Hours of Daytona at the historic Daytona International Speedway. Stuttgart/Mooresville. The debut of Porsche Penske Motorsport, the Porsche 963 and the all-new GTP class in the 61st running of the 24 Hours of Daytona ended with a P7 result for the No. 7 race car of Felipe Nasr (Brasil), Matt Campbell (Australia) and Michael Christensen (Denmark). The sister car of Mathieu Jaminet (France), Nick Tandy (Great Britain) and Dane Cameron (USA) had to retire due to mechanical issues.

“It was a really tough day for the team, but days like today are things we build upon for the future,” said Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport, Jonathan Diuguid. “I look forward to the future and we will learn for all of the races, beginning in Sebring.”

All three drivers of the No. 6 Porsche 963 kept the car in the top-five throughout the first half the race, running as high as second for large chunks of the race and proving they were one of the cars to beat.

Unfortunately, as is often the case in 24-hour events, surviving the nighttime is the name of the game. Tandy suffered an off during the 5:00 am hour, resulting in damage to the nose, rear wing and underbelly of the Porsche 963. After making repairs and only losing three laps in the process, the No. 6 continued in the top-five as problems hindered other competitors. However, despite driving back to just one-lap down with just over two hours to go, a gearbox problem knocked the No. 6 out of the event.

The No. 7 Porsche 963 ran into trouble early and often in the first quarter of the race, suffering drive issues in the first stint with Felipe Nasr, then having to go behind the wall five hours into the event with Michael Christensen behind the wheel with an electrical system issue. It dropped them 19 laps down. Several other mechanical issues eventually dropped the No. 7 some 34 laps down from the leaders over the course of the race’s 24 hours.

Driver comments after the race
Mathieu Jaminet (Porsche 963 #6): “It was an eventful night. For a long time, we were running up front trying to stay out of trouble, but Nick had an off and it caused some damage on the car. Since then, the car was losing performance. It was really tough out there. We lost a few laps with all of the pit stops. When we changed to the soft/hot tire, we got some performance back in the car.”

Dane Cameron (Porsche 963 #6): “An unfortunate end to our first race with the Porsche 963. We had a few small things here or there, but we were handing around withing reach of a podium finish at the end of the day. The guys were fighting hard and put forth a really strong effort. We were just slightly out of touch for the 24 hour. It is too bad that we had to retire in the end with a technical failure. It was great to get the first one going, get it out of the way and launch the team, the car and the program. We can build from here and we know we had strong pace. We will come out stronger with all four cars in Sebring.”

Matt Campbell (Porsche 963 #7): “We made it to the end, and that is mission accomplished. It certainly wasn’t an easy race for us. We were quite a few laps down, but we were able to fix the car and make it really fast. We were going to fight to the end. It’s a shame we weren’t able to fight for a win at the end. But I think we learned a lot, and we know what to do from here on out.”

Michael Christensen (Porsche 963 #7) “The first race in the Porsche 963 was a bit painful in terms of results and where we ended but getting to drive it and race against everyone else was super cool. Unfortunate, we just had too many issues. We will learn and get better. There is a long road ahead of us.”

Guilherme Reischl é o primeiro piloto confirmado pela PMO Racing

Córdoba (Argentina), 26 de janeiro de 2023 – As equipes se preparam para a temporada que começa no fim de semana de 26 de março na Argentina. Depois das confirmações de Bernardo Llaver na TTA e dos pilotos da Squadra Martino e Paladini Racing, é agora anunciada a chegada de Guilherme Reischl à PMO Racing.

O brasileiro, que já acelerou no Audi RS3 e no Peugeot 308 no TCR South America, já fez dez corridas em sua história e seu melhor resultado foi um sexto lugar em Interlagos, na etapa de Endurance da temporada de 2021. Com uma longa trajetória de passando pela Europa e pela Porsche Cup no Brasil, Reischl ocupa hoje a 343ª posição no Ranking Mundial do TCR.

Refira-se que, sob a direção de Ernesto “Tito” Bessone, a PMO Racing vai colocar quatro Puegeot 308 no asfalto durante a temporada de 2023. Os restantes pilotos ainda não foram definidos com três lugares disponíveis e várias negociações diferentes.

O anúncio da lista completa será feito nas próximas semanas.

