Latest news with #LMP2
Qatar Tribune
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Qatar Tribune
Former F1 driver Kubica leads Ferrari to Le Mans 24 Hours win
DPA Berlin Former Formula One driver Robert Kubica has achieved the biggest success of his motorsport career as he led Ferrari to their third consecutive win at the traditional Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race. With the #83 Ferrari crew, Kubica crossed the finish line on Sunday to celebrate the win with team-mates Phil Hanson and Yifei Ye. 'It has been a long one. Le Mans has always been close. First three years I raced LMP2 but the amount of laps I have done in the top three positions in five Le Mans is like 70%. But I have finally won it and in a Hypercar,' the Polish driver said. 'We deserve it. Happy for Ferrari. Three years in a row with three different crews, it is amazing.' There was just one safety car during the entire race. Ferrari crew #51 were third, as Porsche prevented a podium sweep for the Italian team with second place. Kubica was active in F1 between 2006 and 2010, but suffered a life-threatening rallying accident in 2011. He was trapped in the car for more than an hour before rescue workers were able to remove him. The accident left him with a partially severed right arm and multiple fractures. But he made one of the most remarkable comebacks in motorsport history once he got a full-time racing seat with Williams in 2019, before ending his F1 stint as a reserve driver for Alfa Romeo 2020-2022. Since 2021, he has been competing in the World Endurance Championship.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Hypercar, LMDh rules extended to 2032 in WEC
The lifecycle of the current generation of Le Mans Hypercar and LMDh prototypes has been extended until 2032 in the World Endurance Championship. The move, predicted by in April, means that the LMH formula is set to span 12 years following its 2021 introduction and LMDh 10 years, and follows on the two-year extension announced this time last year. Advertisement Confirmation of the plans was made by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest and FIA at the traditional press conference hosted by the former organisation on the eve of the Le Mans 24 Hours WEC round. ACO president Pierre Fillon said: 'It is important to give the manufacturers and the audience a signal of stability - we need to show that this platform is sustainable and strong. 'We are guided by two principles, stability and cost control, which is why together with the FIA we have decided to extend the rules until the end of 2032. 'Giving the manufacturers a chance to get a return on their investment was the target for us.' Pierre Fillon, ACO president Pierre Fillon, ACO president The rules extension, which was rubber stamped by this week's FIA World Motor Sport Council in Macau, was announced only in broad principles. Advertisement Fillon explained that the 'practicalities need to be discussed' and that they 'will be worked out by the end of the year'. ACO technical director Thierry Bouvet would not be drawn whether there will be any attempt to remove any of the differences between LMH and LMDh cars in the WEC's Hypercar class. At the same time, IMSA confirmed what it terms its strategic alliance with the ACO until the end of 2032, which suggests it could follow the lead taken for the WEC in extending the rules for what it calls the GTP class. Hypercars now eligible for Asian Le Mans Hypercar class contenders driven by pro-am crews will be eligible to race in the Asian Le Mans Series from the start of the 2026-27 season. Advertisement An influx of LMH and LMDh machinery will create a new top-class in the series jointly run by the ACO and GT racing boss Stephane Ratel. It will sit above the LMP2 and P3 prototype classes and the GT class for GT3 machinery, which predates the introduction of LMGT3 in the WEC in 2023. Ratel explained that the move has been the result of interest from manufacturers, teams and drivers. Race 2 Start Race 2 Start 'Interest in sportscar racing is growing in Asia: we see that in the grids for Asian LMS and the GT World Challenge Asia [which Ratel's eponymous organisation runs],' he said. 'We believe there is the possibility to attract some Asian teams and drivers; for sure there are teams whose clients are interested. Advertisement 'We know we are not going to get a grid of 20 Hypercars, but I think something like six is possible in the first year.' LMP2 tenders decided French constructors ORECA and Ligier will build the next generation of LMP2 chassis due to come on stream in 2028. They came out on top in the tender process initiated by the FIA, together with the ACO and IMSA, in March. One other constructor that is known to have bid for the right to build LMP2 machinery was the relaunched Lola brand. #23 United Autosports Oreca 07 - Gibson: Daniel Schneider, Oliver Jarvis, Ben Hanley #23 United Autosports Oreca 07 - Gibson: Daniel Schneider, Oliver Jarvis, Ben Hanley The tender called for just two manufacturers to be licensed to produce P2 machinery rather than the four of the current formula introduced in 2017. Advertisement ORECA and Ligier were joined by Dallara and Multimatic/Riley, though P2 has become a de facto one-make formula for ORECA. Gibson will continue as the engine supplier for the new generation of P2 car. The new engine will be a direct-injection twin-turbo V6, as per the tender, and capable of producing 420kW (560bhp) and running 14,000km between full rebuilds. The latest Gibson powerplant replaces the existing normally-aspirated V8 used in all LMP2 chassis. Read Also: Ford reveals more details about 2027 WEC LMDh challenger United Autosports to run McLaren Hypercar programme, Dallara tie-up agreed Genesis hires Gabriele Tarquini to management team as WEC programme takes shape To read more articles visit our website.
