Monaco-based electric motorcycle brand VOXAN is working on breaking the world motorcycle land speed record, a goal announced in April by the brand’s owner, the VENTURI group. Six-time motorcycle racing world champion Max BIAGGI will attempt to exceed
330 km/h on the VOXAN WATTMAN in August 2020 in Bolivia. He recently took part in testing the bike’s ergonomics at VENTURI’s headquarters in Monaco, as well as a 3D scan, a key phase in the vehicle's development.

With assembly planned for early next year, in recent weeks the VENTURI-VOXAN engineering team has been focussing on the aerodynamics of the new VOXAN WATTMAN, designed specifically to break the world electric motorcycle land speed record. Adjusting Max BIAGGI's position on the ergonomic model and taking his measurements and 3D scans are crucial steps in developing this one-of-a-kind motorcycle. During the work sessions, Max BIAGGI provided valuable feedback to VENTURI-VOXAN's design engineers. Using this new data and working closely with the bike's designer Sacha LAKIC, they can now make adjustments to the model, design a 3D mock-up of the bike to exact technical specifications and identify the best and most reliable technical solutions that comply with FIM (International Motorcycling Federation) regulations. This preparatory phase is a decisive one, since the bike's aerodynamics are a key factor for success in reaching the record-breaking land speed target of 330 km/h.*

* The current world land speed record for “electric motorcycles propelled by the action of one wheel in contact with the ground, partially streamlined, under 300kg” is held by Jim HOOGERHYDE on a LIGHTNING SB220 (327.608 km/h). IN THEIR WORDS "I’m pleased to see the project progressing so well and so fast. I have full confidence in my team of engineers as they tackle the challenge I set them. They’re used to developing innovative vehicles and are leveraging the experience they gained designing powertrains for our Formula E race cars. I’m proud of their hard work and dedication and I know that they are just as committed as I am to making this project happen. Roll on 2020, when I hope to watch my friend Max BIAGGI beat the world land speed record on the VOXAN WATTMAN. We’re dreaming big for 2020, which also happens to be VENTURI’s 20th anniversary as a specialised producer of high-performance electric vehicles." Gildo PASTOR, President of the VENTURI Group "A lot was learned during this first work session with the VENTURI-VOXAN team, especially when we were adjusting positioning on the model. It’s nothing like the typical racing posture. I literally have to become one with the bike, lying down on it close to the ground. I had to learn to get used to it and work within the technical constraints that we have. I feel surrounded by an incredibly motivated VENTURI-VOXAN team. This is certainly going to be an unprecedented experience and I truly hope to earn VENTURI another record." Max BIAGGI, Rider of the VOXAN WATTMAN "We love what we call “impossible challenges” at VENTURI. We have already succeeded in quite a few of them: the world land speed record for electric vehicles with the VENTURI VBB-3 (549 km/h, 2016), the longest unassisted distance record for an electric vehicle (14 900 km, 2010), the first crossing of southeast Africa without assistance (5 800 km, 2012) and the first electric polar exploration vehicle that operates at lows of -50°C (VENTURI Antarctica). Now we're setting our sights on high-performance electric two-wheelers and are proud to be developing a motorcycle like the VOXAN WATTMAN. The technology on this extreme version of the WATTMAN road bike will be unveiled soon." Franck BALDET, Chief Technical Officer, VENTURI-VOXAN "We did this work with Max so that we could adjust the controls (steering, seating, foot position etc) to basically design the motorcycle around him. In the next phases, we will model the bike’s bodywork to computer test the aerodynamics then move to the mechanical design of the chassis and motorcycle as a whole. This electric motorcycle land speed record is a real technical challenge. We want the VOXAN WATTMAN to beat the current world record and even one day perform better than its combustion counterparts." Louis-Marie BLONDEL, Head of Development for the VOXAN WATTMAN “Beyond the intense and raw pleasure of riding a motorcycle, not many people know how complex it is to design this object. The VENTURI team has the skills and the know-how to carry out this major project. This first work session with Max allowed me to better visualize the complex details related to the ergonomics and the aerodynamics of the vehicle. It also allowed me to better understand the future proportions of the machine. Guided by the aerodynamics, the style of the motorcycle will be such that the driver and the bike will form a compact silhouette, racy and very elegant. 22 years ago, the first VOXAN motorcycle (thermal) was born under my pencil and now the silhouette of the WATTMAN is coming to life day after day.” Sacha LAKIC, Product Designer of the VOXAN WATTMAN

MAX BIAGGI AND THE VOXAN WATTMAN: ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS BREAKING THE WORLD LAND SPEED RECORD FOR ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES

• Motors Racing World Champion
• At 6/27/2019 06:08:00 p.m.
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The weeks between the Christmas holiday period and the 1000 Miles of Sebring in Florida (Friday March 15) will, without doubt, pass quicker than at first glance! To get us ready for round six of the WEC Super Season and a major part of Sebring’s incredible fan-friendly festival of sportscar racing, we take a first look at the provisional entry list which is released today.