DECLARAÇÕES

“É um prazer poder confirmar o primeiro piloto da equipe. O Guilherme já trabalhou conosco no ano passado e temos grandes projetos para a próxima temporada. Vamos trabalhar muito para conseguir grandes resultados e brigar pela Copa Trophy¨.
Ernesto Bessone, chefe da equipe PMO Racing

“Para mim é um prazer estar no TCR. O campeonato está crescendo e se tornando referência em toda a América do Sul. É um prazer para mim este ano estar presente tanto no TCR South America quanto no TCR Brazil com a PMO Racing . No ano passado fiz algumas corridas com a equipe. Eles são muito sérios e adorei o Peugeot. Com certeza será um grande ano para nós e ter Ernesto Bessone como professor é uma honra.”
Guilherme Reischl

Preview, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Round 1, 24 Hours of Daytona (USA): Race debut for the new Porsche 963 in Daytona

Porsche Penske Motorsport fields two Porsche 963 at the 24-hr classic Michael Christensen and Dane Cameron support regular IMSA drivers International race debut for the new Porsche 911 GT3 R (Gen. 992) Nine Porsche racing cars contest three competition classes Race preparation and qualifying as part of the three-day “ROAR”
After almost twelve months of preparation with the new hybrid 963 prototype, things are about to get serious for Porsche Penske Motorsport: On 20 January, the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season kicks off with the so-called “ROAR Before the 24”. This three-day test at the Daytona International Speedway in the US state of Florida is used to set up the cars and to qualify for the 24-hour race. The endurance classic will be held from 28 to 29 January at the same venue. The new Porsche 911 GT3 R will also be showcased on an international stage at this event. Seven of the GT3 vehicles, based on the 992 generation of the 911, will tackle the American endurance classic.

Stuttgart. After more than 30,000 test kilometres, the two Porsche 963 tackle their first race in the new GTP class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on the last weekend in January. As stated in the regulations, the new hybrid prototypes will fight for overall victory at the long-distance classic in Florida. At the World Center of Racing, the ca. 500 kW (680 PS) Porsche 963 will go up against rival vehicles from BMW, Cadillac and Acura. The newly developed Porsche 911 GT3 R also celebrates its race premiere. Five customer teams field a total of seven up to 416 kW (565 PS) GT3 racers in the GTD Pro and GTD categories.

“We’re very much looking forward to the Daytona season opener,” exclaims Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. “With the new Porsche 963, we’re finally back fighting for overall victories in the world’s biggest endurance events. Our Porsche Penske Motorsport squad and our drivers and specialists from the Weissach Development Centre have done absolutely everything to develop the 963 into a fast and reliable prototype. We’re curious to see how the competition will perform at Daytona, not only in the new top GTP class but also in the GTD categories with the new Porsche 911 GT3 R.”

The new Porsche 963 turned its first laps in January 2022 on Porsche’s test area in Weissach. The prototype then covered more than 30,000 kilometres on racetracks in Europe and North America. “We learned a lot from these tests and we experienced ups and downs in the process,” recalls Urs Kuratle. The Director Factory Motorsport LMDh adds: “We set ourselves the goal of reaching the 30,000-kilometre mark in the tests and we achieved this. We’ll use the ‘Roar’ at Daytona to continue tweaking the car as perfectly as possible for the race. We’ve worked hard towards putting ourselves in the best possible position for the start of the IMSA season.”

“Porsche Motorsport, the Penske team, Multimatic, Michelin and other partners have spent almost two years in a development phase,” says Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport. “We’ve all pulled together to get the Porsche 963 as optimally prepared as possible for the upcoming challenge. We’ll go up against our rivals for the first time at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Before the lights turn green on race day Saturday, it’s difficult to predict how the scenario will unfold. We’ve done all we can to get the season off to a promising start. We’ll receive support at Daytona from our Porsche colleagues in the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC as well as our digital links to the Porsche Development Centre in Weissach and our European base in Mannheim.”

Seven new Porsche 911 GT3 R contest the GTD Pro and GTD classes
The new Porsche 911 GT3 R has completed around 24,000 test kilometres and three trial runs. As part of the test programme, in autumn 2022, the systematically modified GT3 vehicle from Weissach took part in three rounds of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS), where it underlined its potential. “We’re facing a huge challenge. Our new GT3 racer contests its first official race on the big international stage at Daytona,” outlines Sebastian Golz, Project Manager Porsche 911 GT3 R, ahead of the opening round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. “An average speed of more than 190 km/h in the race as well as the unique track characteristics with its steeply banked turns put huge stresses on the cars at the very first race of the year. We’re very much looking forward to tackling this challenge with seven Porsche 911 GT3 R fielded by five strong partner teams.”

The race
The Daytona International Speedway in Florida, which opened in 1959, distinguishes itself from other tracks most notably by its steeply banked turns. The slope incline reaches up to 31 degrees in the oval passages of the 5.73-kilometre racetrack. This requires a special vehicle setup. Porsche is by far the most successful manufacturer at Daytona. The Stuttgart automobile manufacturer has achieved 18 overall wins as a constructor and four as an engine partner, with a further 80 class wins rounding off this success record. The classic event has been contested on the combination of the tri-oval and the infield road course since 1966. For the 2023 season, the North American racing series features a changed class structure: The Porsche 963 contests the new top GTP category, with the 911 GT3 R competing in the GTD Pro and GTD classes. In addition, vehicles will also tackle the LMP2 and LMP3 categories.

