M-Sport Bentleys make a great start to the season.

• 2014 Blancpain Endurance Series underway after opening round
• Continental GT3s finish a hard-fought 7^th and 8^th at Monza
• Great foundation to build on over the season

Team M-Sport Bentley open their 2014 racing account with a strong performance at the first race of the Blancpain Endurance Series in Monza, Italy. After three hours of racing in sunny and warm conditions at the famous circuit, the two Continental GT3s finished line astern in 7^th and 8^th positions. Car 8, driven by Antoine Leclerc, Jérôme D’Ambrosio and Duncan Tappy moved from 13^th on the grid to finish 7^th, just ahead of Car 7 piloted by Andy Meyrick, Guy Smith and Steven Kane. 

While the racing was challenging in itself, the really hard work started after the Saturday qualifying session. With Steven Kane having set the fourth fastest lap time, on his final lap just before the end of the session he carried too much speed in to the Ascari chicane and hit the wall nose-first. Fortunately, a combination of the strength of the Continental GT body from which the GT3 is built and the skill of the mechanics from M-Sport Bentley meant an overnight rebuild was possible, and by 10am on Sunday morning the car was ready to race. 

Brian Gush, Bentley’s Director of Motorsport, comments:
“This weekend has been a very good opening test of our cars and team. We’ve learnt a great deal and have many areas where we can make small improvements, but the whole team worked extremely hard and we’re very pleased with two top ten finishes in our first competition race. During the race the cars were strong and our drivers put in great performances, and I’m looking forward to being able to build from here at the next race at Silverstone.” 

Steven Kane drove the final stint of the race in Car 7. He comments:
“I’m really pleased with our performance here this weekend. Fortunately my pride was damaged more than the car after the crash on Saturday afternoon, and the mechanics did an amazing job overnight to have our car ready. In the race, Andy and Guy put in two very good stints to mean I could focus on bringing the car home safely. This is good start to our season and I already can’t wait to be back behind the wheel in a few weeks for the next round.”

Car 8 had an even better race, after Jérôme D’Ambrosio drove a superb stint that brought the car from 12^th to 6^th. He says:
“Before this weekend I’d only driven the Continental GT3 once, so to be able to get in this weekend and be straight on the pace shows how well balanced the car is. I thoroughly enjoyed my stint, and I was able to lean on the car and make up a few places. We’ve learnt a lot about our car and our competition, and despite our good finish I know there’s more to come.” 

The story of the race

Car 7 started the race in 4^th, with opening driver Andy Meyrick able to overtake two Ferrari 458s off the line to lie 2^nd after the opening lap. He then held off the same two Ferraris for 15 laps, despite repeated contact from one, before eventually needing to manage his rear tyres and ceding the place. When two cars ahead of him touched on lap 28 and dropped oil, Andy lost time but managed to stay on the track. He pitted from 7^thplace on lap 32, when Guy Smith took over. Traffic in the pit lane and a failed wheel nut meant a slow stop, and Guy resumed in 15^th. Guy’s racing experience then shone through, and over the 34 laps of his stint he made up five places to bring the car in on lap 66 in 10^th place to hand over to Steven Kane with a quick and efficient pit stop. After the rest of the field had pitted, Steven was in 9^th and immediately among the quickest cars on the track. He made up one place over his 30 laps to finish 8^th, just behind the sister Continental GT3. 

Car 8 started further back on the grid in 13^th, despite setting a qualifying time just 0.3 secs slower than that of Car 7. Antoine Leclerc started the race, also passing two cars on the opening lap. By the time he entered the pits to hand the car to Jérôme D’Ambrosio, he’d progressed to 8^th place. After the field had stopped Jérôme found himself 12^th, but then went on a charge – taking six places to then pit on lap 64 in 6^th place. Duncan Tappy emerged from the pit stop window in 7^th after a very fast service from the pit crew, and despite chasing down the ROAL BMW over the course of his 32 lap stint he settled for a 7^th place finish at the chequered flag.

Looking forward

With an encouraging result from their first race, M-Sport Bentley is looking forward to the next race and the rest of the Blancpain Endurance Series. The next race is the British round, at the internationally renowned Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire over the weekend of 24^th-25^th May.

Full reveal of Vauxhall's most radical car, the Astra VXR Extreme.

With over 300PS generated from its 2.0-litre turbo engine, the Astra VXR EXTREME will be the most powerful front-wheel drive Vauxhall ever when it’s unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

Derived from last year’s Astra Cup race car that competed in the Nürburgring Endurance Championship, the EXTREME is the lighter, more powerful street-legal race sibling to the current Astra VXR.

Shorn of 100kg, thanks to liberal use of high-quality carbon components, the EXTREME’s natural environment will be the race track. If public reaction is as positive as expected, Vauxhall plans a low-volume production run for the EXTREME.

