Rebellion Racing takes first WEC non-hybrid victory since 2012 

Rebellion Racing has been confirmed as the final winner of the 6 Hours of Silverstone, the third round of the WEC Super Season. 

The No.3 Rebellion R13 Gibson, driven by Mathias Beche, Thomas Laurent and Gustavo Menezes, becomes the first privateer entry to win an FIA World Endurance Championship race overall and the first non-hybrid to claim overall victory since Spa 2012. 

The final results and championship classifications show a 1-2 for Rebellion Racing, with SMP Racing claiming third place. 

The confirmation comes after the withdrawal by Toyota Gazoo Racing of its intention to appeal against exclusion from the race following post-race technical inspections which revealed non-conformity of the regulations of the cars’ skid block. 

The No.8 TS050 HYBRID of Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Fernando Alonso originally took the chequered flag ahead of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López in the second-placed Toyota but both cars have been disqualified from the results of the race. 

Toyota Gazoo Racing withdraw appeal against Silverstone exclusions

• 6 Hours of Silverstone Championship FIA WEC
• At 8/21/2018 06:23:00 p.m.
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The third round of the 2018-19 FIA World Endurance Championship Super Season is almost upon us with Silverstone, the Home of British Motor Racing, this year featuring in a summer slot. 

Jenson Button in his first home race since 2016, close competition, more overtakes than you can count, and tight, on-track battles among the 34 competitors are expected in the 6 Hours of Silverstone (17-19 August). 

The outright winners of the race will lift the coveted Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy, the oldest trophy in motorsport (which has only been won once by a British driver, Anthony Davidson, since the WEC launched in 2012). 

All this, plus a packed timetable of entertainment on and off track, has been programmed for the enthusiastic and knowledgeable crowds which traditionally enjoy the world championship’s only visit to Great Britain. 

Fans will be able to see not only the WEC, but also the fourth round of the ever-popular European Le Mans Series and three races from the hotbed of junior racing talent, the FIA F3 Championship. Don’t miss a minute of the action!

A racing return home for Jenson Button

Four of the drivers in LMP1 are British, but there is only F1 World Champion carrying the famous Union flag: Jenson Button from SMP Racing.  Thousands of fans are expected to be at Silverstone to support him. The Frome, Somerset-born driver will be starting his second WEC race and, like all the drivers in the LMP1 privateer teams, Button will no doubt looking forward to the increased performance levels thanks to the recent Equivalence of Technology adjustments. SMP Racing’s BR Engineering BR1-AERs had a tough 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Russian team will be eager to chalk up its first podium of the season – of note is that the No.17 entry will feature just a two-driver line up of Sarrazin and Orudzhev.  The WEC is of course graced by two F1 World Champions this year and Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Fernando Alonso, together with Sébastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima, will be planning to build on the dominant two wins from two races achieved so far this season. The immediate fight will be taken to them by the sister Toyota TS050 HYRID, with Britain’s Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José Maria Lopez providing stern competition.

Hot competition guaranteed in LMGTE 

Get ready for some of the hottest competition in the world of endurance racing! While Porsche currently has a strong lead in the GT Manufacturers’ World Championship, there’s a long way to go in the Super Season and historically some circuits suit some chassis better than others. Every manufacturer has all to play for. Porsche’s 911 RSR is on a roll at the moment and the two Porsche GT Team entries – reverting to their more traditional liveries – will both be aiming for victory. Former GT champions Gianmaria Bruni and Richard Lietz (No. 91) are hungry for a win, while Kevin Estre and Michael Christensen (No.92) will want to keep their Le Mans success going.  Aston Martin Racing’s new Vantage starts the 6 Hours of Silverstone on home ground with a two-driver line up in each car, similar to all its rivals. Marco Sørensen and Nicki Thiim pilot the No.95 entry while Alex Lynn upholds British honour for the iconic British marque with Maxime Martin in the No.97.  AF Corse and Ferrari’s reigning GT champions James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi haven’t had the easiest start to the season in the No.51 488 GTE EVO, but home support for Calado and team mate in the No.71, Sam Bird, will raise spirits. The Ferrari team has done well at Silverstone in the past and they won’t be the only ones hoping for the hot weather to continue!  Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK’s base is just 9 miles (14 km) from Silverstone and the team has a pair of determined Brits hoping to win local pride. Harry Tincknell and Andy Priaulx from the No.67 Ford GT have had a bad start to the season in terms of results but have shown pace and performance and the results will surely come. Team mates Stefan Mücke and Olivier Pla won at Spa and are just 8 points behind the leaders so will be looking for a strong result to consolidate their position in the tables.  BMW Team MTEK continues to find its feet in the world championship and the talented line up in both BMW M8 GTEs will undoubtedly benefit from the mileage covered at Spa and Le Mans. The competition is tough, but a manufacturer with its experience and resources should not be underestimated!