The 24 Hours of Daytona also marks the start of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup. This long-distance classification awards points for the best-placed vehicles after six, twelve and 18 hours as well as when crossing the finish line. In addition to the season-opening round in Florida, the championship includes the 12 Hours of Sebring, the 6-hour race at Watkins Glen and the so-called “Petit Le Mans”. The IMSA season wraps up in mid-October with this ten-hour race on the Road Atlanta circuit.

The Porsche drivers and teams
Six works drivers share the cockpits of the two Porsche 963 fielded by the new Porsche Penske Motorsport team in the GTP class. Nick Tandy from England and Mathieu Jaminet from France are the regular drivers in the No. 6 car. The two seasoned professionals receive reinforcement at the endurance event in Daytona from the American Dane Cameron. Sharing driving duties in the No. 7 car for the 2023 season are Australia’s Matt Campbell and Felipe Nasr from Brazil. Michael Christensen from Denmark supports the duo at the 24-hour race.

In the GTD Pro class, the defending champions from Pfaff Motorsports put their trust in an experienced line-up from the extended Porsche driver squad. Austria’s Klaus Bachler contests the whole season as a regular driver with Frenchman Patrick Pilet. At Daytona, works driver Laurens Vanthoor from Belgium joins the crew in the No. 9 Porsche 911 GT3 R. In the GTD category, last year’s winners from Wright Motorsports (No. 16) rely on Ryan Hardwick from the USA, Jan Heylen from Belgium, Zacharie Robichon from Canada and the Norwegian Porsche contract driver Dennis Olsen.

The French works driver Kévin Estre, among others, helms the second 911 (No. 77) fielded by the customer team from the US state of Ohio. The squad from Kelly-Moss with Riley celebrates its debut in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with two more Porsche 911 GT3 R. The successful team from the Porsche Carrera Cup North America has signed on Julien Andlauer from France, New Zealander Jaxon Evans, the experienced Dutch racer Jeroen Bleekemolen and his young compatriot Kay van Berlo. MDK Motorsports has a particularly prominent line-up for its GT3 racing car: Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen from Denmark shares the No. 53 cockpit with his father Jan and the Americans Mark Kvamme and Trenton Estep. AO Racing’s entry is manned by British drivers Harry Tincknell and Sebastian Priaulx, among others.

An overview of the drivers and teams
GTP class (Porsche 963):
Porsche Penske Motorsport (#6): Dane Cameron (USA), Mathieu Jaminet (F), Nick Tandy (UK)
Porsche Penske Motorsport (#7): Matt Campbell (AUS), Michael Christensen (DK), Felipe Nasr (BR)

GTD Pro class (Porsche 911 GT3 R):
Pfaff Motorsports (#9): Klaus Bachler (A), Patrick Pilet (F), Laurens Vanthoor (B)

GTD class (Porsche 911 GT3 R):
Wright Motorsports (#16): Ryan Hardwick (USA), Jan Heylen (B), Dennis Olsen (N), Zacharie Robichon (CDN)
MDK Motorsports (#53): Trenton Estep (USA), Mark Kvamme (USA), Jan Magnussen (DK), Kevin Magnussen (DK)
Wright Motorsports (#77): Alan Brynjolfsson (USA), Kévin Estre (F), Trent Hindman (USA), Max Root (USA)
AO Racing (#80): PJ Hyett (USA), Gunnar Jeannette (USA), Sebastian Priaulx (UK), Harry Tincknell (UK)
Kelly-Moss with Riley (#91): Julien Andlauer (F), Kay van Berlo (NL), Jaxon Evans (NZ), Alan Metni (USA)
Kelly-Moss with Riley (#92): Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), David Brule (USA), Andrew Davis (USA), Alec Udel (USA)

The schedule (local time, CET -6 hours)
Friday, 20 January
11:00 am to 12:30 pm: Test session 1
4:15 pm to 6:00 pm: Test session 2

Saturday, 21 January
11:15 am to 12:45 pm: Test session 3
3:10 pm to 4:10 pm: Test session 4
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm: Test session 5

Sunday, 22 January
1:25 pm to 1:40 pm: Qualifying GTD-Pro/GTD
2:40 pm to 3:00 pm: Qualifying GTP

Thursday, 26 January
11:05 am to 12:35 pm: Free practice 1
3:20 pm to 5:05 pm: Free practice 2
7:15 pm to 9:00 pm: Free practice 3

Friday, 27 January
11:20 am to 12:20 pm: Free practice 4
6:25 pm to 6:45 pm: Free practice 5 (only GTP class)

