David Tunnicliffe
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Toyota take the honours in FP1
Toyota Gazoo Racing recorded the fastest time in the first free practice session of the season, with Sébastien Buemi’s early best of 1:40.104 proving unassailable over the remainder of the 90 minutes. Second quickest was Brendon Hartley for Porsche, 0.7 seconds further back. Mike Conway was third in the #7 Toyota TS050 with a 1:40.960.…
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2017 Season Preview: LMP2
It’s all change in LMP2 for 2017, with the introduction of four standard chassis made by Dallara, Onroak, Oreca or Riley/Multimac and a spec Gibson V8 engine. The four-chassis variety has, though, failed to reach the FIA WEC for this year at least, with all teams opting for the Oreca 07, which won the LMP2…
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2017 Season Preview: LMP1
2017 marks somewhat of a step into the unknown for the FIA World Endurance Championship, and particularly the LMP1 class. The loss of Audi, a genuine stalwart of the prototype scene, after almost 20 years in the top-class prototype category seemed to have caught the ACO and FIA off guard, even though the writing had…
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WEC opens up 2016 race archive
The FIA WEC has released a full archive of race coverage from the 2016 season on the eve of the first race of the 2017 season next weekend at Silverstone. Fans can now catch up on 48 hours of race action from eight of the series’ nine rounds (all six-hour races; excluding Le Mans) for…
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Comment: Is the problem really the entry list?
Many words have been committed to print on the meagre entry list in LMP1 for 2017, the lack of competition and strict regulations. But there comes a time, after discussing and debating past developments and future changes, when we must ask ourselves: is the problem really the entry list? Or are we fans the problem?…
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First blood to Toyota after WEC Prologue
Toyota Gazoo Racing left the weekend’s WEC Prologue with broad smiles after securing the quickest times on both days of testing, but the pair of factory Porsche 919 Hybrids kept a watching brief at Monza and topped three of the five sessions. Prodigal son Nicolas Lapierre, returning to Toyota Gazoo Racing after his acrimonious departure…
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Is the future bright for LMP1?
At first glance the LMP1 entry list for the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship looks paltry. Indeed, the loss of Audi’s two-car programme reduces the manufacturers’ title battle to a head-to-head between Porsche and Toyota. With Porsche still weathering the VW diesel emissions scandal and Toyota warning that toning down regulations may bring an end…
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Marvin Dienst ready to tackle maiden WEC season
Marvin Dienst will be one of the new names on the FIA World Endurance Championship entry list for 2017. The 20-year-old German has joined Dempsey-Proton Racing for this season and will race in the GTE Am category alongside team boss Christian Ried and Porsche junior driver Matteo Cairoli in a Porsche 911 RSR. It’s always…
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Old hands to tackle Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the most challenging races in world motorsport, so popular that it often tempts racing drivers back out of retirement. This year, a new effort by the name Racing Team Nederland is set to compete at the endurance classic, as well as the full season of the…