Forbes
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Jamie Chadwick Makes LMP2 Debut At Legendary 24 Hours Of Le Mans
Jamie Chadwick is set to make her highly anticipated debut this weekend at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, taking on one of the greatest challenges in motorsport. The British driver is no stranger to breaking new ground. In May 2025, Chadwick became the first woman to secure an overall victory in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet, driving for IDEC Sport. She had already made history earlier by winning her LMP2 debut at the 4 Hours of Barcelona, becoming the first woman to win in that class within the series. In 2024, she also made headlines as the first woman to win an INDY NXT race on a road course, dominating Road America by leading every lap from pole position. For Chadwick, standing on the grid at Le Mans feels almost surreal. 'Honestly, excited,' she says with a grin. 'It's a bit of a pinch-me moment just to be here and competing. It's funny because you're initially just thrilled to arrive, you're laughing and soaking it all in. But then, quite quickly, you shift into performance mode. You're not satisfied with just being here, you want to get the best result possible.' Chadwick will compete with IDEC Sport in the LMP2 class at the 93rd running of the world's most prestigious endurance race. The 24 Hours of Le Mans is held at the historic Circuit de la Sarthe, near Le Mans, France, a demanding track that combines permanent racing sections with public roads. The race is a grueling test of both speed and stamina, requiring teams to not only push their machines to the limit but also carefully manage their drivers across the full day and night of racing. Teams at the 24 Hours of Le Mans must rotate through three drivers, with no individual allowed more than 14 hours behind the wheel. Stints can range anywhere from 45 minutes to four hours depending on strategy, weather, and race conditions. It is a format that demands as much focus on teamwork and endurance as outright pace. Chadwick's debut comes on the heels of a record-setting season in the European Le Mans Series, where she became the first woman to win an overall race in the championship's history. Those victories at Catalunya and Le Castellet, alongside teammates André Lotterer and Mathys Jaubert, have given the squad strong momentum heading into the 24-hour test. 'Obviously, really good momentum,' Chadwick says. 'Slightly unexpected in some regards for the two races, but at the same time, they were four-hour races in the ELMS. Now we come into a 24-hour race, a completely different challenge, a different beast. But we're excited. I think it's going to be a challenge in every sense. You can't make mistakes, no one can make mistakes, and that's one of the beauties of Le Mans.' The magnitude of Le Mans cannot be overstated. More than just speed, this race demands endurance, precision, and flawless teamwork over an entire day and night of running. Last year, IDEC Sport claimed its first-ever podium finish at Le Mans. This time, the team has its sights set even higher. 'Honestly, the goal is to try and finish the race, that's an achievement in itself here,' Chadwick admits. 'But yeah, for sure, you don't come to Le Mans without dreaming. I think we dream of being on that podium, and ultimately we dream of being on the top step. Whether that's a realistic goal or not, we need to reassess properly after 24 hours, but we're still going to aim high.' IDEC Sport's driver lineup is one of the most promising in the LMP2 field. Andre Lotterer, a three-time Le Mans winner, brings invaluable knowledge and experience, while Mathys Jaubert, a young French talent, has shown impressive pace. 'We're so lucky to have André joining us, he's got a wealth of experience. He's been incredibly valuable to the team already, but also valuable to us as drivers,' Chadwick says. 