Saturday, 28 January
1:40 pm: Start 24-hour race

Sunday, 29 January
1:40 pm: Chequered flag 24-hour race

Porsche’s overall wins at the 24 Hours of Daytona
1968 – Elford/Neerpasch/Stommelen/Herrmann/Siffert – Porsche 907 LH
1970 – Rodríguez/Kinnunen/Redman – Porsche 917 K
1971 – Rodríguez/Oliver – Porsche 917 K
1973 – Gregg/Haywood – Porsche Carrera RSR
1975 – Gregg/Haywood – Porsche Carrera RSR
1977 – Graves/Haywood/Helmick – Porsche Carrera RSR
1978 – Gregg/Hezemans/Stommelen – Porsche 935
1979 – Field/Haywood/Ongais – Porsche 935
1980 – Merl/Joest/Stommelen – Porsche 935
1981 – Rahal/Garretson/Redman – Porsche 935
1982 – Paul Sr./Paul Jr./Stommelen – Porsche 935
1983 – Foyt/Ballot-Léna/Wolleck/Henn – Porsche 935
1985 – Foyt/Unser/Wolleck/Boutsen – Porsche 962
1986 – Holbert/Bell/Unser – Porsche 962
1987 – Holbert/Bell/Unser/Robinson – Porsche 962
1989 – Andretti/Bell/Wolleck – Porsche 962
1991 – Jelinski/Haywood/Wolleck/Pescarolo/Krages – Porsche 962
2003 – Buckler/Schrom/Bernhard/Bergmeister – Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Driver comments before the race
Nick Tandy (Porsche 963 #6): “After months of anticipation, we can finally get going now with the GTP class and the Porsche 963. We’ll encounter an enormous grid line-up with all kinds of vehicles, so I expect there’ll be huge international interest in this event. We’re well prepared. In the search for performance and stability, our crew considered and worked on everything down to the tiniest detail. It’s my first time fighting for overall victory at Daytona. I’m ready!”

Mathieu Jaminet (Porsche 963 #6): “Like us drivers, our entire squad and the development team have invested countless hours in developing the new Porsche 963. We’re heading to the first race full of anticipation and respect. We don’t yet know exactly what’s in store for us. We’d like to reach the finish line with as few incidents as possible. If we manage this, we’ll be ahead of the game, earn a lot of points and maybe big trophies.”

Matt Campbell (Porsche 963 #7): “We’ve put so much work and effort into developing the Porsche 963 over the past months to get it ready to race. The new era in endurance racing has finally arrived. For me, the step into hybrid prototypes also marks the start of a new chapter. I can hardly wait to climb into the car and fight for overall victories.”

Felipe Nasr (Porsche 963 #7): “We’re racing at last! I can’t think of a better event to launch the new era of endurance racing than the 24 Hours of Daytona. This is the first time the new prototypes will fight for overall victory in the GTP class in what will hopefully be a close and fiercely-fought competition. Personally, it’ll be a truly thrilling moment when I turn the first race laps in our car. Matt, Michael and I will do everything within our power to quickly turn the Porsche 963 into a winner.”

Klaus Bachler (Porsche 911 GT3 R #9): “The new season in North America kicks off with a classic. This race is a very special highlight for me: it’s my first full season in the IMSA series and it’ll be the first big race outing for our new Porsche 911 GT3 R. I’m delighted that after many successful tests, we’re now going racing. We’re well prepared for the big task ahead.”

Laurens Vanthoor (Porsche 911 GT3 R #9): “I love racing in the USA and Daytona is one of my favourite racetracks. The classic event there is the only major 24-hour race in GT sport that I haven’t yet won. Last year I fought for class victory at Daytona against the Pfaff car and was narrowly beaten in the final minutes. This year I want to win with Pfaff at the wheel its new Porsche 911 GT3 R.”

Dennis Olsen (Porsche 911 GT3 R #16): “Last year’s event was a gripping battle to the very last lap. That duel for class victory between the two Porsche 911 GT3 R is still a hit on social media today – simply epic! I’m competing for Wright Motorsports with Ryan, Zacharie and Jan this season. We have a strong team but we’re up against many strong rivals. Wright Motorsports won its class in 2022. We want to repeat that.”

Kevin Magnussen (Porsche 911 GT3 R #53): “I watched my father race at Daytona for many years and now we’re tackling the race in a team together – that means a lot to me. I’ve contested the event for the last two years so I know it well. Now I have this wonderful opportunity in the Porsche of MDK Motorsports. After contesting Le Mans as a father-son team, this is now our second major 24-hour race together. It’s going to be awesome!”

Kévin Estre (Porsche 911 GT3 R #77): “I don’t know the Wright Motorsports team and my teammates that well at this stage so we’ll have some work to do at the ‘Roar’ pre-event test. I haven’t yet spent much time in the new 911 GT3 R but I firmly believe that my teammates and the engineers in Weissach have put a great car on the track. We want to reach the flag without making any mistakes and finish at the front of the GTD class.”

