In the run-up to the 2022 Monaco E-Prix, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship has unveiled its next generation car which is set to be used from the series’ ninth season of competition.

As the successor to the current Gen2 model – which has been in use since 2018 – the Gen3 marks a significant step and sets a new industry benchmark for electric vehicle technology.

Flawless Performance

The vehicle represents uncompromising performance, optimal efficiency and unrivalled sustainability and will be the fastest Formula E car to date.

Specially designed with performance at the fore, the Gen3 is lighter than its predecessors and by producing up to 350kW of power, will have a top speed of over 200mph.

The Gen3 will also be the first Formula car to sport both front and rear powertrains and will have 600kW regenerative capabilities as a result – double that of the current Gen2 car.

As such, a minimum of 40% of all energy used within a race distance will be produced by regenerative braking while, with an electric motor that achieves 95% efficiency, the Gen3 will be the most energy-efficient racing car in the world.

With 600kW ultra-high-speed charging during races – almost double the energy of the world’s most advanced commercial charger – Formula E’s next generation will also develop charging technologies as the series continues to revolutionize the automotive industry.

A Radical Future

Combining the Gen3’s enhanced performance with its radical fighter jet-inspired design, the vehicle is lightweight and compact to ensure agility in wheel-to-wheel combat on track.

Sustainability is also at the heart of the car and while battery cells will be reused and recycled, for the first time in history, bodywork will be made using linen and recycled carbon fibre and will feature materials from retired Gen2 cars.

ROKiT Venturi Racing will accelerate into this new era in partnership with Maserati, which will become the first Italian brand to race in Formula E.

Edoardo Mortara, ROCKiT Venturi Racing Team car driver state:

 “In terms of technical innovation, on paper the Gen3 car looks very impressive. It should mark a massive step forward performance-wise in comparison to the current Gen2 and the car has quite a striking appearance. As a driver we are always hunting for the edge - extra grip, increased performance and the optimal package so I’m looking forward to seeing how the car handles and how competitive it will be on track.”

Formula E Unveils New Gen3 Car in Monaco.

• Championship Formula E Racing
• At 4/28/2022 11:44:00 p.m.
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Los Angeles, California – DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT  announced Joel Eriksson as the Team’s Reserve Driver for the remainder of Season 7 of the FIA Formula E World Championship.

On his appointment to the Reserve Driver role for the USA and UK-based Team, Eriksson said, “After a strong collaboration with Dragon last season, I’m more than happy and very honored to continue what we’ve started together. I will do my absolute best to help the Team as much as possible and support the drivers between races. With the motivated personnel in Silverstone and Los Angeles and the new Bosch alliance, we have the keys to achieve great results, so I’m super motivated to get back to work.” 

Joel Eriksson will race in the upcoming Puebla E-Prix on the 19th and 20th of June in Puebla, Mexico. The Swedish driver will replace Nico Müller in the #6 PENSKE EV-5 due to Nico’s previous commitment in the DTM on that weekend. 

On making his race debut in Formula E, Joel stated that “to race in Formula E has always been a dream since the championship started and to be given the chance finally feels kind of unreal. There’s a lot of work in front of us, but I have a great team behind me, so I know they will do all they can to make me as prepared as possible before arriving in Mexico.”

On his prospects for his first doubleheader race weekend, Joel added, “This time, it will be challenging as I only have limited mileage in this car. But, my main goal is to make the best out of it and gain as much experience as possible. I do believe that scoring points in the races is absolutely possible if I execute well. I will give it my all to achieve this goal.”

Jay Penske, Owner and Team Principal of DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT commented on Joel’s return to the Team, saying, “I am pleased to welcome Joel back to the Team. He is a valuable resource for the organization and has tremendous potential to apply his race craft to the unique demands of Formula E and deliver results for the Team on track in Puebla and behind the scenes throughout the rest of the season. I look forward to our first race together.”

JOEL ERIKSSON RETURNS TO THE DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT F-E TEAM AS A RESERVE DRIVER, APPOINTING DOUBLE RACE IN PUEBLA E-PRIX

• Autosport Championship Racing
• At 5/28/2021 09:58:00 p.m.
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After six hard-fought races, ROKiT Venturi Racing son the Team's Championship Title in the Grand Final of Formula E: Accelerate, by beating Dragon Penske Autosport and BMW i Andretti to the top spot.

