Webber signs five-year Porsche deal

 
Mark Webber has signed a five-year deal to switch from formula one to Le Mans-style sports car racing from 2014.
That is the claim of Radio Le Mans, citing information from the paddock of Sunday's Chinese grand prix in Shanghai, where the 36-year-old Australian endured another nightmare race weekend.
China was just one race on from the 'Multi-21' team orders affair, and where rumours flourished that Kimi Raikkonen is being lined up to replace Webber at Red Bull next year.
Earlier this month, Germany's Bild newspaper reported that Webber and Porsche had been in contact about a deal for 2014, when the famous sports car maker intends to race a Le Mans-style LMP1 prototype.
A Porsche spokesman had not denied the Webber rumours, saying only that "Whether and to what extent additional drivers are added (to the existing roster) will be decided at a later date".
But AAP news agency quoted a Porsche spokesman on Monday: "There is a test plan (for Le Mans) and for sure Mark Webber is not part of them.
"We can have perhaps some formula one drivers in the future but it is not necessary."
The latest reports follow wild rumours that Webber's nightmare weekend in China, including fuel woes in qualifying and a wheel falling off during the race, is a Red Bull conspiracy to reinforce his de-facto 'number 2' status.
"He (Webber) has no confidence in his employer," wrote correspondent Simon Pausch in Die Welt newspaper. "And who can really blame him?"
But team boss Christian Horner dismissed the conspiracy claims as "complete rubbish".
Dr Helmut Marko added: "We don't put a car together for millions of euros only to deliberate sabotage it."
Even Mercedes' Niki Lauda had to agree: "No sane person could intentionally put a wheel nut on wrong.
"The cars do 320kph here and if one flies off, it is literally life or death."
Horner backed Webber - who has pledged to at least see out his 2013 contract - to bounce back.
"He'll be fine. He's a tough competitor," he said.
via worldcarfans

Aston Martin wants your help to create the Vantage GTE Gulf livery

 

For the #97 Vantage GTE competing at 24 Hours of Le Mans

Aston Martin Racing and Gulf have set up a new contest asking fans to design the livery of the #97 Vantage GTE which will compete this June at 24 Hours of Le Mans.
After the Vantage GT3 livery contest, the British marque wants you to design the Vantage GTE which will be driven by Darren Turner, Stefan Mücke and Peter Dumbreck at La Sarthe circuit.
The contest is addressed to people of all ages with artistic abilities who are invited to access www.mygulfastonmartinracingcar.com and download the photo of the blank Vantage GTE. Judges will accept various designs, from the ones colored by pencils to projects completed using a professional design program. All entries will be judged by Darren Turner, Stefan Mücke, Frédéric Makowiecki and Bruno Senna.

Source: Aston Martin
via Worldcarfans

Dunlop Art Car Competition – Blank canvas at Silverstone this weekend.

The 2012 JMW Ferrari will be racing with a blank canvas at Silverstone this weekend. The car's new season ‘clothes' will only be decided at the end of the 2013 Dunlop Art Car Competition, which still has four weeks to run - last year the Ferrari wore the ‘Speed Rhythm' design by Egidijus Gužauskas. Entries for 2013 so far include animal prints, camouflage and a Dunlop photographic timeline.

Motorsport and car fans, design students and artists (aged 16 years and over*) are invited to take part from across Europe. Each country will have a competition with four entries put forward to the regional final.

Dunlop, one of the world's leading manufacturers of high and ultra high performance tyres, is celebrating its 125th anniversary and entrants are encouraged to incorporate an anniversary logo in their design for the Dunlop sponsored JMW Motorsport Ferrari F458 GT2 car. This is the fifth year that the competition has been run.

The starting line-up at the French circuit is perhaps one of the most glamorous occasions in motorsport and entrants have the opportunity to be part of that glitzy occasion.

Over 200,000 spectators and millions of TV viewers worldwide will see the end result which will be chosen partly by Facebook users and partly by a panel of judges. The two most popular entries, along with two designs selected by a jury for each of the participating countries, all win prizes for their designs and go through to the European final; the most popular entry overall receives an automatic place in the final four.

The finalists are then reduced to four international winners, three being selected by the EU jury. The final place will be given to the most popular design. First prize includes seeing the art car unveiled at the pre-race test weekend at Le Mans on June 8th. The winner will also attend an awards dinner, see behind the scenes at the Le Mans test event, receive a pair of tickets to the Le Mans 24 Hours race itself and 1000 Euros. The three runners-up will each receive a canvas print of their design signed by the JMW drivers.

Entries can be submitted via the Facebook page, titled ‘Design the Drive', and the closing date for entries and voting is 14th May. The four winners from each country will be announced on 16th May with the winner and runners-up being notified on 20th May. The winning design will be seen for the first time on 8th June when it emerges from the pit-garage at Le Mans.

"I'm pleased that a few of the entrants have put thought into Dunlop's heritage but there are some fun ideas too. We need more designers and more voters to make sure we get the best design we can. The new Facebook design tool makes it very easy for anyone to take part so I hope we get plenty more innovative liveries to choose from. " says James Bailey, Director, European Motorsport Marketing and Communications.

Source : Dunlop

via Endurance-Info

MAX BIAGGI LAUNCHES PIRELLI ANGEL GT ON AIRCRAFT CARRIER

Retired world champion performs braking test on Italian warship.

Is there a better place to evaluate the wet-weather stopping capabilities of a new sport-touring tire than the flight deck of an aircraft carrier? Apparently not, which is why Pirelli called on six-time world champion Max Biaggi to conduct a braking test with its new Angel GT on the Italian aircraft carrier Cavour.

According to Pirelli, Biaggi accelerated to 62 mph before throwing out the anchors at a pre-established spot on the deck of the carrier, which was moored at a new base in Taranto facing the Ionian Sea. Pirelli says the Angel GT “substantially increases mileage, grip and handling in the wet” compared with its predecessor, the Angel ST. Available in four front and 10 rear sizes, the dual-compound radial tire was developed for naked, supersport and touring motorcycles. The Angel GT is original fitment on the Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring.

Cycle World Contributing Editor John L. Stein attended the press launch, which was held in part on the Cavour. Look for Stein’s on-road impressions of the new tire on www.cycleworld.com.

from cycleworld