Porsche Cup C6 Bank Mastercard anuncia calendário da temporada 2023

Campeonato passa por Interlagos, Velocitta e Goiânia e terá duas etapas internacionais

A Porsche Cup C6 Bank Mastercard anunciou nesta terça-feira (17) o calendário da temporada 2023. O campeonato segue o modelo consagrado nos últimos anos, com seis etapas de Sprint e três de Endurance.

O campeonato de Sprint tem prevista uma rodada dupla para cada categoria, enquanto o de Endurance segue com corridas de longa duração combinando todas as classes do evento no mesmo grid.

Interlagos abre o calendário no início de março, volta a hospedar uma etapa de Sprint em julho e depois recebe as decisões dos dois campeonatos. O de Sprint termina em 5 de novembro, na data do GP São Paulo de F1. O Endurance Series tem sua corrida final em 18 de novembro.

No Brasil, os carros de competição mais produzidos no mundo passam pelo Velocitta, em abril, e depois têm duas semanas seguidas de atividade em Goiânia, para etapa de Sprint no último fim de semana de maio e de Endurance no primeiro fim de semana de junho.

As etapas 6 e 7 também terão apenas uma semana de intervalo, em pista no exterior a ser definida, primeiro com uma jornada de Sprint e depois com a segunda etapa do Endurance Series.