Holding three victories and four podiums from five races, Monaco’s only racing team and driver, Erhan Jajovski held P1 in both the Teams’ and Drivers’ Standings, however, with double points on offer, there was still everything to play for in Round 6.

In qualifying for the final race of the season, Erhan secured P3 on the grid while team-mate, Lorenz Hoerzing, maintained his upward trajectory in one-lap pace by netting P7.

With Drivers’ Championship rival Frederik Rasmussen starting from pole position, it was vital for Erhan to overtake, and when the 25-minute race got underway, the Macedonian maintained a competitive P3.

When Rasmussen set the fastest lap – a landmark moment in the title fight – Erhan soon began to fight back but contact with the wall on a push lap heavily impacted the 25-year-old’s car performance.

This forced Erhan into a defensive approach, but with a deficit in straight-line speed, he slipped down to P5, getting overtaken by Jarno Opmeer and Kevin Siggy in the final minutes.

Erhan maintained this position until the chequered flag waved to front a haul of 28 points as Lorenz secured P8 after a hotly contested fight for the final points-paying positions.

By taking P5, Erhan secured the Formula E: Accelerate Vice-Championship, eight points stretched off Rasmussen's, although the fight for the Team's Title far from over.

In the second leg of the Accelerate Driver Challenge, a win for Edoardo Mortara extended ROKiT Venturi Racing’s total tally by a further 25 points.

With a total of 195 points on the board, the Monegasque marque secured the Team's Championship Title, finishing 36 points clear of the rest of the Formula E field.

ROKiT Venturi Racing Team wins F-E: Accelerate Championship

• Championship Formula E Racing
• At 3/27/2021 01:09:00 a.m.
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ROKiT Venturi Racing returned to winning ways in the sports arena by getting the #1 podium spot in the penultimate round of Formula E: Accelerate as the Monegasque marque stormed to a dominant victory at the Electric Docks circuit.

In the fifth round of the six-race competition,  the macedonian championship frontrunner Erhan Jajovski headed home Nikodem Wisniewski (DS TECHEETAH) and Frederik Rasmussen (DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT) after dispatching the Dane - who had earlier taken pole position in qualifying - with a sweeping move around the outside at Turn 1 on the opening lap.

By posting the fastest lap of the event from the outset (1:25.468), Erhan successfully established an early gap between himself and P2 – a buffer he would maintain over the course of the race.

Holding a 3.7-second lead, Erhan took P1 when the chequered flag waved to take his third Formula E: Accelerate victory, achieving a total score of 111 points in this championship; his teammate, Lorenz Hoerzing securing P4 to complete a double-points performance and a haul of 37 points for the ROKiT's.

Formula E: Accelerate will conclude on March 25 where ROKiT Venturi Racing, Erhan and Lorenz will compete for the Teams’ and Drivers’ Championship titles on the digital streets of Rome with double points on offer.

The Monegasque ROKiT Venturi Racing Team takes the lead top in the 5 round of Formula E: Accelerate Championship

