With Porsche pulling the RS Spyder out of ALMS, Acura looked to dominate the ALMS LMP2 class. But at Mid-Ohio earlier this month, Team Cytosport brought the RS Spyder back to ALMS, and they did so in grand style.

Cytosport entered the ex-Dyson Racing RS Spyder with drivers Greg Pickett and Klaus Graf. After an early penalty they battled back to finish second in LMP2 and fourth overall. The next race, at Road America, the RS Spyder finished third.

In GT2, the big news at Mid-Ohio was the debut of the GT2-class Corvette C6.R. The Vette moves to GT2 to race against Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, Panoz and Ford. The Corvette finished a respectable 2nd behind the winning Porsche 997 driven by Jörg Bergmeister and Patrick Long, just ahead of a BMW E92 M3. At Road American, Porsche didn’t fair too well, as the Bergmeister/Long entry finished fourth behind two BMWs and a Corvette.

The next ALMS round is this weekend at Mosport.

[source: Crash.net and American Le Mans Series]

The RS Spyder fielded by the Essex team from Denmark won the LMP2 class at the Le Mans 24 Hour race. The RS Spyder won by 15 laps, and also won the “Michelin Green X Challenge” as the car with the best overall efficiency.

It was almost a 1-2 sweep for Porsche but the NAVI Team GOH RS Spyder, running in second place, crashed out with just one hour to go.

In GT2, Porsche wasn’t so lucky. Two hours into the race, the Porsche Works 911 GT3 RSR of Lieb, Lietz and Henzler died 100 meters from the pit entrance due to a fuel system problem. According to the rules, the car can’t be towed in this case, so the car was forced to retire. Also, the Flying Lizards 911 GT3 RSR, which qualified on the pole and driven by Bergmeister, Law and Neiman, crashed heavily into the barriers in the early hours of the morning. Finally, the IMSA Performance Matmut 911 GT3 RSR driven by Pilet, Long and Narac was running in third until transmission problems put them out of the race on Sunday morning.

Check out Porsche’s press release after the jump.

[source: Porsche]

Win and energy efficiency award for Porsche RS Spyder

Stuttgart. The success story of the Porsche RS Spyder continues: At the Le Mans 24 Hour race, the Essex team (Denmark) celebrated a clear victory in the LMP2 class. The 440 hp sports prototype from Weissach also won the energy efficiency classification “Michelin Green X Challenge” as the car with the best overall efficiency, calculated by the ratio between lap times and fuel consumption. The RS Spyder of the Danish customer team beat its rivals in the LMP2 class by 15 laps. One hour before the end of the race, the RS Spyder of NAVI Team GOH spun off the track while running an easy second under braking for the first chicane on the Hunaudières straight on an oil spill of a competitor, hit the barriers and retired. The Japanese driver Seiji Ara was uninjured.

“We’re proud that in customer hands the RS Spyder not only confirmed its high speed and reliability again but also won the environmental classification. It’s such a great pity that the second RS Spyder retired. NAVI Team GOH put in an immaculate performance and really would have deserved to secure second,” said Porsche Head of Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen. In 2008, the RS Spyder won the energy efficiency challenge at all races and championships – in the Le Mans 24 Hours, the American Le Mans Series and the European Le Mans Series. With this, the RS Spyder impressively underlined its status as the world’s most efficient sports prototype.

“After claiming second last year we are absolutely over the moon with our victory today,” said Essex driver Casper Elgaard (Denmark). “This is a huge success for our Danish team, which only began competing in long distance racing last year.” Porsche works driver Emmanuel Collard (France) added: “The key to success was the RS Spyder. We didn’t have the slightest technical problem and turned fast and steady laps.” Only once in the night was there an unscheduled stop. Before the first Hunaudières chicane, the two close-running RS Spyder hit a patch of oil and began to slide. Keisuki Kunimoto (NAVI Team GOH) nudged the Essex car, resulting in both vehicles having body parts replaced. “Our crew did a super job,” said the third Essex driver, Kristian Poulsen (Denmark), who celebrated his Le Mans debut with victory. “I would like to thank the team and mostly Casper and Emmanuel. They did most of the work.”

