V8 Supercars operations manager Damien White has withdrawn from the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour, citing an increased workload.

White, a two-time 12 hour winner, was slated to compete with Rod Salmon in a Mosler MT900R, but after the sudden departure of motorsport manager Adam Perry last week, White will take on a greater responsibility at V8 Supercars events

As well as heading up V8′s motorsport department, White is also the secretary of the V8 Supercars Commission. These important roles within the sport have left him with no other option than to cease all racing endeavours to focus on his administrative role.

“I can’t thank Rod Salmon enough to offer me the chance to attack for a third Bathurst 12 outright win with him, but my time as a driver is, sadly for me, over,” he told Speedcafe.com.

“Running the motorsport department of V8 Supercars must remain the sole focus. Since stopping full time driving I have quickly established myself a career as an administrator of the sport I’ve been involved in my whole life.

“With the company undergoing a structural change I owe it to the teams and the staff to be completely focused on making the changes seamless so we continue growing our remarkable product.”

White and Salmon have enjoyed success together at the Mountain, including back-to-back outright 12 Hour wins in 2008 and 2009 under the management of Alan Heaphy’s TMR. The pair has also made multiple Bathurst 1000 starts together bringing, finishing as the leading privateer entry in the 2000 Bathurst 1000.

White has also won two V8 Ute Series (2004/2005).

Scott Pye will start his transition from openwheelers to tin tops at the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour next month.

Pye, who is set to become Triple Eight Race Engineering’s Development V8 Supercars driver, will make his first start in a tin top at Mount Panorama in the once-around-the-clock event.

The South Australian will race the Ryan McLeod-prepared Holden Astra VXR, partnered by Elliott Barbour.

McLeod and his Racer Industries team is currently searching for a third driver for the entry.

Pye’s switch to Australian competition, set to be announced next week, comes after an up-and-down season in the UK. He endured a difficult start to the British F3 Championship, but the South Australian fought back, ending the year with a win at Rockingham and a podium finish at Silverstone. He finished the season in 10th place.

Pye says that he is using the Bathurst 12 Hour as a chance to get track and tin top mileage.

“The sole purpose is to get as much track mileage as possible,” Pye told Speedcafe.com.

“It’s also an iconic circuit and one that I’ve wanted to drive on since I was a kid.

“It will be good to get a chance to get miles around there, and depending what I do in the future, it will be a circuit that I need to learn as early as possible.

“It’s a great opportunity, and I have to thank Roland Dane and Ryan McLeod for allowing me the chance to do it.”

The McLeod-prepared Astra VXR car will compete in Class E. While it won’t be a front-running race contender, Pye is pleased to be a part of the team.

“This will be the first race I’ve ever done where I’ve had a roof over my head,” he said.

“The purpose for us isn’t to go out there and win it. That is not going to be achievable in the Astra, but none the less, it is still a fantastic challenge to get as many miles as I can.

“It is a very reliable car, so our goal is to keep clocking up laps, and we also still want to win our class.”

The Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour will be held on February 24-26.

The 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours has received a significant boost with the announcement that Toyota will enter two of its new petrol-electric hybrid prototypes in the classic race.

The Japanese manufacturer had been expected to field just one car in its first Le Mans campaign since 1999, but has confirmed its two-car program at an official launch.

The new car, known as the TS030 HYBRID, features an all-new 3.4 litre V8 engine that is assisted by a kinetic energy recovery system. Unlike the battery examples seen in Formula One, Toyota’s hybrid system stores its braking energy in cockpit-mounted capacitors.

It is understood that Toyota is currently experimenting with activating its hybrid system through both the front and the rear axles, with the former method effectively giving the car intermittent four-wheel-drive.

The first prototype completed a three-day shakedown at Paul Ricard, France, earlier this month, and will make its racing debut in the second round of the World Endurance Championship at Spa on May 5.

Alex Wurz, Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima will share the team’s lead entry at Le Mans.

While the recent withdrawal Peugeot from sportscar racing is likely to see Toyota as Audi’s main challenger at Le Mans this year, Toyota Racing president Yoshiaki Kinoshita says the Japanese firm won’t be heading to the race to win this year.

