Gulf Racing

Lamborghini Gallardo GT3

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:56:38 +0000

This Lamborghini Gallardo LP600 GT3 is the latest creation from German racing team Reiter Engineering aimed at taking on some of the world’s most famous 24-hour events.

‘LP600’ refers to the 600PS (441kW) Reiter engine tune of Lamborghini’s 5.2-litre V10 powertrain, which is around a 20kW increase over the LP 570-4 Superleggera variant.

Reiter has recently upgraded the Gallardo LP600 after winning four GT titles in 2011, in what were essentially shorter sprint races.

“Our customers and ourselves proved already that the Gallardo is a safe and fast car in sprint format races,” says engineer and company founder Hans Reiter. “Now we want to be successful at long distance races too. Our aim is to have a reliable 24-hour race car, which is able to win.”

Reiter Engineering has already completed the development of the new Australian-made Holinger transmission, as well as the car’s aerodynamics kit. The gearbox is both lighter and faster shifting, while the car has increased downforce due to a larger front splitter and double dive plates.

The company is still developing the suspension and brake system for the LP600 GT3, but Reiter says the new car will have more grip and better handling.

“The idea behind the new kinematic is to offer more mechanical grip due to a higher static roll stiffness, which allows softer heave springs. We would also reduce the pitch movement under breaking, allowing for softer springs in the front, which increases braking forces and response to the driver.”

An updated AP braking system with six-piston calipers and new cooling for the front brakes will improve performance during endurance races.

Testing of the Gallardo LP600 GT3 car will continue in this year’s 24-hour event in Dubai and at the Gulf 12-hour in Abu Dhabi.

Aston Martin Vantage GT2

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:47:35 +0000

At the heart of the Vantage GT2 is the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. This critically acclaimed road car was launched in 2005, having undergone the most extensive test programme of any Aston Martin, with more than 1.5 million kilometres, including 18,000 kilometres of desert driving at 50oC in Dubai; cold weather testing at -30^oC in Sweden; and 60,000 kilometres of maximum speed testing at Italy’s Nardo track. Aston Martin’s unique bonded aluminium structure gives the road car class leading strength and rigidity.

The Vantage GT2 has been specifically designed to compete in championships running to ACO GT2 regulations and was the very first GT car to be designed at the outset in a bio-ethanol fuelled specification. Aston Martin Racing customers successfully compete with the Vantage GT2 in the premier GT Championships in the world including the European Open GT series, American Le Mans Series, Japanese GT series, the European Le Mans Series and the Le Mans 24 hour race.

Under the bonnet, the engine is based on the standard 4.3 litre Aston Martin V8 retaining the road car’s cylinder block, heads and crankshaft, but using competition components, including cylinder heads, connecting rods, valves, camshafts and a racing exhaust system. The engine capacity is increased to 4.5 litres and uses a dry sump lubrication system allowing the engine to be positioned low in the chassis for an optimised centre of gravity. As in the road car, the transmission is mid rear mounted, but with a six-speed sequential transmission with a ‘flat shift’ and competition clutch. The transmission also has a dedicated oil cooling system and air ventilation.

The bonded aluminium structure is taken directly from the V8 Vantage road car. Into this Aston Martin Racing integrates an aerospace specification steel roll cage, built to FIA standards. With the exception of the roof, the bodywork is manufactured from lightweight carbon fibre and features an advanced aerodynamic package with carbon fibre splitter, flat floor and diffuser, and a carbon fibre rear wing designed using computational fluid dynamics. The Vantage GT2 retains the road car’s double wishbone suspension layout at the front and rear, but with bespoke wishbones and coil springs over Koni adjustable aluminium bodied dampers. Brembo six-piston racing brakes are fitted front and rear.