After a break of four years, NAVI Team GOH, Le Mans winner of 2004 with Seiji Ara, looked like they would bring home a safe second place right up until an hour before the flag – with a ten lap advantage over third position. Oil from a competitor became Ara’s eventual fate. “I had no chance. Two wheels hit the oil that I couldn’t see while braking,” said Seiji Ara. “It’s a bitter end of a great race. I’m pleased that the RS Spyder is not only fast, but also safe.” His compatriot Keisuke Kunimoto contested the long distance classic for the first time. Porsche works driver Sascha Maassen was full of praise: “I salute our team’s performance. Perfect preparation, perfect team work in every respect. I’m so sorry that we couldn’t bring home the success they deserved.” For the perfect work in the pit stops, the team received a special prize from the organisers.

Porsche works drivers Timo Bernhard (Germany) and Romain Dumas (France), lent to Audi for the Le Mans 24 hour race, lost all chances to win with a technical defect in their #3 Audi R15 TDI which resulted in repairs over several hours on Saturday night. With their chase through the field from the back to finish 18th, the two shone with their excellent lap times. “It hurts to be out of contention for overall victory so early on,” summarised Bernhard. “Still, it was great fun. The Audi crew made us feel very welcome from the first moment on,” added Dumas.

In the production-based GT2 class, the double pole for the 911 GT3 RSR from qualifying could not be turned into a race success. After just two hours, the race came to an end for the three Porsche works drivers Marc Lieb (Germany), Richard Lietz (Austria) and Wolf Henzler (Germany). A problem with the fuel system caused the engine of the 911 to die and not start again – 100 metres from the entrance to the pit lane. As the regulations do not allow a car to be towed in such a case, the leading trio of the German Felbermayr-Proton team had no chance to repair the otherwise technically perfect 911 and retired. “Of course I’m very disappointed,” said Marc Lieb. “But we are looking ahead and already looking forward to the next race in the Le Mans Series, where we want to extend our championship lead with another victory.”

For the American Flying Lizard team, the 2009 Le Mans race ended in the early morning hours when Darren Law (USA) collided heavily with the barriers. Prior to this, pole-setter Jörg Bergmeister (Germany) and team owner/gentleman driver Seth Neiman (USA) were steadily moving in the direction of a podium result with their GT3 RSR. The French IMSA Performance Matmut team with Porsche works drivers Patrick Pilet (France) and Patrick Long (USA) as well as Raymond Narac (France) maintained third place for more than two-thirds of the race distance. On Sunday morning a problem with the power transmission put an end to their promising charge.

Race result LMP2

1. Elgaard/Collard/Poulsen (DK/F/DK), Porsche RS Spyder, 357 laps
2. Kane/Leuenberger/Pompidou (GB/CH/F), Lola Judd, 353
3. Nicolet/Hein/Yvon (F/MC/F), Pescarolo Mazda, 325
4. Barazi/Bennett/Moseley (DK/GB/GB), Zytek 07S, 306

Facts and figures

24 Hours of Le Mans

The 55-strong grid line-up for the Le Mans 24 Hours is made up of two different sports car categories: Sports prototypes and standard sports cars. The technical regulations of the long distance classic are the basis for the European Le Mans Series (LMS), in which one RS Spyder competes in 2009, and the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). All race cars take off at the same time in Le Mans. There is an overall classification and classifications for each class.

The four classes in Le Mans:
LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 700 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kilograms. Power to weight ratio: ca. 1.3 kg/hp.
LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with around 440 hp (with normally aspirated engines) and an 825 kilogram minimum weight. Power to weight ratio: ca. 1.8 kg/hp. The Porsche RS Spyder starts in this class.
GT1 class: Strongly modified standard sports car with up to 650 hp and a minimum weight of 1,125 – 1,325 kilograms.
GT2 class: Slightly modified standard sports cars with 450 to 460 hp and a minimum weight of 1,145 – 1,345 kilograms. The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR competes in this class.

After two years of racing the RS Spyder in the LMP2 class in the American Le Mans Series, Dyson Racing has announced they are ending their partnership with Porsche.

