WEC : les Audi en tête à Silverstone

 

Les nouvelles Audi R18 e-Tron Quattro ont dominé les deux séances d'essais libres en vue de la manche d'ouverture du WEC à Silverstone.

Durant la matinée, le meilleur chrono - 1'41''121 - a été réalisé par l'Audi n°8 de Duval-Di Grassi-Jarvis (avec le Brésilien au volant) qui a devancé la Porsche 919 Hybrid n°17 de Hartley-Webber-Bernhard (+00"144), la seconde Audi de Fässler-Tréluyer-Lotterer (+00"239), la seconde porsche de Dumas-Jani-Lieb (+00"336) et les deux Toyota, dans l'ordre celle de Wurz-Sarazin-Conway (+00"628) et sa soeur confiée à Davidson-Buemi-Nakajima (+01"144).

L'Audi n°7 de Fässler and co a conclu en tête la seconde séance - 1'41''526 - précédant la deuxième Audi (+00"298), les deux Porsche (+00"520 pour Hartley-Webber-Bernhard et +01"115 pour Dumas-Jani-Lieb) et les deux Toyota TS040 (+01"307 pour Wurz-Sarrazin-Conway et +02"043 pour Davidson-Buemi-Nakajima).

Les Ligier-Nissan du G-Drive ont dominé le LMP2 tandis que les Aston Martin ont émergé en GTE-Pro le matin, avant de laisser l'avantage aux Porsche lors de la seconde session. Enfin, c'est encore une Aston Martin qui a conclu ces premières escarmouches en tête des GTE-Am. (photo J. Letihon)

via http://turbomagazine.be

PJ Jacobsen signe le meilleur temps du vendredi en Supersport / PJ Jacobsen leaves it late to take top spot after WSS FP1 and FP2

L'Américain est passé devant Kenan Sofuoglu au dernier moment.

PJ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) est en tête de la feuille de temps de la catégorie World Supersport au MotorLand Aragón après avoir battu Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) dans les derniers instants de la seconde séance d'essais. 

L'Américain compte 0.272s d'avance sur le triple Champion du Monde, qui avait dominé la première séance, tandis que Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) s'est classé troisième, à trois dixièmes de seconde de Jacobsen.

Leader du classement général suite à sa victoire à domicile lors de la manche précédente, Ratthapark Wilairot (CORE Motorsport Thailand) a conclu cette première journée en quatrième position, à sept dixièmes de seconde du temps de référence et devant Gino Rea (CIA Insurance Landlords Honda) et Kyle Smith (Pata Honda World Supersport Team).

Lucas Mahias, le coéquipier de Jacobsen, a pour sa part réalisé le dixième temps.

Les pilotes de la catégorie World Supersport auront une troisième et dernière séance d'essais samedi matin, avant la séance de qualifications qui commencera à 15h55.

American steals top spot in final minutes from former champ.

After two 45-minute practice sessions under the Spanish sunshine, PJ Jacobsen (Intermoto Ponyxpres Kawasaki) heads the World Supersport field into tomorrow at the head of the times, courtesy of his MotorLandAragon lap of 1.54.413s. The 21-year-old from Montgomery, New York, left it until the final two minutes to displace Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), who was the quickest in the morning’s session.

Jacobsen, who improved his FP1 time by 1.5s, heads into tomorrow’s last free practice session with a slender advantage over Sofuoglu (+0.272s) and Jules Cluzel (+0.302s), third aboard his MV Agusta Reparto Corse machine.

Current World Championship leader Ratthapark Wilairot powered his CORE Motorsport Thailand Honda to 4^th overall on the combined classification (+0.701s) ahead of Gino Rea (CIA Insurance Landlords Honda) and Kyle Smith (Pata Honda World Supersport Team), who overcame a technical issue mid-session to move into 6^th with his last flying lap of the session (+1.205s).

Roberto Rolfo (Team Lorini Honda), Riccardo Russo (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda), Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Lucas Mahias (Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki) completed the top-10.

Qualifying is scheduled to take place at 1555 local time tomorrow.

WSBK ; Rea prend l’avantage au MotorLand Aragón / Rea moves to the top after FP2

Le leader du classement WorldSBK a fini les essais libres de vendredi devant son coéquipier Tom Sykes et Chaz Davies.

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) s’est hissé en tête du classement des essais libres du WorldSBK au MotorLand Aragón au dernier moment vendredi après-midi, reléguant son coéquipier Tom Sykes, auteur d’un doublé sur le circuit espagnol l’an dernier, à la seconde place, avec 0.145s d’avance sur son coéquipier.

Pilote le plus rapide le matin, Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing Ducati Superbike Team) a lui aussi amélioré son chrono l’après-midi et a terminé troisième (+0.348s), devant un impressionnant Xavi Fores (+0.766s), nouveau remplaçant de Davide Giugliano chez Ducati.

Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) est le pilote qui a le plus progressé au cours de la seconde séance et s’est classé cinquième (+0.862s), devant son compatriote Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki).

Les dernières places dans le Top 10 sont revenues à Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike Team), Nico Terol (Althea Racing) et Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) et Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team - Red Devils), qui finissait la journée à une seconde et demie du leader.

Randy de Puniet (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) et Christophe Ponsson (Grillini SBK Team) sont respectivement quatorzième et dix-huitième sur le classement combiné.

Cliquez ici pour accéder au résumé de la première séance d’essais.