Porsche Cup C6 Bank Mastercard – temporada 2023

Etapa 1 – Sprint – Interlagos – 4 e 5 de março

Etapa 2 – Sprint – Velocitta – 15 e 16 de abril

Etapa 3 – Sprint – Goiânia – 27 e 28 de maio

Etapa 4 – Endurance – Goiânia – 4 de junho

Etapa 5 – Sprint – Interlagos – 15 e 16 de julho

Etapa 6 – Sprint – Internacional – 2 e 3 de setembro

Etapa 7 – Endurance – Internacional – 10 de setembro

Etapa 8 – Sprint – Interlagos – 4 e 5 de novembro

Etapa 9 – Endurance – Interlagos – 18 de novembro

RALI DE MONTE CARLO: PNEUS RALLY1 EVOLUTION 2023 PARA A PROVA DE ESTREIA

Milão, 17 de janeiro de 2023 – Os pneus para a época de 2023 do WRC contam com várias atualizações tecnológicas que maximizam as características apreciadas pelas equipas ao longo das duas temporadas anteriores. A Pirelli dá assim um passo consistente com a filosofia de desenvolvimento contínuo que impulsiona, ano após ano, a evolução dos pneus em todas as categorias de automobilismo das quais é fornecedora.  Algumas das especificações otimizadas para 2023 estrear-se-ão já na 91.ª edição do Rali de Monte Carlo, que tradicionalmente abre a época de ralis de topo, com uma provas mais exigentes de todo o campeonato, embora se esperem condições menos severas, com temperaturas mais altas e menos superfícies cobertas de neve do que o habitual.  O QUE MUDA E O QUE FICA IGUAL EM 2023  A evolução dos pneus para os carros de Rally1 foi alcançada pelos engenheiros da Pirelli de acordo e com a colaboração das equipas, tendo abrangido as versões para asfalto (seco e molhado, supermacio, macio e duro) e de gravilha (macio e duro). As novas soluções técnicas introduzidas não estão apenas alinhadas com o contínuo e rápido desenvolvimento dos carros e o implacável aumento de desempenho, mas antecipam também as suas possíveis trajetórias a curto e médio prazo.  Para melhor suportar o aumento de velocidade e de potência, que juntamente com as condições de corrida cada vez mais desafiadoras submetem os pneus a um stress elevado e crescente, os pneus de asfalto e gravilha da linha WRC1 2023 contam com alguns “truques” a nível da construção que mantêm as suas características de desempenho inalteradas, maximizando a resistência geral e a durabilidade. O resultado é uma linha de produtos ainda mais confiável e competitiva.   Em particular, os engenheiros da Pirelli trabalharam para levar o delicado equilíbrio entre robustez e capacidade de absorção de choque a um nível mais alto em termos de resistência. Um pneu excessivamente robusto, aliás, não é capaz de absorver a violência dos impactos que acabam por prejudicar o carro, colocando em risco os seus componentes. A procura pelo equilíbrio certo entre elasticidade e robustez é ainda mais complicada devido às tensões suportadas pelas jantes, que são o componente que se danifica com mais frequência, o que acaba por se refletir, invariavelmente, no pneu. Nota-se que na temporada passada houve apenas 41 furos em 13 ralis, de um total de quase 3.500 pneus usados em 148.000 quilómetros de competição, contudo, os danos nas jantes que também resultaram em danos nos pneus chegaram a várias centenas.  Por outro lado, não foram feitas alterações nos compostos, em pleno acordo com as equipas, que ficaram satisfeitas tanto com o desempenho como com a ampla janela de funcionamento apresentada.   CITAÇÃO PIRELLI  Terenzio Testoni, responsável pelas atividades de rali da Pirelli: “Chegamos à abertura da temporada muito satisfeitos com o trabalho de desenvolvimento realizado, que fortaleceu ainda mais a colaboração com as equipas e pilotos, com quem trabalhamos constantemente em sinergia e com total igualdade no que aos pontos de vista diz respeito. As alterações nas características dos pneus, ainda que ligeiras, levam-nos a esperar uma época sem surpresas. Não faltarão, claro, desafios e incógnitas relacionadas com a agora total confiança das equipas na gestão do aumento de potência e peso dos carros híbridos, que sujeitam os pneus a um esforço particularmente intenso. O Rali de Monte Carlo será já uma prova importante para todos, que dará indicações significativas sobre o que se pode esperar do campeonato.”   PNEUS PIRELLI EM MONTE CARLO  P Zero RA WRC: A versão macia dos pneus de asfalto otimizados para 2023 fará a sua estreia em Monte Carlo. É a especificação desenvolvida para os asfaltos secos mais escorregadios. Também o novo supermacio fará a sua estreia, uma especificação projetada exclusivamente para o rali de Monte Carlo, que exige pneus de asfalto adequados para enfrentar as baixas temperaturas.   Sottozero STZ-B: um pneu de inverno altamente versátil destinado a todas as categorias de carros e projetado para superfícies molhadas, com neve ou mistas (neve-gelo). Esta especificação está disponível em duas versões: com ou sem pregos.  No geral, a Pirelli vai transportar 800 pneus para os carros de Rally 1. Cada piloto da categoria terá à sua disposição 80 pneus, dos quais 38 poderão ser utilizados durante a corrida, incluindo quatro para o shakedown. Para o rali de Monte Carlo, cada carro tem uma alocação total de:   – 24 P Zero RA Super Soft – 20 P Zero RA Soft – 24 Sottozero STZ-B com pregos – 12 Sottozero STZ-B sem pregos  Além disso, a Pirelli também irá fornecer 2.700 pneus para as restantes categorias, incluindo os inscritos no WRC2:   – 20 P Zero RA7+B – 16 P Zero RA9 – 24 Sottozero STZ-B com pregos – 12 Sottozero STZ-B   DADOS SOBRE A ÚLTIMA TEMPORADA   Os dados mostram que os 14 pilotos envolvidos do WRC1:  – Utilizaram um total de 3534 pneus, com Kalle Rovanpera e Thierry Neuville no topo da lista (195 e 194 respetivamente), com uma média de 28 por corrida; – Preferiram o composto macio para gravilha e o duro para asfalto  – Ganharam mais Power Stages em gravilha com pneus macios (5 vezes). Por seu turno, nos Power Stages em asfalto, o pneu com melhores resultados foi o duro (4 em cinco corridas); – Registaram um total de 41 furos (entendidos como danos na banda de rodagem ou nos flancos), representando 1,16% dos pneus usados e um para cada 3.628 quilómetros percorridos, em comparação com centenas de jantes danificadas, especialmente em algumas corridas como Portugal e Quénia.   

Esports race, virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans: Porsche Coanda Esports wins championship title in the virtual Le Mans Series

The No. 20 car of Porsche’s sim racing works team finishes the virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans second The No. 23 sister car concludes the race on P6 Project 1 by Dörr Esports secures fourth place in the GTE class with the digital 911 RSR
Second place at the virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans has handed the Porsche Coanda Esports works team the title in the virtual Le Mans series. Despite several setbacks, Joshua Rogers, Mitchell deJong, Ayhancan Güven and Laurin Heinrich were just 21 seconds off the winner. Their team colleagues in the No. 23 LMP racing car came sixth.

Stuttgart. The Porsche Coanda Esports Racing Team has won the 2022/2023 virtual Le Mans Series. Works drivers Joshua Rogers (Australia) and Mitchell deJong (USA) secured second place with the former Porsche Juniors Ayhancan Güven (Turkey) and Laurin Heinrich (Germany) at the virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans. Despite two drive-through penalties and time losses due to server connection problems, the quartet crossed the finish line on the digital Circuit des 24 Heures a mere 21.1 seconds behind the victorious LMP2 vehicle fielded by Team Redline. This result was enough for the No. 20 car of the Porsche Coanda factory squad to move to the top of the leaderboard at the fifth and final round on the rFactor 2 simulation platform. Driving the sister car, Mack Bakkum (Netherlands), Dayne Warren (Australia), Morris Schuring (Netherlands) and the new Porsche Junior Bastian Buus (Denmark) were also hampered by unfortunate setbacks during the race. They ultimately crossed the finish line in sixth place.