• Championship Rancing Sports
• At 3/20/2021 02:09:00 a.m.
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MAHINDRA RACING FIRST FORMULA E TEAM AND FIA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRANT TO BE CERTIFIED NET ZERO CARBON FOOTPRINT SINCE INCEPTION   / The most sustainable team on the grid becomes the first Formula E outfit and first FIA World Championship entrant to be certified Net Zero Carbon footprint / Pledges to the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action Framework     As it continues its vital sustainability work at pace, Mahindra Racing is pleased to announce that it is the first Formula E team, and first FIA World Championship entrant, to be certified Net Zero Carbon footprint since inception. The certification has been approved by the ALLCOT Group for carbon emission offsetting for the entirety of the team’s existence.   The emission allowances have been marked for permanent removal from the pool of offsetting credits at the Environmental Registry on behalf of the team’s chosen REDD+ Project.   Established in 2009, ALLCOT is a leader in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions management tools and strategies for businesses of all sizes. By neutralizing GHG emissions, Mahindra Racing is not only able to protect the environment, but also provide community benefits that enhance profitability and brand value, increase employee satisfaction, to combat the climate crisis under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which is aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda, and promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.   The REDD+ project protects 177,899 hectares of high conservation value rainforest in the state of Pará, Brazil and will prevent net emissions of more than 20 million tCO2e over the project lifetime. It is a registered Code REDD+ project; is validated and verified against VCS and in 2012 attained CCBA Gold level accreditation. This project protects threatened tree species like the pau rosa (Brazilian rosewood), provides jobs in forest management and monitoring, supports education in agro-forestry techniques to enable the community to grow cash crops, protects at risk animals like the Giant Anteater, Golden Parakeet and Ka’apor Capuchin Monkey and provides secured land tenure to villages committed to conservation.   In addition to Mahindra Racing’s Net Zero Carbon benchmark, it is also pleased to announce it has pledged to the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action Framework alongside the FIA and Formula E. This initiative aims at supporting and guiding sports actors in achieving global climate change goals.   By committing to the framework, Mahindra Racing has pledged to five key principles; to undertake systematic efforts to promote greater environmental responsibility, to reduce overall climate impact, to educate for climate action, to promote sustainable and responsible consumption and to advocate for climate action through communication.   These new achievements add to the team’s previous sustainability endeavours including:   • Becoming the first Formula E team in history to receive Three-Star Accreditation– the highest accolade in the FIA’s framework. • Committing to planting trees in the Araku Valley region of India thanks to its Season 6 tree planting campaign. Mahindra Racing’s efforts are in tandem with Mahindra Group’s commitment which has a commitment to plant 1 million trees every year • Partnering with One All Sports as its team kit supplier; a natural choice due to their shared vision and dedication to the use of sustainable materials, applications and processes

Dilbagh Gill CEO & TEAM PRINCIPAL, MAHINDRA RACING   “We believe that ‘doing good’ goes beyond philanthropy and CSR, it is more than just random acts of kindness. ‘Doing good’ is a purpose, an attitude, and a way of life; it is our guide for conducting business and ourselves. As a team that is committed to finding credible, advanced and next generation mobility solutions while being kind to the planet. At Mahindra Racing, we pledge to greater ROCE, which, for us, stands for Return On Climate and Environment. This is ingrained into our ethos and a big part of the reason we are racing in Formula E. We have been on this path of reducing our impact on the planet since our birth in 2014 and six years later we are carbon neutral since inception. We are also certified with Three-Star Excellence in sustainability. To this end, our efforts are and will continue to be, in tandem with Mahindra Group’s commitment and quest to achieve group-wide carbon neutrality. We look forward to kickstarting season 7 with ROCE as our guiding principle, towards setting innovative, competitive yet sustainable mobility benchmarks for the world.”

Jamie Reigle, CEO, FORMULA E   “It is a great achievement for Mahindra Racing to become certified net zero carbon since inception. Mahindra Racing has become a leader in sustainability across the sporting landscape and promotes sustainable business practices across their supply chain. As the first Formula E team to attain FIA Three-star Environmental Accreditation and the most recent team to sign the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action Framework, they are the perfect partners in the fight against climate change. The first manufacturer to join the Formula E grid and now the first to commit to Gen3, we’re delighted to have a long and ongoing relationship with another organisation so aligned to our vision and values.”

Alexis Leroy CEO, ALLCOT GROUP   “We are very proud and excited to be part of the Mahindra Racing sustainability team. Mahindra’s values and beliefs echoes our own. Sustainability or good management through Sustainable Development Goals are at the heart of Mahindra’s drive. It translates into these great achievements that we hope will inspire and lead to a virtuous competition among its pairs. Regardless, it sets great precedents that we aim to continue working and exceed whenever possible.”

 

MAHINDRA RACING FIRST FORMULA E TEAM AND FIA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRANT TO BE CERTIFIED NET ZERO CARBON FOOTPRINT SINCE INCEPTION

• Championship FIA World Racing
• At 2/04/2021 09:23:00 p.m.
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The Algarve International Circuit in Portimão, Portugal, will replace the 1000 Miles of Sebring as the season-opener for this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship. Round 1 of FIA WEC Season 9, the 8 Hours of Portimão, will take place from 2-4 April 2021. 

Due to the rapid evolution of coronavirus, as well as various changing directives from Governments in different countries including travel restrictions, the WEC did not want to take any unnecessary risks. With freight due to be sent to the USA imminently, a decision needed to be made early to help teams prepare for the 2021 season. 