Times improve at MotorLand Aragon as WorldSBK riders find their rhythm.

Friday’s WorldSBK activity ended a short time ago with the Kawasaki Racing Team leading the way. 2013 World Superbike Champion Tom Sykes led the standings until the final minute when he was displaced by current championship leader Jonathan Rea. Rea goes into FP3 tomorrow with a margin of 0.145s over his team-mate, who hung on to 2^nd overall.

Davies, fastest this morning on his Aruba.it Ducati Superbike Team entry improved to remain 3^rd in the combined standings (+0.348s) ahead of Xavi Fores who finished an impressive 4^th on his 2015 debut (+0.766s).

Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) made the biggest improvement, moving up to 5^th (+0.862s). Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) was 6^th (+1.075s).

The final places inside the top ten were taken by Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) who was 1.324s behind Rea, Althea Racing’s Nico Terol (+1.373s), reigning champion Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) who also improved late in the session (+1.383s) and local rider Jordi Torres who powered his Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils RSV4 RF to 10^th position overall (+1.532s).

FP3 is scheduled to take place at 0955 local time tomorrow and is the last chance for the riders to make it automatically into Superpole 2, courtesy of being inside the top ten at the end of the next 45 minutes.

For today’s FP1 report please click here.

Off-Road Toys for Grown-Up Boys

By ANDREW CONNOR 

Remember when you and Dad slapped together that go-kart with some metal tubing and an old lawnmower engine? Yeah, neither do we. But the kid down the street, he and his dad had that one-seater with the roll cage, and damn it, someday, you said, you’d outman him and have something bigger and better. Fast forward to today, and it’s time to beat the Joneses.

Dune buggies — also called sand rails — come in many shapes and sizes, with a myriad of powertrain options. Some are fabricated from old Volkswagen Beatles, others are custom built from America’s premier off-road racing teams. Whether you’re looking for a relatively affordable toy for the weekend, or you have the means to really get into it at a near-professional level, driving dune buggies provide the best sand-slinging, dirt-tromping fun you can have on four wheels.

BMS V-Twin Buggy 800

44 horsepower may not seem like a lot, but because the BMS V-Twin is so light, it can still hit a top speed capable of sending you back to the future. The V-Twin also has sensible features like a roof-mounted light pod, a cargo rack and even a snorkel attachment. It may not have the same grunt as the high-end buggies or performance side-by-sides, but it’s a great affordable option if you’re just getting acquainted with the dunes.

BUY NOW: $8,799

Polaris RZR XP 1000

Thanks to its 107 horsepower engine and its long-travel suspension, Polaris’s RZR XP 1000 transforms the traditional role of the UTV from putzy workhorse to off-road warrior. Built from the ground up with performance in mind, the RZR also features a special AWD system that responds immediately to terrain changes, as well as electric power steering to achieve that nimble cornering.

BUY NOW: $19,999 (BASE)

Can-Am Maverick X DS

If the Polaris doesn’t have enough power for your dune shenanigans, Can-Am has gone and installed a turbo in their Maverick side-by-side, making it a first in the industry. This makes it good for 121 horsepower and 97 lb-ft of torque, perfect for steep grades and getting airborne. When what goes up eventually comes down, the Maverick’s Fox 2.5 Podium shocks reduce the risk of bottoming out in your new desert toy.

BUY NOW: $22,099 (BASE)

Drakart Intimidator

If you’re ready to graduate to a more hard-core, purpose-built buggy without cashing out your 401K, Drakart has you covered with the audaciously named Intimidator. Power comes from a 1300cc Hayabusa engine (an even more powerful 1340cc unit is available) linked to a six-speed sequential manual, so the Intimidator has plenty of power to propel its lightweight tube frame through dirt and sand. Up front, the Tornado’s 23 inches of suspension travel keep things in check when you inevitably get airborne.

BUY NOW: $33,900 (BASE)

Meyers Manx

The Meyers Manx is the original off-road hot rod. Fabricated from VW’s Type-1 platform, the original Manx took the world by storm by winning off-road races, setting records and contributing to ’60s SoCal beach culture. Shameless ripoffs have made genuine original Manxes difficult to come by, but if you have the know-how, you can still buy brand-new kits today. The classic Manx kit is great for Beach Boy-esque trips to the ocean and solving mysteries, but if you want maximum dune-ripping chops the new Manxster Dual Sport is best suited for the job.

Tatum Motorsports Black Widow

If you subscribe to the notion that “bigger is better”, then perhaps a V8-powered, four-seat sand rail is up your ally. Using a rear-mounted LS3 engine connected to a Mendeola sequential transmission, the Black Widow cranks out 500 horsepower and kicks up a hell of a lot of sand. Tatum Motorsports is also an experienced builder of SCORE-compliant buggies and trucks, so they know a thing or two about speed.

BUY NOW: $79,900

Buckshot XR-2

If you’re a dune expert, or you simply don’t understand the meaning of restraint, the $175,000 Buckshot X2-R is your sand-storming ride. With a dry weight of 2,950 pounds and a big-block V8 sending 1300 horsepower to the wheels via an Albins sequential gearbox, wheelies and air time practically come standard. The XR-2 is also one of the most well-appointed buggies you can buy, with a fully upholstered interior, 7-inch display, a PCI radio and even cup holders — though good luck keeping that Big Gulp secured when you lay into the throttle.

BUY NOW: $175,000

VIA http://gearpatrol.com