Tag: FIA World Endurance Championship

Toyota Gazoo Racing score 1-2 finish at FIA World Endurance Championship season-opener

The FIA World Endurance Championship kicked off its 2019/2020 season in sensational style this past weekend (August 30 – September 1) as Toyota Gazoo Racing swept its way to a 1-2 finish in an action-packed 4 Hours of Silverstone.

Lifting the curtain on what is set to be another enthralling year of racing, the Northamptonshire venue welcomed a bumper crowd of almost 50,000 to witness a stunning endurance spectacle.

Undertaking an organisational role once again, the British Automobile Racing Club showcased its ability to deliver at the highest level

After dominating qualifying, the trio of Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway and Jose-Maria Lopez reigned supreme as they battled sunshine, rain and two safety car periods to kick the eighth season of the championship off on the top step of the podium.

Rebellion Racing rounded out the rostrum whilst Ginetta enjoyed a strong return to the series with a fourth and sixth respectively.

In LMP2, newcomers Cool Racing scored a win on their debut whilst Porsche GT Team and AF Corse ran out as winners in LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am.

The European Le Mans Series also roared into life for another season with their own four-hour encounter, with IDEC Sport Oreca clinching victory in the final four minutes of the race.

Traditionally featuring on the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship support package, the Porsche Carrera Cup GB was also in action as the one-make category featured on the world stage.

Billed as the fastest single marque GT racing championship in the UK’s blue ribbon event of the 2019 season, the iconic 3.7-mile circuit provided a fitting backdrop to a breathtaking two races which could prove critical in the title battle.

Having been the man to beat for much of the season, Daniel Harper kicked off his weekend in sensational style as he powered his way to pole position in qualifying. From there, the JTR driver converted his front-row start into a dominant seventh win of the season ahead of Josh Webster and Lewis Plato.

Former champion Webster then came to the fore in the second encounter of the weekend as he powered his way to a crucial after overhauling George Gamble early on. The victory for Team Parker Racing driver means he has leaped into second place in the overall standings.

Missing the annual trip north of the border to Knockhill, the Porsche Carrera Cup GB will next be in action at Silverstone once again on September 28/29 around the National layout.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Silverstone, click here.

New FIA World Endurance Championship season set to kick off at Silverstone

The FIA World Endurance Championship will descend on British shores this weekend (August 30 – September 1) for the opening round of the 2019/2020 Super Season, with Silverstone playing host to what is set to be a blockbuster four-hour race.

Returning to Great Britain following a relatively short off-season, the battle for supremacy in the world’s greatest endurance category will roar into life around the iconic Grand Prix circuit of the Northamptonshire venue – with a bumper crowd expected to be in attendance.

Off the back of a near-perfect 2018/2019 campaign, all eyes will be on Toyota Gazoo Racing in the LMP1 class as they bid to once again rule the roost. Defending champions Sébastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima are joined by Brendon Hartley, whilst home hero Mike Conway will partner Kamui Kobayashi and José María López in the sister car.

Conway won’t be the only British driver that will garner plenty of support, with a further 18 drivers across the entire entry list all kicking off their campaigns on home soil.

Four of them will come from Team LNT as Ginetta makes a return to LMP1 action with Charlie Robertson, Ben Hanley, Mike Simpson and Guy Smith all setting their sights on scaling the rostrum on Sunday.

Rebellion Racing, winners of the corresponding event last year at Silverstone, make up the final two entrants in the LMP1 class, making it an ultra-competitive field for outright honours.

LMP2 features four new teams for the eighth season of the championship including United Autosports and JOTA – both of whom will be keen to make their mark early on.

Elsewhere there is set to be plenty of wheel-to-wheel entertainment from both LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am over the course of the 240-minute encounter around the home of British motorsport.

It won’t just be the FIA World Endurance Championship which will take centre stage across all three days at Silverstone however, with the European Le Mans Series and Porsche Carrera Cup GB both in action.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event at Silverstone, including links to live timing, entry lists and the timetable, click here.