Showing posts with label wec. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wec. Show all posts

Monday, April 22, 2024

FIA WEC S12 - 6 Hours of Imola

The 12th season of the FIA World Endurance Championship continues with the 6 Hours of Imola as drivers and machines from Hypercar and LMGT3 classes are locked in a hellish 6-hour clash in Italy's most notorious but legendary racetrack.

Screengrab from WEC

It's redemption time for Toyota Gazoo Racing as the #7 TOYOTA GAZOO RACING GR010 of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck De Vries wins the 6 Hours of Imola endurance race, beating the two Porsche machines in it. The #31 TEAM WRT M4 GT3 of Darren Leung, Sean Gelael, and Augusto Farfus wins the LMGT3 class.

The next race is the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps this May 9th.

Sunday, March 3, 2024

FIA WEC S12 - Qatar 1812km

The 12th season of the FIA World Endurance Championship is unlike the WEC the world knows because this season has been streamlined to two classes; the Hypercar class and the all-new LMGT3 class. With Lamborghini joining in the Hypercar fun, the all-new LMGT3 class adds more fire and fury to this season.

The 12th WEC season kicked off with the Qatar Airways Qatar 1812km endurance race, the ideal litmus test for the new and returning Hypercar machines as well as the all-new LMGT3 machines from the world's top carmakers.

Screengrab from WEC

Porsche made headlines in the season opener as not only the #6 Porsche Penske 963 nailed its first WEC Hypercar win but also the #92 Manthey PureRXCing 911 GT3 R in the new LMGT3 class. A double victory for the German marque in the season opener.

The next race is the 6 Hours of Imola this April 21st.

Sunday, November 5, 2023

FIA WEC S11 - 8 Hours of Bahrain

The 11th season of the FIA World Endurance Championship concludes with the 8 Hours of Bahrain and this race marks the end of the LMGTE AM class before the switch to GT3 class this season. This is the finale worth placing in the history books as Toyota and Ferrari lash at each other to determine which of their hypercars will be crowned this season's world champion.

Screengrab from WEC

After a dramatic 8-hour finale that rocked the motoring world, Toyota Gazoo Racing pulled a 1-2 finishing blow with the #8 GR010 the winner and the #7 finished 2nd, sealing Toyota Gazoo Racing's status as the world champions in the Hypercar class with Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa taking home the gold. The #41 Team WRT wins the LMP2 class and as a send-off to the LMGTE AM Class, the all-female Iron Dames nailed their first WEC win with their #85 Porsche 911 car.

As the #8 Toyota Gazoo Racing cemented its world champion status, the #41 Team WRT is crowned the LMP2 champion with Louis Deletraz, Robert Kubicka, and Rui Andrade behind the wheel. The #33 Corvette Racing is officially the final LMGTE AM Class champion with Ben Keating, Nico Varrone, and Nicky Catsburg behind the wheel.

This is the end of the 11th season of the FIA World Endurance Championship. See you next year for Season 12!

Sunday, September 10, 2023

FIA WEC S11 - 6 Hours of Fuji

The 11th season of the FIA World Endurance Championship continues in Fuji Speedway for the 6 Hours of Fuji endurance race, the endurance race that will decide whether Toyota Gazoo Racing will win its 2023 championship title amid fierce competition from Ferrari, Cadillac, and Porsche in the Hypercar class.

Screengrab from WEC

Toyota Gazoo Racing defended its Hypercar championship title on its home turf with a 1-2 finish; the #7 GR010 is the winner and the #8 is the second placer, while the #6 Porsche Penske finished 3rd. In the LMP2 class, the #41 Team WRT wins while the #54 AF CORSE 488 GT3 Evo wins the LM GTE AM class.

Having won five out of six races this season, Toyota Gazoo Racing retained its world championship status for the third time in the Hypercar class. The fight for this season's LMP2 championship title is still too close to call for Team WRT.