Team Principal Rob Dyson had this to say:

Competing at the highest levels of sportscar racing with Porsche and their historical pedigree has been an invigorating experience for our whole organization. We have enjoyed working with Porsche and their people here in the States and over in Germany. Their help in putting together a new car in less than five days after our crash at Lime Rock this year will always stand in our minds as a singular display of their dedication.

Harmut Kristen, director of Porsche Motorsport added:

Dyson Racing possibly took on one of the toughest challenges in sports car racing when they made the decision to enter two RS Spyders in the ALMS for 2007. “But from the start in Sebring they were right there with us until the last race in Laguna Seca this year. It has been a rich and rewarding experience for all of us to co-operate on that level of racing with a team that has such a great history. I know the Dyson team will also have a great future.

The team, along with Penske Racing, helped Porsche win the manufacturers’ title for the second year in a row in 2008. They also celebrated their 25th anniversary in professional racing this year.

There is no word yet on what Dyson Racing will run in 2009, or even if they will stay in ALMS. However, rumors say they may run the new Lola Coupe powered by Mazda.

Hopefully, we will see Dyson Racing in 2008.

[source: Motorsport.com]

Round 10 of the American Le Mans Series will feature one additional RS Spyder when the Petit Le Mans takes place on October 4th at Road Atlanta.

Penske Racing will run three Spyders: the #7 car driven by Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas; the #6 car driven by Sascha Maassen and Patrick Long; and the #5 car driven by Ryan Briscoe and Helo Castroneves. Emmanuel Collard will qualify on all three Penske cars to support the team as a third driver, if needed.

Dyson Racing will run car #16 drive by Chris Dyson and Guy Smith and car #20 driven by Butch Leitzinger and Marino Franchitti.

The fight for the title in LMP2 is still up in the air. The team of Bernhard and Dumas are in the lead, but the Atron Highcroft Racing team of Scott Sharp and David Brabham are only four points behind in their Acura ARX-01b.

In GT2, Jorg Bergmeister and Wolf Henzler lead with a comfortable margin in their Flying Lizard Motorsports 911 GT3 RSR, but the second-place team of Dominik Farnbacher and Dirk Mueller in the Tafel Racing Ferrari F430 GTC.

Following the 1,000 mile/10 hour Petit Le Mans Race on October 4th, the final round of the 2008 ALMS season will take place in Monterey on October 18th.

[source: Porsche]

The RS Spyder is the latest Porsche to get direct fuel injection. The 3.4 liter V8 will increase horsepower from 476 at 10,000 RPM to 503 hp at 10,000 RPM while torque will go up from 273 lb-ft at 7,500 RPM to 284 lb-ft at 8,500 RPM. Fuel consumption will also be reduced.

This should help the RS Spyder in the ALMS LMP2 class where the Porsches are battling (mainly) with the Acura ARX-01b, which has been coming on strong this year.

In fact, Acura currently leads Porsche in manufacturer points currently in LMP2, with only two rounds left. The next race is the Petit Le Mans on October 4th.

[source: Autoblog]

The Penske RS Spyders continued their success in ALMS taking first and second overall at the Larry H Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix presented by the Grand and Little America Hotels (whew, long name!)

The #6 car driven by Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas crossed the line 22.656 seconds ahead of its #7 sister car driving by Patrick Long and Sascha Maassen. The new de Ferran Motorsports Acura entry finished an impressive third in its first outing.

Dumas grabbed the lead when the Audi R10 driven by Emanuele Pirro pitted from first place. With 30 minutes left, the Lucas Luhr-driven R10 suffered a slow puncture when it was only 3 seconds behind Dumas, and Pirro made contact with a Ford GT with 28 minutes left and was knocked off course. LMP2 cars took the first six places, beating the supposedly faster LMP1 cars.

The Flying Lizard Motorsports entries finished first and second in the GT2 class. Wolf Henzler and Jörg Bergmeister grabbed their first victory since Sebring, finishing one lap ahead of their sister car driven by Johannes van Overbeek and Patrick Pilet. This was the second 1-2 finish for the Lizards this year.

The next race is July 11 – 12 at Lime Rock.

[source: crash.net]

Porsche kicked off the 2008 ALMS season with a dominating performance, both in LMP2 and GT2.