Specifications:

BODY & CHASSIS

BONDED ALUMINIUM CHASSIS FROM THE V8 VANTAGE ROAD CAR
ASTON MARTIN RACING MANUFACTURED AEROSPACE SPECIFICATION STEEL ROLL CAGE BUILT TO FIA REGULATIONS
CARBON FIBRE BODYWORK: BONNET, WINGS, DOORS, TAILGATE,FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS, SILLS, REAR QUARTERS
AERODYNAMIC PACKAGE: CARBON FIBRE FRONT SPLITTER, FLAT FLOOR, REAR DIFFUSER, CFD DESIGNED REAR WING

SUSPENSION

DOUBLE WISHBONES FRONT AND REAR
KONI ADJUSTABLE DAMPERS
FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION ADJUSTABLE FOR CORNER WEIGHTS, RIDE HEIGHTS, TOE AND CAMBER SETTINGS

ENGINE

4.5 LITRE V8 IN 90 DEGREE CONFIGURATION WITH ALL ALUMINIUM CYLINDER BLOCK AND HEADS
COMPETITION SPECIFICATION FLAT-PLANE CRANK
FOUR VALVES PER CYLINDER
DRY SUMP LUBRICATION
RACING EXHAUST SYSTEM
PECTEL SQ6 ENGINE MANAGEMENT

TRANSMISSION

MID REAR MOUNTED TRANS AXLE
SIX SPEED SEQUENTIAL XTRAC TRANSMISSION WITH FLAT SHIFT
PADDLE-SHIFT (OPTIONAL)
AIR AND OIL COOLED
COMPETITION CLUTCH
LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FULL MILITARY SPECIFICATION LOOM MANUFACTURED BY ASTON MARTIN RACING
PI DELTA PRO-LOGGER WITH ANALOGUE LOOM (PI SIGMA & SIGMA JUNIOR OPTIONAL)
PI TELEMETRY SYSTEM (OPTIONAL)
FUEL SYSTEM
FIA-APPROVED BAG TYPE FUEL TANK – 90 LITRE CAPACITY
3 LITRE FUEL COLLECTOR (7-LITRE OPTIONAL)

WHEELS & TYRES

FORGED ALUMINIUM CENTRE LOCK WHEELS
FRONT – 12.5” X 18” (14″ X 18″?)
REAR – 13” X 18” (14″ X 18″?)

BRAKES

SIX PISTON BREMBO CALIPERS FRONT
FOUR PISTON BREMBO CALIPERS REAR
TWO-PIECE BRAKE DISCS, FRONT AND REAR

ACO SPECIFIC OPTIONS

AIR-CONDITIONING
ACO LOGGER LOOM, POSITION LIGHTS AND WHEELSPEED LOGGING KIT

WEIGHT

ACO REGULATIONS – 1185 KG

Official Test – Paul Ricard

admin — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:12:16 +0000

The Paul Ricard Circuit is a motorsport race track built in 1969 at Le Castellet, near Marseille, in France, with finance from the eccentric pastis magnate Paul Ricard. Ricard wanted to experience the challenge of building a highway.
The track is characterised by its long Mistral straight (1.8 km) and elongated track design. The track is also unusual in that it is built on a plateau, and is very flat. The length of the full track is around 3.610 miles (5.8 km). In 1986 the track was modified to shorten the circuit. This shorter circuit is known as the GP short circuit and is 2.369 miles (3.8 km) long. The track offers 167 possible configurations from 826 to 5,861 metres. Its flexibility and mild winter weather mean that it is used for testing by several motorsport teams, including Formula One teams.
The track is known for its distinctive black and blue runoff areas known as the Blue Zone. The runoff surface consists of a mixture of asphalt and tungsten, used instead of gravel traps, as common at other circuits. A second, deeper run-off area is the Red Zone, with a more abrasive surface designed to maximize tyre grip and hence minimize braking distance, although at the cost of intense tyre wear. The final safeguard consists of Tecpro barriers, a modern improvement on tyre barriers.

50 Cars For Blancpain Endurance Series Season Opener

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 12:28:24 +0000

As expected the Blancpain Endurance Series will have a stellar grid this season. The series announced a 50-car strong grid for the season opener at Monza today.