The 11th season of the FIA World Endurance Championship concludes with the 8 Hours of Bahrain on November 2nd. Toyota and Corvette got their championship titles but will Team WRT emerge victorious for the LMP2 class title? Don't miss it!

Monday, July 10, 2023

FIA WEC S11 - 6 Hours of Monza

The 11th season of the FIA World Endurance Championship continues in Monza for the 6 Hours of Monza event and this race means payback from Toyota Gazoo Racing as they're going to hit Ferrari at its home turf following their Le Mans heartbreak caused by the Scuderia.


They say revenge is a dish best served cold and Toyota got their revenge at Ferrari's home turf. The #7 GR010 defeated the #50 499P to become the winner of the 6 Hours of Monza endurance race. The #28 JOTA won the LMP2 class and the #77 Dempsey-Proton Racing Porsche 911 RSR -19 for the LM GTE AM. 

The #33 Corvette Racing of Nicolas Varrone, Nicky Catsburg, and Ben Keating headlined as the champion of the LM GTE AM class, another milestone in the history of the Corvette.

The FIA WEC S11 continues with the 6 Hours of Fuji this September 10.

Sunday, June 11, 2023

FIA WEC S11 - 24 Hours of Le Mans

2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race and what better way to celebrate the centennial running of the said endurance race than igniting the most intense Le Mans battle in history. With Porsche, Ferrari, and Cadillac joining in the Hypercar fray in the hopes of dethroning the defending winner, Toyota, this centennial running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the trending topic in the motorsports world.

With 62 cars lined up for the centennial anniversary of Le Mans, including a special appearance of the NASCAR Garage 56 Camaro ZL1 stock car made to commemorate NASCAR's 75th anniversary, this ultimate endurance race is nothing short of being historical and legendary at the same time.

Screengrab from WEC

Toyota's hopes for a three-peat in a GR010 ended in a heartbreaking failure with the #7 breaking down and the #8 colliding with the Arnage barrier as it struggled to chase the lead, it's no surprise that Ferrari made history in the centennial running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race as the #51 Ferrari AF Corse 499P made a historical win while the #34 Inter Europol Competition wins the LMP2 class and the #33 Corvette Racing C8.R for the GTE-AM class. 

The NASCAR Garage 56 Camaro ZL1 stock car finished 39th overall. Still, its mission was complete for the NASCAR Garage 56 project as the stock car managed to survive the whole day in order to show the world that NASCAR means business to the motorsports world, even at Le Mans.

Toyota may have suffered a bitter defeat by Ferrari at Le Mans but the 11th season of the FIA World Endurance Championship continues with the 6 Hours of Monza this July 9th.

Sunday, April 30, 2023

FIA WEC S11 - 6 Hours of Spa

Our favorite WEC drivers are having a Spa day recently. No, not the relaxing kind of Spa day, the endurance racing kind of Spa day because the 11th season of the FIA World Endurance Championship continues in Spa-Francorchamps for the 6 Hours of Spa endurance race.

From the beginning to the end, it's proven to be the most insane Spa day ever faced even with inclement weather in the mix. With the mayhem occurring, Spa-Francorchamps never felt so alive.

Screengrab from WEC

After an intense Spa thriller, Toyota Gazoo Racing pulled a 1-2 finish with the #7 car the winner and the #8 the second placer while the #51 Ferrari completes the podium with a third-place finish. In the LMP2 class, the #41 Team WRT is the winner while in the LMGTE AM class, the #83 Richard Mille AF Corse of Luis Perez Companc, Alessio Rovera, and Lilou Wadoux is the winner.

The next race is the big one, it's the 100th 24 Hours of Le Mans this June 10-11th. Will Toyota's reign at Le Mans be stopped? Find out soon in this epic endurance showdown packed with special appearances joining the Le Mans grid. Don't miss it!