“Of course we would love to win Le Mans; that is the dream for all competitors in this race,” he said. “But we are realistic and we know we need to develop and to learn in order to compete with some very strong competition.

“Our target this year is to show the level of our car and particularly the THS-R powertrain.

” It is important to demonstrate this in a motorsport arena and we want to prove it can bring a performance advantage, both in terms of lap time and fuel efficiency.”

Toyota is yet to announce its full schedule for the 2012 World Endurance Championship.

The 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours has received a significant boost with the announcement that Toyota will enter two of its new petrol-electric hybrid prototypes in the classic race.

The Japanese manufacturer had been expected to field just one car in its first Le Mans campaign since 1999, but has confirmed its two-car program at an official launch.

The new car, known as the TS030 HYBRID, features an all-new 3.4 litre V8 engine that is assisted by a kinetic energy recovery system. Unlike the battery examples seen in Formula One, Toyota’s hybrid system stores its braking energy in cockpit-mounted capacitors.

It is understood that Toyota is currently experimenting with activating its hybrid system through both the front and the rear axles, with the former method effectively giving the car intermittent four-wheel-drive.

The first prototype completed a three-day shakedown at Paul Ricard, France, earlier this month, and will make its racing debut in the second round of the World Endurance Championship at Spa on May 5.

Alex Wurz, Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima will share the team’s lead entry at Le Mans.

While the recent withdrawal Peugeot from sportscar racing is likely to see Toyota as Audi’s main challenger at Le Mans this year, Toyota Racing president Yoshiaki Kinoshita says the Japanese firm won’t be heading to the race to win this year.

“Of course we would love to win Le Mans; that is the dream for all competitors in this race,” he said. “But we are realistic and we know we need to develop and to learn in order to compete with some very strong competition.

“Our target this year is to show the level of our car and particularly the THS-R powertrain.

” It is important to demonstrate this in a motorsport arena and we want to prove it can bring a performance advantage, both in terms of lap time and fuel efficiency.”

Toyota is yet to announce its full schedule for the 2012 World Endurance Championship.

The entry list for next month’s Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour has been revealed.

A 32-car field has entered to take part in the February 26 event – the second time that international GT3-specification vehicles have been permitted to compete.

The field boasts an impressive 12 overseas entries.

Last year’s winner’s Audi – who finished first and second in their R8 LMS – will face a tougher task this year, taking on the likes of Ferrari, Mercedes and Lamborghini for outright honours.

Fans of V8 Supercars racing will be well catered for in the event, with the likes of TeamVodafone’s Craig Lowndes, Lucky 7 Racing’s Tim Slade and Jim Beam Racing’s Steven Johnson competing in outright contending cars.

Other well-known names to suit up for the race include Carrera Cup drivers Craig Baird and Steven Richards, plus Touring Car Masters champion John Bowe.

Also confirmed is former F1 driver Christian Klien, who will team up with Rob Thompson and Sarah Harley in a Lotus Exige S.

See below for a full entry list for the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour

