Gallery: Audi R15 plus TDI from the 12 Hour of Sebring

Gallery: Audi R15 plus TDI from the 12 Hour of Sebring

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Gallery: Audi R15 plus TDI from the 12 Hour of Sebring

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 07:22 PM PDT

Audi R15 plus TDI, ILMC, 12 Hours of Sebring

Gallery after the jump!

Here’s our first set of images from today. Leading up to the final running of the Audi R15 plus TDI, the time charts have looked promising. In the final minutes of tonight’s practice, Tom Kristensen unloaded a 1:49.370 to split the two Peugeots. The #1 hit a 1:50.344 for fourth with Timo at the wheel. Earlier in the day we saw Tom Kristensen nail a 1:50.424 and Dumas click off a 1:50.538 to lead afternoon practice. Qualifying will take place tomorrow at 3:35 ET for the LMP1 class. Starting at 2:55 PM ET, you can catch all qualifying sessions live on ESPN3.com

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IMSA GT3 Cup: Cisneros Brothers Take Platinum, Gold Pole Positions for Round 1

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 10:50 AM PDT

NGT Motorsport GT3 Cup at Sebring © friedrichphoto.com

Qualifying was a family affair in Sebring today, as Henrique and Eduardo Cisneros earned BBS Pole Awards by taking their first IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama pole positions, ahead of the 59th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Henrique Cisneros moved from Gold Cup to Platinum this season, driving the #26 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car for NGT Motorsport. Earning his first pole position in his first race in the big class was especially gratifying.

“I knew I had to make it count on the first lap,” said Cisneros, “so I didn’t have to do any more laps than I had to and I could save the tires. I was able to get it done on the first lap. The guys behind me have a few more laps on their tires, so I just have to be consistent and try to pull out a gap as soon as possible. But right now, I’m just really happy for me and for my brother!”

Cooper MacNeil (#20 Alex Job Racing) and Mark Bullitt (#6 Muscle Milk Team Cytosport) round out the top three in Platinum Cup.

Eduardo Cisneros stayed in Gold Cup class this season, and judging by his performance in qualifying – despite only arriving at Sebring on Wednesday afternoon – it was a good call.

Muscle Milk Team Cytosport fllowed by 37signals, © friedrichphoto.com

“I was on vacation and I think that actually helped!” said Cisneros, driving the #29 Porsche for NGT Motorsport. “I was pretty relaxed when I got here, which was good, since I only had one practice. I just tried to remember everything I learned at the winter test. We had some problems in practice so I went out today not knowing if the car was fixed or not and luckily, the team did a great job. I’m thrilled that it’s both of our first pole positions ever!”

Michael Levitas (#36 TPC Racing) and Peter Collins (#4 MGM Motorsports) start behind Cisneros.

The IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama features semi-professional drivers racing head to head in the largest single-make series in North America. Powered by one of the world’s most successful race cars, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, the multi-class structure of the series teaches drivers essential skills for an eventual career in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón.

The series is divided into two classes; the Platinum Cup, featuring the more powerful 2011 and 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars, and the Gold Cup, which includes 2005½ – 2009 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars. Both classes race on environmentally-focused Yokohama ADVAN ENV-R2 racing tires.

Rounds 2 and 1 are set for Thursday, March 17 at 5:05pm and Friday, March 18 at 4:20pm, ahead of the 59th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Live timing, news and schedule information can be found at www.imsachallenge.com.
- IMSA

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Panamera Turbo joins ALMS Safety Team Fleet

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 07:48 AM PDT

Panamera Turbo joins ALMS Safety Team Fleet

We’ve had the fortune of pushing the Panamera S through its paces, so the Turbo will be perfect for the job.

The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón used the 59th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh From Florida to unveil the Porsche Panamera as the official safety vehicle of the Series.

Carrying a 4.8-liter, twin turbocharged V8 with 500 horsepower, the Panamera Turbo will be perfectly suited to handle any track situation, including inclement weather, thanks to PDK and PTM active all-wheel drive. With a 0-60 mph time of just four seconds and a top speed of 188 mph, the Panamera Turbo could blend in seamlessly with the ALMS grid. Producing some of the best economy numbers and lowest CO2 emissions in its class, the Panamera even stays true to the Series’ Global Leader in Green Racing message.

“Unlike its competitors, the Panamera is not based on the platform of a previous existing model or merely a highly tuned version of a sibling model. The Panamera has been built from the ground up to provide Porsche driving dynamics and performance while simultaneously surrounding its occupants in luxury and comfort. The Panamera Turbo, with its 500 horsepower, is the ideal car for the American Le Mans Series race fields,” said David Pryor, vice president of marketing for Porsche Cars North America.

The Panamera presence is an expansion of Porsche’s relationship with the American Le Mans Series. The Porsche Cayenne will continue to serve as the Series’ official rapid response vehicle.

“The Porsche Panamera gives us an official safety car unmatched in motorsports,” Ed Triolo, ALMS VP of Marketing and Brand Development said. “This reinforces the commitment and partnership between the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón and Porsche, one of the world’s greatest sports cars that has had extraordinary success in the ALMS and IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama. It is a perfect fit.”
- American Le Mans

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More efficiency in the already efficient 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 07:00 AM PDT

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0

Gallery after the jump!

Porsche takes up the Nurburgring 24 hour race on 25 June with a further developed version of the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid. Priority of the development was given to the improvement of efficiency through the targeted optimization of hybrid components, which also resulted in a 20 percent weight reduction. Version 2.0 of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid is intended to achieve the same lap times as its predecessor but with less fuel consumption.

The general layout of the hybrid was adopted from the 2010 model. A portal axle with two electric motors drives the front wheels and supplements the four-litre, depending on the balance of performance classification approximately 470 hp, six-cylinder boxer engine at the rear. The output of both electric motors has increased from 60 to 75 kilowatts each. For seconds at a time, pilots now have almost an additional 200 hp at their disposal with the 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0. Depending on the programming, this power is automatically activated through use of the throttle pedal. Moreover, pilots can manually call up this extra power, for instance when overtaking.

The electric flywheel accumulator, with its rotor spinning up to 40,000 rpm and storing energy mechanically as rotational energy, is now housed with the other hybrid components in a carbon fibre safety cell on the passenger's side.

At first glance, the new GT3 R Hybrid is clearly distinguishable from the 2010 model. Thanks to the optimization of the hybrid system's high voltage components, the large louvres in front of the rear fenders were no longer necessary. This reduces drag and also lowers fuel consumption. All in all, the weight of the vehicle decreased from 1,350 to 1,300 kilograms.

"We've collected a great deal of information from our races on the Nurburgring, at the ALMS race at Road Atlanta in the USA, as well as from the ILMC race on China's Zhuhai circuit, which was an invaluable help for the further development of our racing laboratory," says Hartmut Kristen, head of Porsche motorsport. "The emphasis of our work was on improving efficiency. That means we want to keep the lap times consistent with 2010 but use less energy, hence less fuel. In this way, we support future developments of road-going, sporting hybrid vehicles."

The cockpit of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid has also been completely revised. Most of the displays and controls have moved to the steering wheel. Drivers can operate the rest of the functions via backlit buttons now situated on the centre console. Priority was placed on the ergonomics and the clear layout for pilots – particularly in darkness.

The new 911 GT3 R Hybrid is a perfect example of the 'Porsche Intelligent Performance' philosophy, a principle found in every Porsche: More power on less fuel, more efficiency and lower CO2 emissions – on the race track and on the road.


- Porsche Motorsport< ?small>

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