At Monza the Blancpain Endurance Series will feature 7 Pro Cup cars, 39 Pro-Am Cup cars and 4 cars racing in the Gentlemen Trophy. Ten brands are represented in the series – Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Dodge, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes, Nissan and Porsche all have at least one car on the grid in Italy. There are also five cars on the waiting list.

2011 Pro Cup teams’ title winner Belgian Audi Club WRT will return to the series with a double entry in the Pro Cup. The team will run a pair of Audi R8 LMS ultra. They will race against a pair of BMW Z4 GT3 entered by Marc VDS Racing as well as single entries in the Pro Cup for United Autosports (McLaren), Prospeed Competition and SMG Challenge (both with Porsche).

The majority of teams has been entered in the Pro-Am Cup, the category the series was initially set up for in 2011. Top teams from various other race series have joined for 2012; with AF Corse, DB Motorsport, Prospeed Competition, Kessel Racing, Black Falcon, ARC Bratislava and Vita4One Team Italy all entering cars this year.

Full Monza Entry List

1 1 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT BEL Audi R8 LMS ultra PRO CUP
2 2 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT BEL Audi R8 LMS ultra PRO CUP
3 3 Marc VDS Racing Team BEL BMW Z4 PRO CUP
4 4 Marc VDS Racing Team BEL BMW Z4 PRO CUP
5 22 United Autosports USA McLaren MP4-12C PRO CUP
6 60 Prospeed Competition BEL Porsche 997 GT3 R PRO CUP
7 83 SMG Challenge FRA Porsche 997 GT3 R PRO CUP
8 5 Boutsen Ginion Racing BEL McLaren MP4-12C PRO-AM CUP
9 6 Boutsen Ginion Racing BEL McLaren MP4-12C PRO-AM CUP
10 7 ARC Bratislava SVK Porsche 997 GT3 R PRO-AM CUP
11 8 Haribo Racing Team DEU Porsche 997 GT3 R PRO-AM CUP
12 9 Gulf Racing UK GBR McLaren MP4-12C PRO-AM CUP
13 10 SOFREV Auto Sport Promotion FRA Ferrari 458 Italia PRO-AM CUP
14 11 Ruffier Racing FRA Porsche 997 GT3 R PRO-AM CUP
15 12 ART Grand Prix FRA Mc Laren GT MP4-12 PRO-AM CUP
16 17 Insight Racing USA Ferrari 458 Italia PRO-AM CUP
17 18 Black Falcon DEU Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 PRO-AM CUP
18 19 Black Falcon DEU Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 PRO-AM CUP
19 20 SOFREV Auto Sport Promotion FRA Ferrari 458 Italia PRO-AM CUP
20 21 Mtech GBR Ferrari 458 Italia PRO-AM CUP
21 23 United Autosports USA McLaren MP4-12C PRO-AM CUP
22 24 Blancpain-Reiter DEU Lamborghini LP600 PRO-AM CUP
23 29 Mtech GBR Ferrari 458 Italia PRO-AM CUP
24 30 GT3 Racing GBR Dodge Viper PRO-AM CUP
25 33 Pro GT by Almeras FRA Porsche 997 GT3 R PRO-AM CUP
26 34 Pro GT by Almeras FRA Porsche 997 GT3 R PRO-AM CUP
27 35 GT Academy Team RJN GBR Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 PRO-AM CUP
28 36 DB Motorsport NDL BMW Z4 PRO-AM CUP
29 37 DB Motorsport NDL BMW Z4 PRO-AM CUP
30 38 Scuderia Vittoria GBR Ferrari 458 Italia PRO-AM CUP
31 42 Sport Garage FRA Ferrari 458 Italia PRO-AM CUP
32 43 Sport Garage FRA Ferrari 458 Italia PRO-AM CUP
33 46 Black Bull Swiss Racing ITA Ferrari 458 Italia PRO-AM CUP
34 49 AF Corse ITA Ferrari 458 Italia PRO-AM CUP
35 50 AF Corse ITA Ferrari 458 Italia PRO-AM CUP
36 51 AF Corse ITA Ferrari 458 Italia PRO-AM CUP
37 57 Vita4one Team Italy ITA Ferrari 458 Italia PRO-AM CUP
38 58 Vita4one Team Italy ITA Ferrari 458 Italia PRO-AM CUP
39 60 Von Ryan Racing GBR McLaren MP4-12C PRO-AM CUP
40 61 Prospeed Competition BEL Porsche 997 GT3 R PRO-AM CUP
41 69 Gulf Racing UK GBR McLaren MP4-12C PRO-AM CUP
42 72 Kessel Racing CHE Ferrari 458 Italia PRO-AM CUP
43 73 Kessel Racing CHE Ferrari 458 Italia PRO-AM CUP
44 88 Von Ryan Racing GBR McLaren MP4-12C PRO-AM CUP
45 90 Preci-Spark GBR Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 PRO-AM CUP
46 91 GPR AMR BEL Aston Martin DBRS9 PRO-AM CUP
47 31 Ruffier Racing FRA Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 GENTLEMEN TROPHY
48 58 Exagon Engineering FRA Porsche 997 GT3 R 2011 GENTLEMEN TROPHY
49 70 Race Art NDL Porsche 997 GT3 Cup GENTLEMEN TROPHY
50 98 JB Motorsport SWE Audi R8 LMS GENTLEMEN TROPHY