Home heroes sure to entertain throughout 6 Hours of Silverstone

• 6 Hours of Silverstone Championship FIA Motor Racing Sport
• At 8/03/2018 07:55:00 p.m.
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The weeks between the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 6 Hours of Silverstone (19th August) will surely fly by and a first look at the entry list for the third round of the WEC Super Season is released today.

Among the 36-car entries will be 2009 F1 World Champion Jenson Button who will be making his second appearance for SMP Racing in LMP1 – his first race on British soil since 2016. Alongside him in the prototype classes will be a formidable line up of motorsport names including another F1 Champion and winner at Le Mans last weekend, Fernando Alonso, plus 2014 World Endurance Champion and well-known F1 TV analyst Anthony Davidson. 

In the fiercely contested GTE classes, reigning World Endurance GT Champion James Calado will be up against Ford’s 3-time World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx, Aston Martin Racing Le Mans winner and GT legend Darren Turner and many more. 

Did you know there are more drivers carrying the British flag than any other nationality on the grid? Did you also know that all the entertainments in the WEC Fan Zone are free, and that the paddocks are open to fans with pit walks and autograph sessions? 

With the European Le Mans Series and FIA Formula 3 championships racing the same weekend as the WEC, there is a festival of racing, fun and action on track and off it for the whole family. Find out more and get your tickets from as little as £10 HERE

Les stars du sport automobile anglais vous attendent aux 6 Heures de Silverstone Les quelques semaines séparant les 24 Heures du Mans (16-17 juin) et les 6 Heures de Silverstone (19 août) vont sans doute passer très vite... Et voici déjà un premier aperçu de la liste des engagés de cette troisième manche de la Super Saison du WEC.  Parmi les pilotes des 36 voitures engagées figurera le Champion du Monde de Formule 1 2009 Jenson Button, qui fera sa deuxième apparition en LMP1 chez SMP Racing - pour sa première course à domicile depuis 2016. Les catégories prototypes présenteront également à ses côtés une exceptionnelle liste de noms reconnus, dont celui de Fernando Alonso, lui aussi Champion du Monde en Formule 1 et vainqueur des 24 Heures du Mans 2018, ainsi que le Champion du Monde d'Endurance 2014 Anthony Davidson, également analyste bien connu sur la chaîne Sky Sports.  Dans les catégories LMGTE, toujours très disputées, le Champion du Monde d'Endurance FIA GT en titre James Calado (Ferrari) sera notamment opposé à Andy Priaulx (Ford), trois fois titré en Championnat du Monde FIA des Voitures de Tourisme, ou encore à Darren Turner (Aston Martin), autre grande figure du GT et vainqueur de catégorie aux 24 Heures du Mans.  Saviez-vous que les pilotes arborant l'Union Jack sont les plus nombreux parmi les nations représentées au sein du plateau WEC ? Savez-vous aussi que toutes les animations de la Fan Zone WEC sont gratuites et que les paddocks sont ouverts aux passionnés, avec visite des stands et séance de dédicace?  Ce sera en outre un véritable festival de sport automobile, avec également à l'affiche l'European Le Mans Series (ELMS) et le championnat FIA de Formule 3, qui seront en piste au côté du WEC au fil de ce week-end... Animation(s) garantie(s), en piste comme en dehors pour toute la famille. Cliquez ICI pour en savoir plus et acheter vos billets - à partir de la très modique somme de £10.

Come and see the stars of British motorsport at the 6 Hours of Silverstone

• 24 Hours of Le Mans 6 Hours of Silverstone F1 Motorsport
• At 6/20/2018 07:49:00 p.m.
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