Monday, April 17, 2023

FIA WEC S11 - 6 Hours of Portimao

The 11th season of the FIA World Endurance Championship continues in Portimao, Portugal for the 6 Hours of Portimao endurance race, as the heated battle between the newcomers and Toyota for the Hypercar class continues.

Screengrab from Toyota

It's another win for Toyota Gazoo Racing as the #8 car drove its way towards victory lane while the #50 Ferrari AF Corse finished 2nd and the #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport finished 3rd. In the LMP2 class, it's a 1-2 finish for United Autosports with the #23 the winner and the #22 the 2nd placer while the #41 Team WRT completes the podium with a third-place finish. In the LMGTE AM class, the #33 Corvette Racing scored a 2nd win this season while the #83 Richard Mille AF Corse finished 2nd and the #85 Iron Dames, an all-female sub-team of the Iron Lynx, finished 3rd.

The next race is at Spa-Francorchamps this April 29th.

Saturday, March 18, 2023

FIA WEC S11 - 1000 Miles of Sebring

The 11th season of the FIA World Endurance Championship saw a major expansion to the Hypercar class as defending champions Toyota Gazoo Racing faced their biggest adversaries yet with the return of Ferrari and Porsche to top-level endurance racing and with Cadillac joining in the Hypercar fun, it's going to be fighting around the world for the Hypercar class.

The biggest showdown in the Hypercar era of the WEC begins in Sebring, Florida, for the 1000 Miles of Sebring endurance race. A total of 111 drivers and 36 cars from three different classes have been gathered for the first 268 laps of the eleventh season.

The clash of the hypercars became the talk of the town in the season opener. Just as they thought this will be Ferrari's time to shine in the season opener but when trouble hits the Prancing Horse, it looks like the folks from Toyota Gazoo Racing still got the magic touch in Sebring, although Cadillac and Porsche still pose a greater threat for the Japanese carmaker in the ring.

Screengrab from WEC

With the first 268 laps of the 11th season done, Toyota Gazoo Racing drew first blood with a 1-2 finish. The #7 car wins the race while the #8 finished 2nd, beating Ferrari in the fray. In the LMP2 class, the #48 Hertz Team Jota is the winner, and in the LMGTE AM class, the #33 Corvette Racing wins on its home turf.

So, Toyota may have won the battle but the new WEC season has just begun as the next race will be the 6 Hours of Portimao this April 16th.

Sunday, November 13, 2022

FIA WEC S10 - 8 Hours of Bahrain

Bahrain is the final stop for the 10th season of the FIA World Endurance Championship and with Toyota and Alpine neck-and-neck at the Hypercar class, the last eight hours of the season will decide who will be crowned champions of this season. It's an all-or-nothing gamble not just at the Hypercar class but at all classes involved in the WEC.

Screengrab from WEC

With the final eight hours of the season well and truly over, Toyota Gazoo Racing delivered a spectacular 1-2 finish with the #7 car the winner and the #8 the second placer. The #31 WRT wins the LMP2 class, the #52 AF Corse for the LMGTE PRO class, and the #48 Team Project 1 for the LMGTE AM class.

After an epic tenth season, the #8 Toyota Gazoo Racing is crowned the champion while the #83 AF Corse was crowned LMP2 PRO/AM champion, the #33 TF SPORT for the LMGTE AM, #38 JOTA for the LMP2 class, and the #51 AF Corse for the LMGTE PRO class.

Congratulations to the champions of this season!

And that concludes the tenth season of the FIA World Endurance Championship. See you next season!

Sunday, September 11, 2022

FIA WEC S10 - 6 Hours of Fuji

After two years, the WEC is finally back in Fuji Speedway with the 6 Hours of Fuji leg of the FIA World Endurance Championship Season 10, putting Japan back on the motorsports map. 

The WEC's Japan return gives Toyota the chance to wow its home crowd as it tries to grapple the likes of Alpine and Peugeot on the Hypercar class. Not only that, the Fuji leg is a chance for the new Corvette C8.R to flex its American muscles on Japanese soil while facing a swarm of LMGTE PRO heavyweights from Porsche and Ferrari. Regardless of which side the Japanese fans are on, it's great to see the WEC back racing in Fuji after two years.