With direct injection and variable camshaft phasing, the EXTREME’s 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine is the most powerful four-cylinder unit Vauxhall has ever produced. The all-aluminium engine is mated to six-speed manual gearbox transmitting power through a limited-slip differential.

The EXTREME is 100kg lighter than a standard Astra VXR thanks to its high-quality, carbon fibre components. This high-strength, ultra-light material is used for the aerodynamically-optimised rear wing, the diffuser, front spoiler, bonnet, suspension cross-bracing, engine cover, wheels, rear wheelhouse ventilation and roof.

Noticeably lowering the EXTREME’s centre of gravity is the in-house manufactured carbon fibre roof which weighs just 2.6kg, compared with a steel roof’s 9.3kg. The wings are made of aluminium and weigh only 800g a piece instead of 2.2kg in steel. Weight reduction in key areas greatly improves agility, overall handling and the car’s power-to-weight ratio.

Vauxhall has also given the EXTREME exceptional stopping power to match, with a Brembo six-piston brake system including 370mm diameter discs up front race car. Ultra high-performance, 245/35, 19-inch tyres, specially developed for the EXTREME, also play a key role and give almost as much grip as those on the race car. In addition, the damper is adjustable, just like in a real touring car racer.

Inside the EXTREME, the back seats have been taken out and a safety roll bar put in their place.  EXTREME also gets Recaro bucket seats, with six-point safety belts from Schroth and a carbon-fibre-reinforced, suede-covered steering wheel with fine yellow decorative stitching.

The Astra VXR is now the best-selling VXR and the UK remains the largest market in Europe for Vauxhall and Opel’s highest powered models.

Radical has never been associated with Vauxhall - It is now !

• Low-weight, high-power VXR derivative set for Geneva unveil

Vauxhall today released the first official image of one of its new Geneva show stars, the Astra VXR EXTREME, which will be the basis for a future low-volume production run.

Derived from the last year’s Astra Cup race car that competed in the Nürburgring Endurance Championship, the EXTREME is the street-legal race sibling to the current Astra VXR, which in standard form already produces 280PS and 400Nm of torque.

But shorn of weight, thanks to liberal use of high-quality carbon components, the EXTREME’s natural environment will be the race track. An integrated safety structure, racing seats and six-point safety belts drives home the point still further.

The EXTREME’s timing couldn’t be better, either, since 2014 marks ten years since the VXR brand was launched in 2004. The Astra VXR is now the best-selling VXR and the UK remains the largest market in Europe for Vauxhall and Opel’s highest powered models.

More information about the Astra VXR EXTREME will follow next month.

Webber dumps F1 for World Endurance Championship and Porsche.

• Australian Formula 1 driver joins Porsche factory team for World Endurance Championship and Le Mans 24 Hours campaign, starting 2014
• UK-based Webber has scored nine Grand Prix wins since his F1 debut in 2002
• He also has extensive sports car racing experience, including Le Mans, and was runner-up in the 1998 FIA GT Championship
• Webber joins ex-Formula 1 test driver Neel Jani and long-standing Porsche factory drivers Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas in the new LMP1 sports prototype from Weissach

The Australian Formula 1 driver Mark Webber has signed a contract with Porsche that extends over several years it has been announced today. From the 2014 season, he will compete in the new Porsche LMP1 sports prototype at the Le Mans 24 Hours and in the sports car World Endurance Championship WEC.

The 36-year-old Australian has already raced at Le Mans twice. In 1998 he finished runner-up in the FIA GT Championship at the wheel of a sports prototype. Over the course of his Formula 1 career from 2002 until today, Webber has achieved 36 podium places, nine race victories and has started from pole position eleven times.

“It’s an honour for me to join Porsche on its return to the top category at Le Mans and in the sports car World Endurance Championship and to be part of the team. Porsche has written racing history as a manufacturer and stands for outstanding technology and performance at the highest level,” said Mark.

“I’m very much looking forward to this new challenge after my time in Formula 1. Porsche will undoubtedly set itself very high goals. I can hardly wait to drive one of the fastest sports cars in the world.”

“I’m very pleased to have secured Mark Webber for our LMP1 project as one of the best and most successful Formula 1 drivers of our time,” said Wolfgang Hatz, Board Member for Research and Development at Porsche AG. “Mark is without doubt one of the world’s best race drivers, he has experience at the Le Mans 24 hours race, and on top of that he’s been a Porsche enthusiast for many years.”

“I learned to appreciate Mark’s qualities when we were both involved in Formula 1,” says Fritz Enzinger, Head of LMP1. “He is one of the best drivers I could imagine for our team. I’m absolutely delighted that we have such an experienced and fast regular driver on-board from 2014.”

Competing in the new LMP1 car – which has been designed and built by the Porsche Motorsport factory team in Weissach, Germany – alongside Webber are the two long-standing Porsche factory drivers Timo Bernhard (Germany) and Romain Dumas (France), and ex-Formula 1 test driver Neel Jani (Switzerland).