Among the 34-car entries will be no fewer than 8 LMP1s, the only time the top class of prototypes will be seen in competition in 2019 in the USA. Within this number will be the two 1000 bhp Toyota TS050 HYBRIDS with a driver line up which includes two-time F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso. 

Featuring high on the list will be American team DragonSpeed with its BR Engineering BR1-Gibson, the same chassis used by SMP Racing which has another F1 World Champion, Jenson Button, on its roster of top-class drivers. 

How will these world motorsport stars cope with the bumps and special characteristics of Sebring? It will be a challenge like no other they face this season.

Get ready for the 1000 Miles of Sebring: first look at provisional entry list

• F1 Racing Sportscar World Champion
• At 12/06/2018 11:18:00 p.m.
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Jenson Button joins SMP Racing

2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button has been announced as the latest driver to take on the challenge of the FIA World Endurance Championship and top tier sports prototype racing. 

The British driver will race for the full Super Season (except except for the TOTAL 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps 2018 which clashes with the second round of the Super GT Series) for SMP Racing in the LMP1 category alongside Mikhail Aleshin and Vitaly Petrov and against a strong field which includes fellow F1 World Champion, Fernando Alonso. 

Button will make his debut in the BR Engineering BR1-AER at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and will combine his WEC commitments with the Super GT Series in Japan. 

Although he did take part in the 1999 Spa 24 Hours, this will be the first season of endurance racing for the very popular driver.  

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest: “As has been demonstrated over many decades, the 24 Hours of Le Mans remains one of the great motorsport challenges that World Champions wish to conquer. We are delighted to welcome Jenson Button to the WEC and to Le Mans in particular and are sure that his presence will be extremely popular with fans across the world.” 

Gérard Neveu, CEO of the WEC said: “This is very good news for all motorsport fans, especially those in the UK who will see Jenson at the 6 Hours of Silverstone in August. To welcome a champion of his standing and reputation is great for the whole WEC paddock.”

Another World Champion joins the WEC; Jenson Button to SMP Racing

• Automobile Racing World Champion
• At 4/27/2018 08:39:00 p.m.
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Olympic silver medallist and 10-time world champion, Javier Gomez (ESP) will headline at this year’s Challenge Wanaka in his first individual race of 2018.

Gomez is up against three former Challenge Wanaka champions, Dougal Allan, current defending champion, Dylan McNeice, three-time champion, and Braden Currie (current course record holder). He will also have to do battle with six-time Wildflower winner, Jesse Thomas (USA), the two ‘Aussie Lukes’ McKenzie and Bell and the UK’s Joe Skipper.

In the women’s field, three-time runner up, Laura Siddall (GBR) is hoping to finally take the top spot but she will have a fight on her hands form multiple long distance champion, Annabel Luxford (AUS) and defending New Zealand champion, Amelia Watkinson.

With over 1,450 age group athletes in the full and half distance plus aquabike athletes from 31 nations, over 900 junior athletes and the most impressive elite athlete field to date, the world’s most scenic triathlon, Challenge Wanaka, will be centre stage in the triathlon world this Saturday 17 February.

New Zealand athletes will also compete for the national title and ITU Long Distance World Championships qualification in the half distance and for the prestige of the full distance event. The event also hosts in the Aquabike National Championships which will run concurrently to the two main events.

In addition, over 960 local school children will line up on Friday 16 February to take part in 10th edition of Puzzling World Junior Challenge Wanaka in the region’s largest primary school event.

All the race day action can be followed through live race updates on Twitter @ChallengeWanaka plus live timing and athlete tracking, all available at www.challenge-wanaka.com.

Access to the coverage, plus event information, is available through the Challenge Wanaka App, available for both iPhone (https://apple.co/2k0806V) and Android  (http://bit.ly/2lnGldo).

Challenge Wanaka takes place on Saturday 17 February 2018. For further information and entries, visit www.challenge-wanaka.com.

CHALLENGE WANAKA READY FOR AN ALL-STAR EVENT

• Javier Gomez Olympic silver medallist World Champion
• At 2/16/2018 08:23:00 p.m.
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