With this in mind and the majority of the championship’s teams being based in Europe, after consulting IMSA, Sebring International Raceway and the FIA, a decision was made to hold the first race of the year on the continent. 

Located in the south of Portugal, the Algarve International Circuit will also host the Prologue, the WEC’s official pre-season test from 30-31 March. Constructed in 2008, Portimão has been used to host a round of the European Le Mans Series [ELMS] since 2017 and provides a mix of fast and slow-speed corners, as well as dramatic gradient changes. 

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest: “Unfortunately the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause issues worldwide and the decision to cancel Sebring and replace it with a race in Portimão was made following consultation with the FIA, IMSA and management at Sebring. We are saddened not to see our American friends and can’t wait for the day when we can return to the USA to race alongside IMSA for Super Sebring. We remain focused on continuing to build our long-term relationship with both IMSA and the Sebring International Raceway and the intention will be to return to Sebring in the future.”

Richard Mille, FIA Endurance Commission President: “While calendar changes are certainly not ideal, going into 2021 we all understood that they can occur at some point over the course of the season. For many reasons 2021 is an important year for endurance racing and the priority is to safeguard not only this season but also the longer-term future of the FIA World Endurance Championship, with the best interest of all parties involved in mind. I’m looking forward to April’s curtain-raiser and beyond, and I hope 2021 will be a good year for the sport.”

Frédéric Lequien, CEO of the FIA World Endurance Championship: “Over the past few months we have seen that the pandemic is extremely unpredictable and after several discussions with key parties, the decision was made for the beginning of the season to remain in Europe where most of our teams are based. The consequences of a last-minute cancellation would have economic implications for the entire WEC family, so we took a responsible decision. Portimão has provided some extremely close racing in ELMS and has excellent facilities, we are very much looking forward to getting our new season underway with an 8 hour race there in April.”

The intention of the promoter and organisers is to retain the remainder of the calendar unchanged, with Spa-Francorchamps set to host round two at the beginning of May followed by the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. Monza will host an inaugural WEC race in July while the championship is set to return to Fuji in Japan in September. WEC Season 9 will conclude in Bahrain in November.

Portimão to replace Sebring for 2021 FIA WEC season-opener

• Championship FIA WEC
• At 1/22/2021 06:45:00 p.m.
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The latest episode of WEC Talk is here and this week we explore the highs and the lows of one the most highly-anticipated events in the global motorsport calendar: the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 12th instalment of the official FIA World Endurance Championship podcast starts with a three-way interview with Le Mans’ LMGTE Pro category winners: Aston Martin Racing’s Alex Lynn, Harry Tincknell and Maxime Martin. We also hear from LMP2 category winner Filipe Albuquerque and finish with an interview from Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Technical Director, Pascal Vasselon. Highlighting the typical busy schedule of a racing driver, Tincknell spoke moments before he boarded a flight at Heathrow while Martin chatted with WEC Talk’s host Martin Haven direct from the Nurburgring. Lynn credited the reliability and performance of the Aston Martin Vantage AMR in helping the trio triumph at Le Mans.  The Briton took up the story: “One thing I really want to stress is that we had less power than what we were given pre-qualifying last year and so the improvement from the car in only 12 months is staggering. That is thanks to a lot of hard work and intelligence from the AMR and Prodrive team. It was an intense race, I can assure you and we drove it to the limit on every lap.”  Next, Haven spoke to United Autosports’ driver Filipe Albuquerque who entered the record books last weekend as the first Portuguese driver to win at Le Mans.  Albuquerque explained: “As a Portuguese driver, winning [Le Mans] is a huge thing. On Monday evening, I even got a call from the Portuguese President congratulating me! He congratulated me for the great success and for winning a trophy Portugal has never won before. It’s just huge for me and for the country... Actually, I can’t understand how Tom Kristensen won it nine times - it’s just so hard!”  In the third and final part of this week’s WEC Talk, Toyota’s Technical Director Pascal Vasselon chatted about the Japanese squad’s third consecutive win at Le Mans and gave an interesting insight into the team’s preparation ahead of next season including updates about the team’s brand-new Hypercar…