“The virtual Le Mans Series is one of the most prestigious championships in sim racing – so with this in mind, winning the title is incredible. It shows how hard we’ve worked throughout a season that had a rocky start for us,” states Philip Stamm, team principal at Porsche Coanda Esports Racing. “It’s a shame, of course, to finish a 24-hour race in second with a gap of just 21 seconds behind the winner. Still, we’re at the start of a new year and we hope that there’ll be many more great successes to come.”

The virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans represents the highlight and the finale of the virtual Le Mans Series. A special feature of this championship: seasoned professionals from real-life motorsport share driving duties in the digital racing cars with sim racing experts.

Both Porsche Coanda racing cars started from the first grid row
Already in Friday evening’s qualifying, the Porsche sim racing works team underlined its competitiveness: Joshua Rogers posted a commanding top time almost three-quarters of a second ahead of the second-fastest competitor. Like his teammate Mack Bakkum in the second Porsche Coanda racing car, the Australian made it into the hyperpole session with a top-six result. There, the two clinched a perfect grid spot for the 24-hour race: Rogers set pole position, with Bakkum lining up beside him on the first grid row.

The race got off to a turbulent start on Saturday at 2:00 pm: With an ambitious manoeuvre in the first chicane, current Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen swept into the lead. First stint driver Laurin Heinrich defended his second place with the No. 20 car, with Porsche Supercup driver Morris Schuring running in fourth place. A little later, Heinrich made a counterattack and reclaimed the lead spot.

After a good 3.5 hours of racing, the sister car suffered an unexpected setback: A technical problem threw Dayne Warren off the server. The No. 23 racing car initially fell back to 23rd place but was later handed a time bonus of 250 seconds. He returned to the top 10 and was back in the same lap as the top group. Further server glitches on the simulation platform in the early evening resulted in the race being interrupted for long periods. The virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans resumed regular operations from 9:30 pm.

The No. 20 entry faced special challenges during the night. Ayhancan Güven came under pressure from the two Redline cars however he vehemently defended his lead lap after lap. At around 11:30 pm, the Porsche Junior from 2020 and 2021 was handed a drive-through penalty. This relegated Güven back to ninth place. Almost two hours later, the car, now with Laurin Heinrich at the wheel, was back in second place. Due to an ‘unsafe release’ at the following pit stop, the race director handed the No. 20 car another driver-through penalty. Heinrich rejoined the race in sixth place from where he launched another pursuit.

But the streak of bad luck did not end there. As the sun came up, the two Porsche Coanda racing car, among others, again experienced server problems, which increased the gap to the leaders to over two minutes. However, the competition wasn’t immune either: Shortly before 7 am on Sunday morning, the leading car driven by Max Verstappen lost ground and retired 90 minutes later. With a good two hours of racing to go, the No. 20 car had reclaimed second place. The No. 23 entry was running in fourth place, a minute behind. It then received a drive-through penalty for exceeding the track limits and ultimately finished in sixth. Thanks to a spirited charge through the field, especially in the last two hours, Rogers, deJong, Güven and Heinrich halved the gap to the Team Redline’s No. 2 car but were unable to close the gap completely. In the end, they crossed the finish line in second place.

Strong drive from Proton Coanda Esports in the GTE class goes unrewarded
Six digital Porsche 911 RSR took on the 24-hour challenge in the GTE category. As the best competitor, the racing car fielded by Project 1 by Dörr Esports took the flag in fourth place after 322 laps. The Hungarian Norbert Kiss and his German teammates Marc Gassner, Moritz Löhner and Leonard Krippner were just one lap behind the class winner. Raoul Hyman (South Africa), Alexander Tauscher (Germany), Bryn Collins (United Kingdom) and the Dutchman Kevin van Dooren secured fourth place with the No. 88 car run by Proton Coanda Esports, despite an accident and a 90-second pit stop for repairs. The 911 RSR campaigned by Oracle Red Bull Racing concluded the virtual 24-hour race tenth in its class. At 2:00 am in the morning, Proton Coanda’s second car had to retire with a defect. Until then, Loek Hartog (Netherlands), Jefferson Giassi from Brazil, Paschalis Gkergkis (Greece) and most notably Charlie Collins from the UK gave an impressive performance in the GTE class with blistering lap times.

Comments on the race
Mitchell deJong (Porsche Coanda Esports Racing Team #20):
“We’re wrapping up the season as the champions but obviously we also wanted to win Le Mans. Still, we had a great race. It went back and forth, I’m thinking mainly of the penalties that were imposed on us but we kept fighting as a team. Ultimately, we managed to slash the gap to 21 seconds – so it was very close. At the end of the day, it was only enough for second place.”

Laurin Heinrich (Porsche Coanda Esports Racing Team #20):“It was a very, very long and mentally demanding race – not least because of the red flag interruptions. A very interesting dynamic unfolded from this, from which some benefited more than others. Such things are sometimes out of your hands. Still, I’m satisfied with this result. We came second and also won the championship. That’s worth a lot. We were actually the fastest car on the track today but to win a 24-hour race, you also need luck on your side.”