Screengrab from WEC

After six hours of returning Fuji to its true form, Toyota Gazoo Racing made headlines on its home turf with a 1-2 finish. The #8 wins the race while the #7 finished 2nd. Meanwhile, the #51 AF CORSE wins the LMGTE PRO class, #31 WRT for the LMP2 class, #33 TF SPORT for the LMGTE AM class, and the #83 AF CORSE for the LMP2 PRO-AM class.

With Toyota back on top of the leaderboards after Fuji, will they defend the title? Find out as the 10th season of the FIA WEC ends in Sakhir for the 8 Hours of Bahrain this November 12th. Don't miss it!

Monday, July 11, 2022

FIA WEC S10 - 6 Hours of Monza

Monza is the next stop of the 10th FIA World Endurance Championship with the 6 Hours of Monza and this endurance race marks the Peugeot 9X8's race debut. Although late than never for the Pug, the rivalry between Toyota and Alpine in the Hypercar class is the main focus of this endurance match held in the so-called temple of speed.

The rivalry between Alpine and Toyota is fierce and following a tire puncture from Toyota, it looks like the chances of leading the championship are on the line as the French manufacturer is gaining an advantage while the two-car Toyota Gazoo Racing Team's struggling to keep up. In the other classes, it's everyone's game.

Screengrab from WEC

After 6 hours, the #36 Alpine Elf Team of Nicolas LaPierre, Andre Negrao, and Matthieu Vaxiviere is the winner of the 6 Hours of Monza while the #45 Algarve Pro Racing wins the LMP2 PRO-AM Class, #77 Dempsey-Proton Racing for LMGTE AM, #41 Real Team by WRT for LMP2 class, and #64 Corvette Racing for LMGTE PRO.

With the title fight between Alpine and Toyota in the Hypercar class still too close to call, will Toyota keep up to defend its title or will Alpine have its last laugh? The next race will be the 6 Hours of Fuji on September 11th.

Monday, June 13, 2022

FIA WEC S10 - 24 Hours of Le Mans

The legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race returns in the 10th season of the FIA World Endurance Championship and Toyota's gunning for its 5th win streak in this legendary endurance event the world ever witnessed.

From sunrise to sunset, from dusk to dawn, every burnt rubber, every scratch, every pit stop, and every drama is what made this year's Le Mans race the moment the world will never forget. Many have entered, but a few didn't make it until the very end. This is natural selection the Le Mans way.

Screengrab from WEC

After 24 hours of intense action and drama in Le Mans, Toyota's fifth win streak has been achieved with the #8 GR010 HYBRID car of Brendon Hartley, Sebastien Buemi, and Ryo Hirakawa crossing the checkered flag to win the overall title. The #38 JOTA won the LMP2 class, the #45 Algarve Pro Racing for the LMP2 Pro-Am class, the #91 Porsche GT Team for the LMGTE Pro, and the #33 TF SPORT for the LMGTE AM class.

That is the end of the 24 Hours of Le Mans but the WEC 2022 season rages on as the next event will be at Monza for the 6 Hours of Monza this July 10th.

Sunday, May 8, 2022

FIA WEC S10 - TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps

The FIA World Endurance Championship's 10th-anniversary celebration continues in the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps for the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps endurance race.

The second round of the tenth season is jam-packed as the world witnessed six dramatic hours of chaos due to inclement weather that caused misery for the drivers. So chaotic, the race triggered three red flags and one full-course yellow caution.

Screengrab from WEC

After a chaotic Spa day, the #7 Toyota Gazoo Racing of Mike Conway, Jose Maria Lopez, and Kamui Kobayashi emerged the winner in the Hypercar class while the #83 AF CORSE wins the LMP2 Pro-Am class, #77 Dempsey - Proton Racing for the LMGTE AM class, #51 AF CORSE for the LMGTE PRO class, and the #31 WRT for the LMP2 class.