Listen to WEC Talk on Spotify HERE

Listen via Google Podcasts HERE

24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual wins top industry award The inaugural 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual – a joint collaboration between the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, the FIA World Endurance Championship and Motorsport Games – has won a prestigious Leaders Sports Award for Live Experience.  Launched back in 2008, Leaders run premium industry events and global summits, connecting senior industry leaders. The Leaders Sports Awards have been running for six years and showcase the most innovative companies and people driving the industry forward. The 2020 awards focused on organisations that are delivering value to the market by creating relevant and current content during COVID-19 and sought to recognise organisations “creating the best content to engage their audience". A panel of judges got together to discuss this year’s shortlist which including the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual which was run back in June and proved to be a resounding success. The Le Mans virtual race was announced as a winner earlier today in the Live Experience category. The 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual was the biggest motorsports esports event ever assembled bringing together 200 drivers from 37 different countries. It also attracted a cumulative audience of over 14.2 million across 57 different countries and was televised on the likes of Eurosport, ESPN and Sky Sports.

Watch the official #LeMans24 highlights video below

What the WEC drivers said post Le Mans  LMP1: Sébastien Buemi – No. 8 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota TS050 Hybrid  “I am feeling great after winning Le Mans for the third time. My team-mates have done an amazing job. We really tried to prepare ourselves well in the last three weeks, spending a lot of time in Cologne driving the simulator to try and find some small tricks as we’ve been here with this car for many years. To get better is never really easy, so we pushed hard and I’m very proud of them.  “Once again it shows that the luck can turn here in Le Mans because when we started the race, I had the feeling that everything was against us – slow zone, puncture, problem with the brakes. Then all of a sudden things started to go well and we found ourselves leading the race and winning by five laps. You never know until the race is over.”

Filipe Albuquerque: “I got a call from the Portuguese President congratulating me!”

• Championship FIA Motorsport
• At 9/26/2020 01:44:00 a.m.
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Toyota Gazoo Racing’s No. 8 TS050 HYBRID belonging to Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley has won the 2020 edition of the rescheduled 24 Hours of Le Mans, round 7 of FIA WEC Season 8. It is the No. 8’s third victory of WEC Season 8 and Toyota’s third consecutive win at Le Mans. Toyota’s Le Mans triumph means the Japanese team have successfully won the FIA LMP1 World Endurance Championship with one round [Bahrain] still remaining. This year’s Le Mans was staged behind closed doors and saw a total of 11 retirements (out of 59 starters) and four separate safety car sessions. Despite the threat of rainfall as darkness fell, the race remained dry throughout. The No.1 Rebellion R13 Gibson shared by Gustavo Menezes, Bruno Senna and Norman Nato came home in second place, five laps down on the winning Toyota which completed a total of 387 laps.  Rounding out the podium was the No. 7 Toyota TS050 HYBRID belonging to Jose-Maria Lopez, Mike Conway and Kamui Kobayashi, which started today’s race in pole position. The trio led for the first 12 hours before the car spent 30 minutes in the pits getting the turbo replaced, dropping the team behind the sister No. 8 car.

Click HERE to read the full LMP1 report

The provisional results can be found HERE

United Autosports claims LMP2 FIA World Endurance Teams’ Trophy United Autosports’ Phil Hanson, Filipe Albuquerque and Paul Di Resta claimed its fourth successive LMP2 victory and first ever Le Mans trophy after winning the LMP2 category at Le Mans today.  It marks the first ever WEC title for a British privateer team and saw the Anglo squad secure enough points to ensure it has won the prestigious title with one round still remaining. United Autosports eventually finished the race 32.831s ahead of runners-up JOTA (No. 38) who were hot on the tails of the No. 22 car but were knocked out of winning contention when Anthony Davidson was forced to bring the car back to the pits for a last minute splash-and-dash.  Last year’s Le Mans winners and overall category victors Signatech Alpine Elf finished third out of the WEC entrants (and fourth overall behind the No. 31 Panis Racing entry). Signatech’s trio of drivers André Negrão, Pierre Ragues and Thomas Laurent did a superb job of fighting back after the No. 36 car spent significant time in the pits early in the race with water pressure problems.  Fourth out of the full-time WEC entrants (and seventh overall) was the Cool Racing entry shared by Nicolas Lapierre, Antonin Borga and Alexandre Coigny. The Swiss-based squad had a relatively trouble-free race with the only real issue for the No. 42 car being a left rear puncture.