Mack Bakkum (Porsche Coanda Esports Racing Team #23):“Obviously we’re disappointed with how things turned out in the end. We lost a lot of time without being able to do anything about it. That’s always annoying. Everyone encountered problems, some were affected more than others. I’m really very proud of the team and how we worked together. That’s the most important thing at the end of the day. Hopefully, we can do better in the race next year.”

Bastian Buus (Porsche Coanda Esports Racing Team #23): “Porsche Coanda Esports put a huge amount of work into this project – more than I actually expected. It was fantastic to be part of this and to get the chance to learn. Looking ahead, I’m certain that I can take what I’ve learned from this endurance experience into the real world. The result was a bit unfortunate. A couple of situations that were out of our hands stopped us from achieving a better result. All four of us did a great job as drivers. All in all, I think things could have gone better, but they could also have been much worse.”

Results
1. Bennett/Drugovich/Lulham/Rosenqvist (UK/BR/S), Team Redline #2, 356 laps
2. DeJong/Güven/Heinrich/Rogers (USA/TR/D/AUS), Porsche Coanda Esports #20, -21.109 seconds
6. Bakkum/Buus/Schuring/Warren (NL/DK/NL/AUS), Porsche Coanda Esports #23, -2:49.418 minutes

Result GTE class
1. Andonovski/Andrews/Jajovski/Smolyar (MKD/AUS/MKD/RAF), R8G Esports #888, Ferrari 488 GTE, 323 laps
4. Gassner/Kiss/Krippner/Löhner (D/H/D/D), Project 1 by Dörr Esports #11, Porsche 911 RSR, 322 laps
5. B. Collins/Hyman/Tauscher/van Dooren (UK/ZA/D/NL), Proton Coanda Esports #88, Porsche 911 RSR, 322 laps
10. Conwright/Jordan/Kasdorp/Stevenson (USA/D/NL/UK), Oracle Red Bull Racing #99, Porsche 911 RSR, 320 laps
11. Li/Li/Lu/Lobato (VRC/VRC/VRC/P), Inspeed Racing #25, Porsche 911 RSR, 319 laps

Fernando Barrichello estreia na F4 UAE escalando mais de 22 posições em seu primeiro compromisso internacional

Fernando Barrichello estreia na F4 UAE escalando mais de 22 posições em seu primeiro compromisso internacional

Filho mais novo de Rubens Barrichello teve a jornada atrapalhada por incidente e bandeiras amarelas em Dubai

Fernando Barrichello fez neste final de semana, no Autódromo Internacional de Dubai, sua estreia em categorias internacionais no automobilismo. Filho mais novo de Rubens Barrichello teve jornada atribulada, mas de boas escaladas, na abertura da Fórmula 4 dos Emirados Árabes Unidos.

Enfrentando dificuldades com o motor do bólido #41 apoiado pela Porto Bank teve que encarar três jornadas de recuperação. Partindo de 32º, 40º e 32º nas três provas respectivamente, Fefo conseguiu mostrar bom ritmo e domínio da máquina para escalar o pelotão nas três provas.

Na corrida 1 saltou da trigésima segunda posição para a 21ª escalando nada menos do que 11 posições. Já na corrida 2, após largada forte, Fefo partiu da última para a vigésima posição em questão de duas voltas, quando foi abalroado por um concorrente e forçado a abandonar a prova. Na terceira corrida, novamente partindo da 32ª posição, Fefo voltou a ganhar 11 posições para receber a quadriculada em 21º. A estratégia do brasileiro priorizava a corrida 3, com ritmo forte e pneus mais novos que seus adversários, Fefo foi atrapalhado por longas intervenções de bandeira amarela causada por dois acidentes em sequência, que fizeram a prova terminar sob regime do carro de segurança.

O próximo compromisso de Fefo acontece na quarta rodada da F4 UAE, quando a categoria volta ao autódromo de Dubai nos dias 10 a 12 de fevereiro.

O que ele disse:

Finalizado um final de semana muito difícil aqui em Dubai, onde enfrentamos muitos problemas com o carro, principalmente no motor. Largamos a corrida 1 em P32 e conseguimos escalar até a 21ª posição. Na segunda, partimos de último e na segunda, depois de escalar 20 posições, fui tirado da corrida por um concorrente. A terceira corrida, que era a prioridade da nossa estratégia, passamos o pneu novo e tínhamos um ritmo muito forte, mas dois acidentes depois de escalar de 32º para 21º terminaram com a corrida em Safety-Car.

Uma pena ter terminado assim, agradeço pela oportunidade que me deram e pela experiência que eu tive. Volto em 25 dias aqui para Dubai para a quarta rodada do campeonato e encerro em Yas Marina na última. Obrigado a todos que torceram por mim e conto com vocês nas próximas etapas.”

Fernando Barrichello