Next to the announcement of having 50 cars the final round of the series was also confirmed to take place at the Navarra circuit on October 14.

Stephane Ratel: “To have 50 cars on the grid for the first race of the 2012 season underlines the immense popularity of the Blancpain Endurance Series. Iconic sportscars competing over three hours on legendary circuits has proven to be a potent blend. We are pleased to welcome back a number of teams and drivers from the 2011 season and delighted that the ranks have been bolstered by a number of newcomers. We are also pleased to welcome Navarra to the series.

Stuart Hall

admin — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:19:37 +0000

One of Britain’s most versatile, young sportscar drivers, Stuart Hall has developed a reputation for being a solid and speedy partner in a multitude of different sportscar and GT racing categories. As part of Aston Martin Racing’s elite driver line up, he represented the luxury car marque at the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans and two rounds of the Le Mans Series, and has since gone on to win GT races in cars from Aston Martin, Lotus and Lamborghini.

Stuart began his motorsport career as a teenager and enjoyed immediate success in the T-Car championship, becoming the 2000 Champion. Combining racing with completion of his schooling meant that his progress through single-seaters was a somewhat stop-start process, but his results saw him finish as top rookie in the 2004 Formula Renault UK championship and become Champion in the Winter Series. He was selected as a BRDC Rising Star as a result.

Following a back injury which sidelined Stuart from the 2006 British F3 Championship, he ventured into sportscar racing and straight away made a positive mark. Finishing as Top Rookie and top British driver in both the 2007 Le Mans 24 Hours and Le Mans Series brought him to the attention of first the Creation-AIM team and then Aston Martin Racing as well as being selected as a member of the MSA’s Race Elite driver training scheme. He has since competed for the manufacturer in LMP1, GT3 and GT4, and has raced successfully over the last three years in the British GT Championship, Britcar, Aston Martin GT4 Challenge and UAE GT Championship.

Aside from his racing, Stuart works hard at his fitness and enjoys a multitude of participatory sports including long distance running, cricket and boxing – he’s a member of Harlow Amateur Boxing Club. He has competed in several marathons and finished the 2010 London Marathon in 2 hours 59 minutes as part of a BRDC members’ team which raised £100,000 for the CLIC Sargent children’s cancer charity. He is also an increasingly accomplished broadcaster for Eurosport covering the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Le Mans Series and the ADAC Masters series.

Nationality: British

Lives: Essex

Status: Single

ROB BELL

admin — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:32:08 +0000

Double Le Mans Series champion, Rob is one of the most respected British sportscar drivers with a wealth of experience. Rob has over seven years of sportscar racing under his belt and proven success in the categories in which he’s raced, winning the Le Mans Series title in 2008 and 2009, alongside racing in the FIA GT, ALMS and Grand-Am series.