Click HERE to read the full LMP2 report

Aston Martin Racing celebrate victory in LMGTE Pro and Am at Le Mans The British Union flags will be proudly flying high outside Aston Martin Racing’s factory as the team today recorded its best ever 24 Hours of Le Mans results. Victory in both the LMGTE Pro and GTE Am class could only have been improved upon if fans had been able to be present – sadly not possible this year due to the COVID health situation.  The 1st and 3rd places secured in LMGTE Pro secures Aston Martin its first FIA World Endurance GTE Manufacturers Championship. At the chequered flag it was the No.97 Aston Martin Vantage AMR of Alex Lynn, Maxime Martin and Harry Tincknell which took the winners’ laurels. It was the second win for Martin/Lynn together after Spa 2019 last season and the 10th victory in the WEC for the No.97. Tincknell celebrated victory on his debut for the manufacturer.

Click HERE to read the full LMGTE Pro report

TF Sport triumphs in LMGTE Am Aston Martin’s stellar day was crowned by the victory of customer team TF Sport in the Am category, the first podium for the marque in the category since 2014. The No.90 Aston Martin Vantage AMR of Salih Yoluc, Charlie Eastwood and Jonny Adam finished 49s ahead of the No.77 Dempsey Proton Porsche after a flawless run throughout the race. Factory driver Adam becomes the first Le Mans winner in both GTE classes in the WEC era, and Salih Yoluc becomes the first Turkish winner at Le Mans.  For a large part of the race, the TF Sport Aston Martin had had a close battle with the No.98 Aston Martin Racing car of Augusto Farfus, Ross Gunn and Paul Dalla Lana until that car encountered rear suspension trouble with eight hours to go. Although out of contention, it recovered in the remaining hours to finish 8th in class.

Toyota wins Le Mans and seals LMP1 championship title

• Championship Racing Toyota
• At 9/20/2020 05:09:00 p.m.
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• 6 races for 2021 FIA WEC calendar  • New race venue of Monza added  • WEC Season 9 will revert to traditional calendar format The 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship provisional calendar* announced today is aimed at offering the WEC’s manufacturers, teams and partners intercontinental visibility in key regions around the world, while at the same time fully recognising the global economic crisis as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Six races in world-class venues across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, are on the 2021 calendar and all events will take place in one calendar year. The races will vary in length between 6 and 24 hours. It should be understood that this calendar is subject to further change according to the evolution of the current health crisis, or contingent to the calendars of other FIA World Championships. As well as the cornerstone of the FIA WEC, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, now back in its traditional June slot, the calendar features popular and iconic tracks such as Sebring, Spa, Fuji and Bahrain. These well-established WEC venues will be complemented in 2021 by the addition of the Italian temple of speed, Autodromo Nationale Monza, which will play host to a round of the world championship on 18th July 2021. The FIA WEC 2021 calendar has been presented to the FIA Endurance Commission, presided over by Richard Mille, and will be submitted to the FIA World Motor Sport Council for approval in December 2020. Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) commented: “Six events make up the 2021 season of the FIA World Endurance Championship. To welcome our new top category in endurance racing we needed a calendar that sets the tempo and benchmarks for these new machines. Despite the current difficult circumstances, which may bring with them certain consequences for our championship events and certain economic constraints, it is clear that this ninth season of the FIA World Endurance Championship is more than promising, both for its competitors and for the circuits involved." Richard Mille, President of the FIA Endurance Commission said: “The fact that the day before the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans the next year’s FIA World Endurance Championship is being announced is very satisfying. I must admit that the promoter has done an incredible job and the six-round schedule is an optimal solution in the current economic climate. A compact calendar will be a more cost-effective exercise for the teams compared with the usual, eightround season, at the same time retaining the iconic races across different continents that give the FIA WEC its unique character. Furthermore, against all odds, the championship is going forward with the addition of another exciting venue. I’m very much looking forward to next year and today’s announcement is the first indication of a successful 2021 season for FIA WEC." Gérard Neveu, CEO of the WEC added: “We listened to our manufacturers, teams and partners and responded with a calendar featuring fewer events than in the past to allow them all time to deal with the current economic crisis. We will revise this upwards again in the future, as and when the health situation and the economy allows us to do so – hopefully from 2022 onwards. The calendar also takes into account our logistical road map as it provides our teams with the most cost-effective package possible.” 2021 FIA WEC PROVISIONAL CALENDAR * • 13/14 March Pre-Season Tests Sebring (USA)  • 19 March 1000 Miles of Sebring (USA)  • 01 May TOTAL 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL)  • 12/13 June 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA)  • 18 July 6 Hours of Monza (ITA)  • 26 September 6 Hours of Fuji (JPN)  • 20 November 6 Hours of Bahrain (BAH)  *Subject to approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council