Bernhard and Dumas already joined forces in 2010 to achieve overall victory in the Le Mans 24 hours. In 2007 and 2008, they secured the American Le Mans Series title at the wheel of the Porsche RS Spyder LMP2 sports prototype. Neel Jani has contested the LMP1 class since 2010.

Aston martin enters full FIA World Endurance Championship

• Four Vantage GTEs will be entered into the full FIA World Endurance Championship
• Aston Martin Racing retains Darren Turner and Stefan Mücke for 2013 
• Frédéric Makowiecki and Bruno Senna signed to drive a second GTE Pro car
• Major upgrades to the Vantage GTE
• The team aims for win at Le Mans and in the WEC

Aston Martin Racing has unveiled its most ambitious motorsport programme to date as it aims to win both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), as the marque celebrates its centenary year.

Underlining the success of its return to GT racing in 2012 and its commitment to the WEC, the team has confirmed a four-car entry into the series; two Vantage GTEs in both the Pro and Am classes.

Entry into the series means that each of the four V8-powered Vantage GTEs will compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the third round of the WEC on 22nd-23rd June, making this the largest factory team entry into the event by Aston Martin in the history of the marque. Two potential further entries for Le Mans and selected WEC rounds are on the reserve list.

The GTE Pro entries, #97 and #99, will be the heavily-revised 2013 Vantage GTE. Dan Sayers, chief engineer at Aston Martin Racing explains: “When redeveloping the race-winning 2012 Vantage GTE for the 2013 season, the design team focussed on increasing the drivability of the car and optimising the performance.”

The new Gulf-liveried #97 machine will once again be piloted by Darren Turner (GB), who celebrates his 9th season driving for the team. Stefan Mücke (D), who joined the team in 2008, will partner Turner once again. Together, Turner and Mücke will contest every round of the WEC with the aim of winning the GTE Pro championship. For the 24 Hours of Le Mans and for the second round of the WEC, the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, Peter Dumbreck (GB), who returns to GT racing after competing in the 2012 WEC in the LMP1 category, will join the team.

The second GTE Pro car, the #99 Vantage GTE, will bring some new faces to Aston Martin Racing; Formula One driver Bruno Senna (BR) and Frenchman Frédéric Makowiecki will drive at each round of the WEC and will be joined by Rob Bell (GB) for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

The #95 car is a brand new Vantage GTE, which, in accordance with the WEC GTE Am class regulations, is built to 2012 specification. The car – which proved its competitiveness by winning the 2012 Six Hours of Shanghai in the hands of the factory team – will be driven by three Danes; Allan Simonsen, Christoffer Nygard and Kristian Poulsen. The trio are no strangers to Aston Martin Racing following their GTE Am entry at Le Mans last year.

The final car in the four-strong line up – the #96, which is a new car identical to the #95 car – will run in the GTE Am category and will see Roald Goethe (D) and Stuart Hall (GB) team up once again. The pair, who proved to be a formidable force for Aston Martin Racing last year at the Six Hours of Silverstone, will be joined by FIA GT Championship-winning driver Jamie Campbell-Walter (GB).

In addition to the WEC programme, Turner, Mücke and Senna will contest the first round of the American Le Mans Series, the 12 Hours of Sebring, on 16th March in the 2013 Vantage GTE.

David Richards, Chairman of Aston Martin, comments: “There is a real sense of anticipation in the Aston Martin Racing team this year and a belief that it is once again our time to return to the top step of the podium at Le Mans. It would be a fitting way for Aston Martin, which has such a rich heritage in motorsport and particularly at Le Mans, to cap its centenary year.”

John Gaw, managing director and team principal at Aston Martin Racing adds: “Last year we proved how fast and reliable the car was, and our two GTE Am entries will pick up where the Pro car finished with victory in Shanghai last year.

“Overall, around 30 per cent of all components on the 2013-specification Pro cars are new, which makes for a significant improvement. We looked at specific areas where we could take weight out of the car and redistribute it to a better location. We have also revised the suspension, which has not only improved the handling but, when combined with the new fly-by wire throttle allowed under this year’s regulations, makes the car easier to drive.

“Our aim is to win at Le Mans and in the WEC and we are particularly pleased to welcome such a professional driver line-up to Aston Martin Racing for this centenary year.”

The V8-powered Vantage GTE is based upon Aston Martin’s sportiest road-going model, the Vantage coupé. It shares that car’s bonded aluminium structure and fundamental engine and suspension designs, emphasising the base car’s inherent sporting nature.

Aston Martin Racing’s season gets underway at the 12 Hours of Sebring, Florida, on March 16th, while the 2013 WEC begins on Sunday 14th April at the team’s home round of the series, the Six Hours of Silverstone. Follow the team’s progress throughout the year on Twitter using the handle @amr_official, on Facebook at www.fb.com/astonmartinracing and on the website at www.astonmartin.com/racing.