Rob began his career in karting and enjoyed early success at an international level. Moving to single seaters in 1998, Rob cut his teeth in the Formula Vauxhall Junior championship, progressing to British Formula Ford and then on to Formula Renault, taking the Formula Renault Winter Championship title in 2002 and 2003, becoming a front runner in the British and European championships, and scoring regular pole positions and podium finishes in Renault V6 (now called World Series by Renault).

Turning to sportscars in 2005, Rob quickly established himself as a strong competitor, winning the GT1 LMES 6 hours of Nurburgring in the first race of his first season. In 2007 and 2008 he claimed the Le Mans Series Champion title and since that time he has competed in every major sportscar series and blue riband event. With five Le Mans 24 Hour race starts, Sebring 12 Hours, Petit Le Mans, Spa 24 Hours and Daytona 24 Hours to his name, Rob is one of the few top sportscar names who can speak from experience about all of these classic races. He has experience of a broad range of marques, with a breadth of knowledge which can help to assist a team in a car development programme, tyre testing and other technical evaluations, evidenced by his involvement with Ferrari and Dunlop for the last five years.

In addition to his race programmes, Rob has provided driver coaching services to a number of teams for a number of years and has been able to assist with young race driver development in both single seater and sportscar categories, counting three McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award winners – Alex Sims (2008), Dean Smith (2009) and Lewis Williamson (2010) - as his protégés.

LE MANS

admin — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:58:12 +0000

In June 2012, Aston Martin Racing customers will have the unique opportunity to race at the Le Mans circuit as part of the world’s most famous Sportscar racing event, the 24 hours of Le Mans.

An Aston Martin exclusive race has been organised in conjunction with the ACO to take place before the start of the main endurance event with practice and qualifying sessions in the preceding days.

The event is now open to all Aston Martin Racing built GT cars including DBR9 GT1, Vantage GT2, DBRS9 GT3, Vantage GT3 and Vantage N24/GT4.

In total, the drivers will have almost 3 hours of track time on this unique 13.6 km circuit, culminating in a 45-minute sprint race on the Saturday morning.

This once in a lifetime opportunity is open to all owners and drivers of Aston Martin Racing built GT cars homologated in GT1, GT2, GT3 or GT4.

The full list of eligible cars is as follows -

GT1 – DBR9
GT2 – Vantage GT2
GT3 – DBRS9, Vantage GT3
GT4 – Vantage N24, Vantage GT4

The Schedule:

Wednesday 13 June – Practice session – 1 hour
Thursday 14 June – Qualifying session – 1 hour
Saturday 16 June – Aston Martin Race 45 minutes

All sessions are provisional, subject to confirmation by the ACO.

Nurburgring

admin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:45:05 +0000

The Nürburgring is a motorsport complex around the village of Nürburg, Germany. It features a modern Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a much longer old North loop track which was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is located about 70 km (43 mi) south of Cologne, and 120 km (75 mi) northwest of Frankfurt. The old track was nicknamed The Green Hell by Jackie Stewart and is widely considered one of the most demanding purpose-built racing circuits in the world.
Originally, the track featured four configurations: the 28.265 km (17.563 mi)-long Gesamtstrecke (“Whole Course”), which in turn consisted of the 22.810 km (14.173 mi) Nordschleife (“Northern Loop”), and the 7.747 km (4.814 mi) Südschleife (“Southern Loop”). There also was a 2.281 km (1.417 mi) warm-up loop called Zielschleife (“Finish Loop”) or better known as Betonschleife, around the pit area.[2] Between 1982 and 1983 the start-finish area was demolished to create a new GP-Strecke, and this is currently used for all major and international racing events. However, the shortened Nordschleife is still in use, for racing, testing and public access.

Dubai 24 hour Gallery now uploaded

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:31:21 +0000

Pictures from the Dubai 24 hour race now in the gallery section.

Dubai 24hr 2012

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:14:42 +0000