Championnat du Monde D'Endurance FIA 2021 : Le calendrier provisoire révélé • 6 courses pour le calendrier FIA WEC 2021 • Un nouveau circuit : Monza  • La Saison 9 du WEC reviendra au format calendaire traditionnel Le calendrier provisoire du Championnat du Monde d’Endurance FIA 2021 annoncé aujourd’hui a pour objectif d’offrir aux constructeurs, écuries et partenaires du WEC une visibilité intercontinentale dans des régions clés du monde, malgré les réserves liées à la crise économique mondiale résultant de la pandémie COVID-19. Six courses sur des circuits de renommée mondiale en Amérique du Nord, en Europe, en Asie et au Moyen-Orient, dont les 24 Heures du Mans, figurent au calendrier 2021 et toutes ces courses se dérouleront sur une année calendaire. La durée de ces courses variera entre 6 et 24 heures. Il faut préciser que ce calendrier est susceptible de modifications en fonction de l’évolution de la crise sanitaire actuelle, et subordonné aux calendriers des Championnats du Monde FIA. Outre la pierre angulaire du FIA WEC, les 24 Heures du Mans, revenues à leur date traditionnelle du mois de juin, le calendrier comprend des circuits réputés et légendaires comme Sebring, Spa, Fuji et Bahreïn. Ces tracés visités de longue date par le WEC verront également l’adjonction du temple italien de la vitesse, l’Autodromo Nazionale Monza, au Championnat du Monde, le 18 juillet 2021. Le calendrier FIA WEC 2021 a été présenté à la Commission Endurance de la FIA, présidée par Richard Mille, et sera soumis pour approbation au Conseil Mondial du Sport Automobile de la FIA en décembre 2020. Pierre Fillon, Président de l’Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) : « Six rendez-vous composent la saison 2021 du Championnat du Monde d'Endurance de la FIA. Pour accueillir notre nouvelle catégorie reine de l’Endurance, il nous fallait un calendrier qui donne le tempo et des terrains de jeu références pour ces nouvelles machines. Malgré les circonstances délicates actuelles, qui peuvent évoluer avec certaines conséquences pour nos déroulés de championnats, et certaines contraintes économiques, force est de constater que ce 9e exercice du Championnat du Monde d’Endurance de la FIA est plus que prometteur, tant par ses concurrents annoncés que par les circuits au programme. » Richard Mille, Président de la Commission Endurance de la FIA : « Le fait que le calendrier du Championnat du Monde d'Endurance FIA pour l'année prochaine soit annoncé le jour des 24 Heures du Mans 2020 est très satisfaisant. Je dois reconnaître que l’organisateur a fait un travail incroyable et qu'un calendrier de six courses est une solution optimale dans le climat économique actuel. Un calendrier compact constituera pour les équipes l'exercice le plus efficace en termes de coûts par rapport aux huit courses traditionnelles, tout en conservant des évènements emblématiques sur plusieurs continents, qui donnent au FIA WEC son caractère unique. De plus, et contre toute attente, le championnat va de l'avant avec l'ajout d'un nouveau rendez-vous enthousiasmant. Je suis impatient d'être à l'année prochaine et l'annonce d'aujourd'hui est la première indication d'une saison réussie pour le FIA WEC 2021. » Gérard Neveu, Directeur Général du WEC : « Nous sommes restés à l’écoute de nos constructeurs, de nos équipes et de nos partenaires, et avons répondu avec un calendrier comprenant moins de courses que par le passé, afin de leur donner tout le temps de faire face à la crise économique actuelle. Nous le réviserons à la hausse dans l’avenir, quand la situation sanitaire et l’économie nous le permettront – nous l’espérons à partir de 2022. Ce calendrier tient également compte de notre feuille de route logistique, et celui-ci offre à nos équipes la proposition la plus efficace en termes de coûts. » CALENDRIER PROVISOIRE FIA WEC 2021 *  13-14 mars Essais de pré-saison, Sebring (Etats-Unis)  19 mars 1000 Miles de Sebring (Etats-Unis)  1er mai TOTAL 6 Heures de Spa-Francorchamps (Belgique)  12-13 juin 24 Heures du Mans (France) 18 juillet 6 Heures de Monza (Italie)  26 septembre 6 Heures de Fuji (Japon) 20 novembre 6 Heures de Bahreïn (Bahreïn)  * Sous réserve d’approbation par le Conseil Mondial du Sport Automobile de la FIA