'He's as good as you're going to get around this track. And then Mathys is a teammate that I've raced with in other series, and he's great as well. A young guy, a bit of a diamond we've found, super fast. He's French, so it's kind of a local race for him in a way. Yeah, we're all excited to see what we can do.' Chadwick is quick to point out how different endurance racing is from the single-seater world where she built much of her career. 'It's a different experience, but I'm really enjoying it,' she says. 'So many things need to fall into place. Everyone needs to do their specific job within the team, and I think the combination of all that coming together is what ends up in a result. The feeling is almost even greater sometimes when we do get a result because it's such a team effort.' That collective spirit is what has drawn Chadwick into the endurance racing world. '24 hours, it's tough. It's tough on the mind, tough on the body,' she reflects. 'So there's an achievement in itself just getting through a lot of these events and these races, which is a very different kind of thing from what I've done before. But at the same time, it's a really cool experience to be a part of. It's very much a team game, and I really enjoy that bit.' As the 93rd running of Le Mans approaches, Chadwick's excitement is balanced by focus and determination. She knows that simply surviving the race is an accomplishment, but her sights are set higher. 'It's obviously very cool. It's a very special event, a special race. A bit of a dream come true to be able to debut and race this weekend,' she says. 'Incredible.' 24 Hours of Le Mans will begin on Saturday, June 14th at 4 p.m. local time in France, 10 a.m. Eastern Time. The 24-hour marathon will conclude on Sunday, June 15th at the same time.
NBC Sports
18-03-2025
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
Reviewing Dillman, 'fierce' GTD action at Sebring
Leigh Diffey, Calvin Fish, and Brian Till review Tom Dillman's "superb" run through the LMP2 madness, plus Rexy and the #77 GTD Pro team grabbing the victory from the BMWs and more from the Twelve Hours of Sebring.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Twelve Hours of Sebring live updates: Porsche leads after BMW pole-sitter Dries Vanthoor penalized for start
Pole-sitter Dries Vanthoor was penalized for an illegal lane change before the start of the Twelve Hours of Sebring. Vanthoor, who had qualified first for the second consecutive race to start the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, moved from the inside to the outside lane just before the green flag. The penalty was called during the race's first caution flag, and Vanthoor had to wait until the Lap 6 restart to serve his drive-through penalty in the No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8 for Team RLL BMW. Felipe Nasr inherited the lead in the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 that has consecutive victories in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Mathieu Jaminet was third in Porsche Penske's No. 6 963. Team owner Roger Penske is seeking his second overall victory at Sebring International Raceway and first since 2008. After the penalty, Vanthoor fell to 23d in the standings behind all the Grand Touring Prototype and LMP2 cars. The first full-course yellow flag flew six minutes into the race after a crash involving two LMP2 cars (the No. 18 and No. 88) that left a fender on the track. TV/streaming: The Twelve Hours of Sebring will be streamed on Peacock from flag to flag beginning at 10 a.m. on March 15. NBC Sports' booth coverage will include announcers Leigh Diffey, Brian Till, Dave Burns, Calvin Fish and Townsend Bell. Kevin Lee, Chris Wilner and Matt Yocum will serve as pit reporters. Peacock also will carry streaming of the Ford Mustang Challenge, Lamborghini Super Trofeo, Porsche Carrera Cup and Michelin Pilot Challenge races. RADIO: All sessions live on and SiriusXM live race coverage begins March 15 at 9:45 a.m. (Sirius channel 216, XM 207, Web/App 992)