The next race is the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans this June 11-12.

Saturday, March 19, 2022

FIA WEC S10 - 1000 Miles of Sebring

2022 marks the 10th anniversary of the FIA World Endurance Championship and this season is a milestone for the world's most prestigious endurance racing series. With Peugeot returned to endurance racing in the Hypercar class, it's going to be stiff competition for defending champions Toyota Gazoo Racing aiming for their next title. Not only that, Corvette Racing's joining the WEC LMGTE Pro bandwagon as well with their C8.R racer.

The first outing of the 10th WEC season is Sebring. After two years, the WEC is back in Sebring for their season opener, and boy the teams truly missed the sweet smell of burnt rubber coursing through American soil. While the drivers enjoyed their long-awaited return in Sebring for their first outing of this milestone season, there are some that didn't go well. The biggest of all is when Toyota's Jose-Maria Lopez managed to escape the wreckage after the halfway mark of the race.

Screengrab from WEC

As the race nears its climax, it got red-flagged suddenly due to an approaching storm. The #36 Alpine ELF Team that is leading the race nicked its first WEC victory with Nicolas Lapierre, Matthieu Vaxiviere, and Andre Negrao behind the wheel. The #83 AF CORSE won the LMP2 Pro-Am class, the #23 United Autosports USA for LMP2, the #98 Northwest AMR for LMGTE AM, and the #92 Porsche GT Team for LMGTE Pro.

What a way to kick off the 10th WEC season! The next race is at Spa-Francorchamps for the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

Sunday, November 7, 2021

FIA WEC S9 - BAPCO 8 Hours of Bahrain

The FIA World Endurance Championship concludes with the final part of the Bahrain two-parter. 

Although Toyota Gazoo Racing won the championship title, a first in the Hypercar class, their victory party didn't stop here as the final part of the Season 9 finale, known as the BAPCO 8 Hours of Bahrain, shows that this season's champions want to party some more while others in different classes are settling the scores against each other, deciding who will be this season's champs.

Screengrab from WEC

This season's champions, Toyota Gazoo Racing, continued their victory dance in the season finale as the #8 won the BAPCO 8 Hours of Bahrain while AF CORSE scored big with the #51 at the PRO class and the #83 at the AM class, #131 TEAM WRT for the P2 class, and #29 RACING TEAM NEDERLAND for the P2 PRO-AM class.

With the season over, drivers Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Jose-Maria Lopez of the #7 Toyota Gazoo Racing hypercar are named 2021 world champions. Drivers C. Milesi, F. Habsburg, and Robin Frijns are named LMP2 world champions, A. Pier Guidi and J. Calado as LMGTE PRO champs, and A. Rovera, F. Peddodo, and N. Nielsen as LMGTE AM champs.

Toyota Gazoo Racing and Ferrari won the manufacturers championship in Hypercar and GT classes. As for teams, Team WRT, Racing Team Nederland, and AF Corse are champions in LMP2, LMP2 PRO/AM, and LMGTE AM classes.

And that is the end of the FIA WEC Season 9. See you next season!

Saturday, October 30, 2021

FIA WEC S9 - BAPCO 6 Hours of Bahrain

Bahrain is the final destination for the ninth season of the FIA World Endurance Championship and it's a two-parter where all bets are off for the teams trying to survive until the very end. The first part of the Bahrain two-parter is the BAPCO 6 Hours of Bahrain and it's all about the beginning of the end.

Screengrab from WEC

Toyota Gazoo Racing's dominance in the Hypercar class continues with the #7 emerging as the winner of the BAPCO 6 Hours of Bahrain while the #92 Porsche GT Team dominated the PRO class, #31 Team WRT for the P2 class, #33 TF Sport for the AM class, and the #29 Racing Team Nederland for the P2 PRO-AM class.