2021 FIA World Endurance Championship provisional calendar revealed

• 2021 FIA World Championship Sport
• At 9/18/2020 08:45:00 p.m.
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Alpine, which is owned by Renault, has confirmed that it will enter next year’s FIA World Endurance Championship. The team will be known as the Alpine Endurance Team and will step up to the headline LMP1 category from LMP2.  Competing in endurance since 2013, French team Signatech Alpine has claimed two European titles, two world championship titles and has scored three LMP2 class victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  Alpine Endurance Team will unveil its LMP1 prototype, colours and driver line-up in the upcoming months prior to commencing its test programme.  Patrick Marinoff, Alpine’s Managing Director, commented: “The return to endurance in 2013 marked the beginning of a long-term adventure. After eight successful years against some of the best teams in the world, it is time to take a new step by challenging the constructors in the premier category as we will also do in F1.” Philippe Sinault, Signatech Director, added: “Alpine’s history is full of challenges. Few believed in us back in 2013, but we proved ourselves step by step, demonstrating that we were capable of excelling at the highest level. Today, this new challenge is in the same vein thanks to the opening of a unique window of opportunity. We will be the newcomers in the premier category and we intend to make life difficult for our rivals.” Gérard Neveu, WEC CEO, concluded: “The announcement from Alpine today is great news for the WEC and for 24 Hours of Le Mans. I’d like to welcome Alpine to the top category of endurance racing where they can battle for the overall victory.”

FIA WEC 2021 : Alpine Endurance Team confirme son arrivée en LMP1 Propriété de Renault, Alpine a confirmé son engagement en Championnat du Monde d’Endurance FIA (WEC) pour la saison prochaine. Cette entité sera baptisée Alpine Endurance Team et rejoindra la catégorie reine LMP1 en provenance du plateau LMP2.  Impliquée en endurance depuis 2013, l’écurie française Signatech Alpine a remporté deux titres en European Le Mans Series (ELMS), deux Trophées Endurance FIA LMP2 en Championnat du Monde et signé trois victoires en catégorie LMP2 aux 24 Heures du Mans.  Alpine Endurance Team dévoilera son prototype LMP1, ses couleurs et son équipage dans les mois à venir, avant de commencer son programme d’essais.  Patrick Marinoff, Directeur Général d’Alpine : « Le retour amorcé en endurance en 2013 a marqué le début d’une aventure au long cours. Après huit années de succès face à certaines des meilleures équipes du monde, il est temps de franchir une nouvelle étape en défiant les constructeurs de la catégorie reine, comme nous allons également le faire en Formule 1. »  Philippe Sinault, Directeur de Signatech : « L’histoire d’Alpine est faite de défis. Ils étaient peu nombreux à croire en nous en 2013, mais nous avons fait nos preuves étape par étape, en démontrant que nous étions capables d’exceller au plus haut niveau. Aujourd’hui, ce nouveau défi est de la même veine grâce à une opportunité unique. Nous serons les nouveaux venus de la catégorie reine et nous avons l’intention de rendre difficile la vie de nos adversaires. »  Gérard Neveu, Directeur Général du WEC : « L'annonce faite par Alpine aujourd'hui est une excellente nouvelle pour le WEC et les 24 Heures du Mans. J'aimerais souhaiter la bienvenue à Alpine dans la catégorie reine de l'endurance, où elle pourra se battre pour la victoire au général. »

Alpine Endurance Team confirms LMP1 entry for 2021 FIA WEC season

• Championship FIA Sport
• At 9/14/2020 09:28:00 p.m.
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