Every year, members of the Guild of Motoring Writers (GoMW) submit work to the Committee of this organisation, for consideration in the Annual Awards. The Guild was formed in 1944 and today boasts 400 members who specialise in all aspects of the media in the motor and motorsport industries, such as journalism, photography, video and broadcasting. The annual dinner and awards … [Read more...]
6h of Bahrain – Last round gentlemen
As the leaves and the temperatures start to fall at VMP Towers, thoughts go to the warmth of the Bahraini welcome which awaits the FIA WEC family as we gather in the desert to watch the 6h of Bahrain, 2016 season finale. So, without further ado, it's ‘last round gentlemen’ as windscreens get polished, tyres checked and mirrors adjusted for that last blast in the desert at the … [Read more...]
If the Audi withdrawal was a splash
If the Audi withdrawal was a splash…there’s a Tsunami coming Much has been written of the future of the six Audi WEC drivers after the announcement by Audi to withdraw from WEC at the end of the 2016 season, less so though about the fate of the army of dedicated technicians and support infrastructure. The decision by Audi to withdraw from the WEC has in effect … [Read more...]
Audi withdraws from WEC
In what has been billed as a realigning of its motorsport strategy, Audi will terminate its FIA WEC commitment, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, at the end of the 2016 season. Instead Audi is taking up a factory-backed commitment in the all-electric Formula E racing series. Chairman of the Board of Management, Rupert Stadler, announced to the Audi race department staff … [Read more...]
Unrest in the GTE-AM camp
As the 2016 WEC season enters its second half, there would appear to be some unrest in the GTE-AM camp. On the surface this restlessness may seem questionable, after all, the GTE-PRO class is healthy which should guarantee a good crop of cars in the GTE-AM class in 2017. This year’s Le Mans 24-Hour race saw the highest number of entrants in the PRO class we have seen for years, … [Read more...]
WEC Round 5 Mexico
Welcome to the land of hot chillies, cacti, sombreros and of course…, Speedy Gonzales. Endurance racing hasn’t taken place in Mexico on a World Championship platform for twenty-five years. The last Group C races here were won by Jean-Louis Schlesser/Jochen Mass in 1989 (Sauber Mercedes), Jochen Mass/Michael Schumacher in 1990 (Sauber Mercedes), and Keke Rosberg/Yannick Dalmas … [Read more...]
6 HOURS OF NÜRBURGRING
The fourth round of the 2016 WEC series kicks off this weekend with the 6 Hours of Nürburgring, boasting a full field of 33 cars. Set in the beautiful Eifel Mountains, the Nürburgring is both daunting and heroic, demanding precision and concentration from the drivers. Thursday saw torrential showers, and more is forecast for today (Friday). This year, the teams have had a … [Read more...]
Le Mans 24H GTE PRO
This week we are looking at the Le Mans 24H GTE PRO class, and who is likely to do what in the forthcoming duel at the Circuit de la Sarthe. Last week we stuck our neck out and predicted a Porsche win in the LMP1 class, so let us examine who stands out in the tightly contested manufacturer GT class. Firstly, we have fourteen cars in the Le Mans 24H GTE PRO class this … [Read more...]
Spa 6-Hour Recap
Well, we all know who won the Spa 6-Hours last weekend, but looking a little deeper, one can see the progress or otherwise that the 2016 cars have made over the previous year’s model. Our Spa 6-Hour Recap will show more than just a comparison as mentioned, useful though this is. But we will even go so far as to stick our necks out and try to predict a Le Mans … [Read more...]
WEC PIT LANE MEMORIES 2014-2016
Motor races are always about racing cars driving fast, but there is another side to the race which is not often seen but just as important, and that is efficiency in the pit lane. And so we thought that we would bring you a small selection of our WEC pit lane memories and shots from behind the scenes from 2014 to 2016, for your perusal and enjoyment. Working as a … [Read more...]
Toyota TS-Series
Toyota’s heritage in endurance motor sport developing the Toyota TS-Series is a rich one that is characterised by patience and perseverance. This steadfast approach over the years has paid off because in 2014 their hard work earned them both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ World Championship. After riding the crest of the wave at the end of 2014, the team was brought down with … [Read more...]
WEC reflections of 2015
At the start of the 2016 WEC season I have been asked to put on paper my WEC reflections of 2015. The problem I have, though, is that as a photographer, during the race I find myself trackside and in and out of the media centre editing shots and sending them to the agency. So I really have no idea what is going on in the race until I read the report afterwards. I started … [Read more...]
Our best photographs of 2015 – Part 1
We are excited to show off some of our best photographs from 2015. There is quite a variety because each one of our photographers has a passion for either NASCAR, MotoGP, WEC, classic cars, history of cars and of course motoring photography in general. Have a look and discover how they use their passion in showing off their favourite subjects. Zoltan Papp We start off with … [Read more...]
Nürburgring 6-Hours
We are now approaching the fourth race of the 2015 FIA/WEC season. This race, the Nürburgring 6-Hours being the final round to be held on European soil, will be held at the Nürburgring for the first time. Situated high in the beautiful Eiffel Mountains, in the physical and emotional shadow of the (in)famous Nordschleife, lies the Grüne Hölle. From a personal … [Read more...]
Porsche – where to now after Le Mans?
Porsche’s win in the Le Mans 24-Hour race on 14 June 2015 was like a dream come true for the team, but to have dared to imagine occupying the top two positions was almost a dream too far. But sometimes dreams do come true, and for the Stuttgart manufacturer that is exactly what happened, with the third Porsche 919 Hybrid finishing in fifth place. After the first three … [Read more...]