Motorsports: Le Mans rule changes for 2014 announced, engine restrictions eased

These changes are fundamental, extensive and exciting.  Maybe we will once more able to say “racing improves the breed”

Filed under: Motorsports, Racing

The Automobile Club de l'Ouest, organizer of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, has announced a number of rule changes for the 2014 race that open up the options for LMP1 racers and guide their technology closer to that of road cars, and that should also give fans even better racing than we're used to seeing. Probably biggest of all is loosening the restraints on engine design. Currently, gas engines are limited in size to 3.4 liters, while diesel displacement can be no more than 3.7 liters, with further turbocharger, supercharger and air restrictor regulation on top of that. Those are all gone - "The limitations of cylinders, restrictors and turbo pressures are removed."
Before you get ideas of this turning into a Group B for Le Mans, the cars will be limited to an "energy allotment" per lap. A fuel meter will allow a diesel-powered car 3.99 liters per lap, a gas-powered car would get 4.95 liters per lap, from tanks that are about 12 percent smaller.
All LMP1 cars will be required to have closed cockpits, within which the driver will sit a little further forward and slightly higher to provide more visibility and, it is hoped, cut down on accidents when lapping slower traffic. Weights have been reduced, from the current minimum weight of 900 kilograms to 830 kg for non-hybrids and 850 kg for hybrids, and according to the Speed TV report, "all factory entries will be required to compete with hybrid systems." The cars will also be thinnner. Another factory handicap (depending on how see it) is that "super-exotic materials" will be banned in order to force carmakers to use materials that apply to their mainstream vehicles and not just their supercars.
The ACO believes these new rules will "encourage the development of powerful and spectacular cars and also the development of technologies that have real meaning for the everyday motorist." Sounds good to us.

Le Mans rule changes for 2014 announced, engine restrictions eased originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Jun 2012 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorsports: Le Mans rule changes for 2014 announced, engine restrictions eased
Jonathon Ramsey
Mon, 18 Jun 2012 00:03:00 GMT

Motorsports: Toyota converts all-electric 'Ring racer to Pikes Peak hill climber [w/video]

Toyota is amongst a rush of punters to be tackling Pikes Peak, the world’s toughest hill climb…being on the outer edge of insanity.  Also going electric will be Monster Tajima, the reigning champion (see the link below) will be there with a stonking Monster Sport Esport Runner.

It seems like electric cars are now big deal.  Don’t be surprised to see LMP and maybe even F1 to go all sparky.

Filed under: Motorsports, Toyota, Electric, Racing

The number of electric race cars entered into this year's Pikes Peak International Hill Climb continues to grow with Toyota Motorsports GmbH announcing today that its TMG EV P002 race car will compete at the 90th annual climb to the clouds.
While this will be Toyota's first trip to the Peak with the TMG EV P002, this won't be the car's first motorsports outing. Last year it set the lap record for an electric car at the Nürburgring, a time that still stands today. Since then, Toyota has updated the electric powertrain, which now puts out 469 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque running through a single-speed gearbox.
Toyota will have its hands full with competition, though, as the reigning unlimited class champion Monster Tajima will also be bringing his Monster Sport Sport E_RUNNER to race in the electric division at Pikes Peak. Perhaps less potent although no less interesting will be Mitsubishi's i-MiEV Evolution and an electric 1995 BMW M3 built by EV West.
Scroll down for a video that accompanies Toyota's official announcement

Continue reading Toyota converts all-electric 'Ring racer to Pikes Peak hill climber [w/video]

Toyota converts all-electric 'Ring racer to Pikes Peak hill climber [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorsports: Toyota converts all-electric 'Ring racer to Pikes Peak hill climber [w/video]
Drew Phillips
Fri, 08 Jun 2012 15:15:00 GMT

Ozy Ozy Oi Oi

Forget the ill-fated and rather pathetic Wallabies.  There are other great Australians in sport this weekend.

Casey Stoner won the Moto GP World Championship:

Mark Webber shared the limelight in winning the F1 Constructor’s Championship with fellow Red Bull team member Sebastion Vettell:

And the Kangaroos demolished the Kiwis – how sweet that must have been!

DC has Fun in the Desert

David Coulthard shows that an F1  car plus an American dirt road equals the ultimate fun

Ken Block’s Maximum Hoon Machine

I’ve blogged about the legendary Ken Block before.  Now he’s conjured up the ultimate hoon machine

Don’t try any of this at home!

What Monster Saw

Monster Tajima is the first person to do Pikes Peak in under 10 minutes.  This is what he saw…a really scary hill climb.  Forget the ‘Ring this is absolutely the outer edge of reason for road cars:

Pikes Peak in Under Ten Minutes!

 

Pikes Peak hill climb is still one of the most challenging events in motor racing.  No one has ever done it in under 10 minutes until now.  The legendary Monster Tajima finally did it after trying for many many years;  in a  900hp beast bearing the most passing of resemblances to a Suzuki SX4.  Here’s the preamble video:

Stirling Retires

Sir Stirling Moss has finally retired

What can I say about the Greatest Living Motor Sportsman that hasn’t already been said?

Sic Transit Gloria Mundi

When You Crash Know that You’re Crashing

Ken Block never does things by halves so when he crashes it’s going to be something special.  The finale is worth waiting for!

A New Caterham

Like the appearance of Halley’s comet or the discovery of donkey horse droppings a completely new Caterham is the rarest of automotive events.  The UK manufacturer of niche sports cars has announced a brand new car at the Autosport International show at the NEC and incredibly exciting it is too.  For all the details see PistonHeads Headlines

This is just so different from the Lotus 7 inspired Caterhams that we all love and that go like stink but, if truth be known, are now just a tad old fashioned.

But the new Caterham changes the game and has so many firsts for the company.  Stunning looks, even more stunning performance and  an emphasis on track days and motorsport. 

Can’t wait to see the UK model.  Regrettably it is certain that I won’t be able to afford it.

Goodwood Revival 2010 - pics - Motoring - Picture Gallery - Autocar.co.uk

Autocar has published a gallery of evocative  pictures of clasic sports and racing cars (plus a couple of warbirds, some buses and motorbikes) taken at the Goodwood Revival meeting.
Go on take the challenge and identify all of them (there are no captions!) – just click this link:
Goodwood Revival 2010 - pics - Motoring - Picture Gallery - Autocar.co.uk

Sic Transit Gloria Mundi

You may be forgiven in asking what on Earth happened to Aston Martin.  Latest news is that AM could build a hybrid badged as a Lagonda.  So in the last 50 years AM has gone from:

A paragon of sports cars - fast, gorgeous and a race winner

to this:

Lardy, ugly and a vulgar heap of metal that looks like it was penned by Subaru (no insult to Subaru - they make excellent cars but  good looking ones: you cannot be serious!).

Is this the end of Civilisation as we know it?

Back

He's Back!

Schuey is back.  With a conjunction of Schuey,a M-B full works team with Ross brawn as technical director, and with World Champions Hamilton, Button and Alonso to be overcome together with no refuelling heralds the best F1 season for a very long time.  I have moaned about the current state of F1 previously.  Hopefully I won't have to next year.

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