Porsche has just unseated Audi atop the endurance racing throne. Well, for a year at least. The Porsche #19 919 Hybrid won the 24 Hours of Le Mans today, ending Audi’s streak of five consecutive wins at the legendary endurance race in France. Audi has completely dominated the race for years, with an Audi vehicle winning thirteen of the last fifteen races. But Porsche, now with a record 17 wins at Le Mans, returned to the sport just last year, and it came home with the checkered flag this time, the 83rd running of the race. Porsche last won in 1998.
The #19 Porsche crossed the line with German Formula One driver Nico Hulkenberg at the wheel. British driver Nick Tandy and New Zealand’s Earl Bamber joined him for the race win. The #17 Porsche, headlined by former Formula One driver Mark Webber, and the #7 Audi R18 e-tron quattro came in second and third, respectively.
The Porsches and Audis gave each other stiff competition over the course of the race … More
Ford announced today it is returning to one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world with its new Ford GT race car, based on the all-new ultra-high-performance supercar that goes on sale next year.
The Ford GT race car will compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans – referred to by many as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency – starting next year. Revealed today at the famous circuit in Le Mans, France, Ford GT will compete in the Le Mans GT Endurance class for professional teams and drivers (LM GTE Pro).
The new race car – a further proof point of Ford innovation – is based on the all-new Ford GT supercar unveiled in January. Both the production car and race car will arrive in 2016 to mark the 50th anniversary of Ford GT race cars placing 1-2-3 at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford went on to repeat its victory at Le Mans in 1967, 1968 and 1969.
It takes a lot of driving, work, and a little bit of luck to achieve nearly a million miles in one car. Guy Newmark has been driving one car for forty-five years, a beautiful blue 356, and he has no thoughts of driving any other. After a million miles, Guy finds himself almost sad when he pulls the car into the garage, so he sometimes invents errands in order to keep on driving. With a car still as fun to drive as the day it rolled off the assembly line, this is easy to see why.