The ninth season of the FIA World Endurance Championship concludes with the BAPCO 8 Hours of Bahrain on the 6th of November. Don't miss it!

Monday, August 23, 2021

FIA WEC S9 - 24 Hours of Le Mans

The big one of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, returns for the 2021 outing, and at last, the audience is back to witness history in the making as Toyota tries to defend its Le Mans success in the new Hypercar class.

Screengrab from WEC

From the start to the very end of the endurance battle, from sun up to sun down and then back, from overcast to fair weather, drivers and teams are pulling whatever means necessary to survive and thrive in this legendary endurance event. Of course, there are inevitable moments occurred but it's all part of the Le Mans experience. There are those who rise and those who fall.

After 24 hours of drama and thriller poured, Toyota defended its Le Mans success in the new Hypercar class with the #7 Toyota Gazoo Racing car emerging as the winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Meanwhile, AF CORSE scored big wins in Le Mans with the #51 winning the LMGTE PRO class while the #83 won the LMGTE AM class. The #31 Team WRT won the LMP2 class while the #21 DragonSpeed USA won the LMP2 PRO AM class.

That is the end of the 24 Hours of Le Mans but the WEC 2021 season rages on as the next event will be at Sakhir for the 6 Hours of Bahrain on the 30th of October, 2021.

Monday, July 19, 2021

FIA WEC S9 - 6 Hours of Monza

The FIA World Endurance Championship continues at Italy's Monza for their six-hour endurance match and the third round of the ninth season welcomes fans back for the first time since last year's COTA. With points up for grabs, the action in Monza is worth a shot for the drivers battling for the top.

Over the course of the six-hour endurance match in Monza, there have been some dramatic moments occurred such as the  #88 Proton Racing got spun and stuck in the gravels in the opening lap, the #8 Toyota hypercar is losing power and was therefore heading to the pits, a high-speed puncture for the #33 AF Corse, Glickenhaus' lead cut short due to mechanical issues, and so on. From start to finish, the fans can't get enough of seeing intense confrontations of their favorite racing machines.

Screengrab from WEC

In the end, the #7 Toyota Gazoo Racing wins the 6 Hours of Monza while the #22 United Autosports USA wins the P2 class, #92 Porsche GT Team for the LMGTE PRO class, and the #83 AF Corse for the LMGTE AM class.

The next event of this season's WEC is the big one; it's the 24 Hours of Le Mans happening this August 21 to 22. Don't miss it!

Monday, June 14, 2021

FIA WEC S9 - 8 Hours of Portimao

The FIA World Endurance Championship has arrived at Algarve for the first-ever 8 Hours of Portimao endurance race and this new kind of challenge means that all drivers and teams are going all out to use all of their experiences to master this new track they've set foot. No one says it's going to be a walk in the park, of course.

The first-ever 8 Hours of Portimao at Algarve started with the #36 Alpine hypercar leading the grid and as the race progresses through its early hour, things are going so well with the competition. As two hours elapsed, trouble comes in as the Glickenhaus 007 hypercar, driven by Ryan Briscoe, collided with Proton Racing and DStation Racing. All cars are returned to the garage but the DStation Racing's Aston Martin Vantage race car threw in the towel.

With two and a half hours left of the race, the safety car's triggered as the #44 ARC Brastislava is stuck into the gravel. Meanwhile, the #8 Toyota Gazoo Racing overtook the Alpine for the lead and things are heating up to the final hour of the race.

Screengrab from WEC

After eight hours of Algarve action, Toyota Gazoo Racing, with their 100th race start of its WEC journey achieved, claimed another win with the #8 drove through victory lane. Other winners include the #51 AF Corse for LMGTE PRO, #38 JOTA for the LMP2 class, #47 Cetilar Racing for the LMGTE Am class, and the #70 REALTEAM Racing for the LMP2 Prom/Am.

The next race is at Monza for the 6 Hours of Monza on the 18th of July, 2021.