The Penske #7 RS Spyder driven by Romain Dumas, Timo Bernhard and Manu Collard finished first overall to give Porsche its 18th overall win, more than any other manufacturer. Finishing in second overall was the Dyson RS Spyder driven by Butch Leitzinger, Marino Franchitti and Andy Lally. The second Dyson Racing Spyder of Chris Dyson and Guy Smith finished fourth overall and third in LMP2, securing an all-Porsche podium in LMP2. Third overall went to the LMP1-winning Audi R10 driven by Capello, McNish and Kristensen.

The Penske #6 RS Spyder driving by Patrick Long, Sascha Maassen and Ryan Briscoe was running in the top three early in the event, but was forced out of the race by a broken water pump. This was the first time a mechanical failure has put an RS Spyder out of a race.

In GT2, the Flying Lizard Motorsports #45 911 GT3 RSR driven by Joerg Bergmeister, Marc Lieb and Wolf Henzler took the class win after a crash between the then first- and second-place Risi Competizione Ferrari F430 GT and Farnbacher Loles 911 GT3 RSR. Finishing second was the Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche driven by Seth Neiman, Darren Law and Alex Davison. The Risi Competizione Ferrari F430 GT driven by Nic Jonsson, Eric van de Poele and Tracy Krohn finished third in class.

This year is shaping up to be a great battle in LMP2 between the RS Spyders and Acura’s much-improved car, and GT2 will be just as competitive between the new 911 GT3 RSR and the Ferrari F430 GT. This is one race series to watch!

[source: crash.net, Yahoo! Sports, American Le Mans Series]

Here is a really cool video for you Porsche racing geeks. Chris Dyson shows you all around the cockpit of his RS Spyder. A must-watch for racing fans!

[source: Speed TV via The German Car Blog]

Over the past couple of weeks, several announcements have been made regarding drivers signing with various Porsche teams.

Dyson Racing has announced that Marino Franchitti is leaving the Andretti Green team (where he drove an Acura) to join Dyson to drive the RS Spyder in ALMS LMP2. He will partner Butch Leitzinger in the #20 RS Spyder while Chris Dyson and Guy Smith will drive the #16 entry.

In GT2, Porsche has announced Wolf Henzler will be a factory driver, joining the Flying Lizard team driving a 911 GT3 RSR. Most of you who follow Porsche racing know this driver well. In 2006 Henzler was awarded the Porsche Cup as most successful driver of a private Porsche racing car, in 2005 he co-drove to a victory in the GT class at the 24 Hours of Daytona, and he dominated the Porsche Supercup series in 2004, winning the championship. He has been racing Porsches since 2000.

Porsche has also announced that Patrick Pilet will also be a factory driver with Flying Lizard. The 26-year-old won the French Porsche Carrera Cup last season.

The additions of Henzler and Pilet brings the total number of Porsche factory drivers for 2008 to eleven. The others include Patrick Long, Sascha Maassen, Marc Lieb, Jorg Bergmeister, Timo Bernhard, Emmanuel Collard, Romain Dumas, Richard Lietz and Richard Westbrook.

[source: crash.net, PaddockTalk]

Penske Racing has announced that Patrick Long will be driving the #6 RS Spyder full time in 2008. Long co-drove the Penske RS Spyder to a class victory in the 2007 Petit Le Mans.

Long is well-known to Porsche race fans, and has been a Porsche factory driver since 2003. He won the 2005 GT2 championship, and drove three times in 2007 for the Flying Lizard GT2 team, helping them reach the podium each time. He is also the only American driver for Porsche in ALMS.

Full press release after the jump.

[source: Crash.net and Winding Road]

Patrick Long To Drive #6 Porsche RS Spyder for Penske Racing in 2008

Patrick said, “I’m extremely happy to embark on this journey; motorsports is all about making the most of your opportunities and this is one I’ve always aspired to. I’m completely focused on making the most of it and pushing for wins in 2008. I had the fortune to have a taste of racing the RS Spyder with Penske in 2006 and 2007, and to continue in a full-time effort is very exciting. I look forward to picking up where we left off with Penske and the RS Spyder from the victory at Petit Le Mans. I want to thank Porsche and Penske Racing for this opportunity – the challenge starts now and we’ll be working hard!”