Class No Competitor Drivers Manufacturer Model
A 23 Lago Racing R.Lago/D.Russell/W.Park Lamborghini LP 600 GT3
A 4 Consolidated Chemicals T.Huglin/C.McConville/P.Kox/L.Searle Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560
A 17 Maranello Racing A.Simonsen/D.Farnbacher/J.Bowe/P.Edwards Ferrari 458 GT3
A 33 Clearwater Racing (Intl) M.Weng Sun/C.Baird/M.Griffin Ferrari 458 GT3
A 1 Phoenix Racing 1 (Intl) C.Mies/D.O’Young/C.Jons Audi R8 LMS
A 2 Phoenix Racing 2 (Intl) C.Lowndes/W.Luff/M.Eddy Audi R8 LMS
A 22 United Autosports (Intl) M.Patterson/A.Li/F.Yu Audi R8 LMS
A 21 Black Falcon 1 (Intl) R.Wilson/SP.Breslin/V.Mehta/SP.Breslin Mercedes Benz SLS AMG
A 20 Erebus Racing T.Slade/J.Bleekemolen/P.Hackett/B.Curtis Mercedes Benz SLS AMG
A TBA Bar One World R.Salmon/TBA/TBA Mosler MT900
B 66 Motorsport Services (Intl) Thomlinson/A.Dippie/M.Maddren Porsche 996 GT3 Cup
B 65 Motorsport Services (Intl) S.O’Donnell/B.Niall/S.McLennon Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
B 3 Tinkler Motorsports N.Tinkler/S.Johnson/S.Richards Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
C 55 Simply Sports Cars A.Gowans/R.Meins.C.Lillington-Price Lotus Exige S
C 10 Mark O’Connor M.O’Connor/TBA/TBA/TBA Lotus Exige S
C 25 Paul Freestone P.Freestone/H.Pullen/TBA Corvette ZO6
C 62 Robert Thomson R.Thompson/C.Klien/S.Harley Lotus Exige S
C 44 Anthony James Alford A.Alford/P.Leemhuis/A.Beechey Nissan R35 GTR
D 68 Motorsport Services (Intl) D.Glasson/D.Roderick/A.Harris BMW 135i
D 67 Motorsport Services (Intl) T.Murphy/A.Head/J.De Veth/L.Scott BMW 135i
D 53 James Atkinson R.Newman/D.Lillie/J.Atkinson Holden HSV GTS
D 28 GWS Personnel Motorsport P.O’Donnell/M.Hansen/C.D’Agostin BMW 335i
D 7 Dean Herridge D.Herridge/J.O’Dowd/A.Kennar Subaru WRX Sti
D TBA Peter Conroy Motorsport P.Conroy/M/Brame/A.Robson Mitsubishi Evo X
E 27 GWS Personnel Motorsport A.Shephard/K.Booker/TBA BMW 130i
E 26 GWS Personnel Motorsport G.Duffy/R.Gartner/TBA BMW 130i
E 91 Mark Bell M.Bell/A.Dodd/G.Jenkins Ford Falcon XR8
E 16 Paul Nelson P.Nelson/B.Holden/J.Matthews/C.Bradshaw Mazda RX-8
E TBA Racer Industries S.Pye/E.Barbour/TBA HSV VX-R
I 35 Ric Shaw R.Shaw/TBA/TBA Mazda RX-7
I 80 Beric Lynton B.Lynton/TBA/TBA Mini Cooper S JCW
I 14 Red Camel Jordans (Intl) I.Breukers/H.Thijssen/TBA Seat Leon TDI

Nathan Tinkler is taking one of the strongest driving line-ups to Mount Panorama for next month’s Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour.

The mining magnet and race car enthusiast has employed the services of Steve Johnson and Steve Richards to partner him in a 2009-specification Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Car.

It will be the third year in a row that Johnson and Tinkler have teamed up for the 12 Hour, having raced in production-spec FPV GTs in the past.

The race will Richards’s 12 Hour debut.

Johnson and Tinkler are at Phillip Island today, turning laps in both their 12 Hour car, plus Tinkler’s regular 2011-spec Carrera Cup machine.

The Johnson/Richards/Tinkler Porsche entry will compete in Class B at Bathurst, but according to Johnson, they could spring a surprise if the Class A GT3 cars strike trouble.

“I’ve never raced a Porsche before, so this will be a whole new experience,” Johnson told Speedcafe.com.

“The last couple of years have been great fun, low key and relaxed in the production car, but this year in the Cup Car will be great.

“And with Richo, he has a fair bit of experience in Porsches too, so that will be quite good for us.
“We’re not in the main class, but I see no reason why we won’t be a competitive.”

Besides experiencing racing a Porsche for the first time, the Jim Beam Racing V8 Supercars driver says that the 12 Hour will provide him the perfect warm-up for the start of the V8 Championship a week later at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.

“For me, the best thing will be to get some seat time before Clipsal,” he said.

“I’ll be in a good, fast car, not much slower than a V8 around Bathurst. To do a whole weekend there, a week before Clipsal is perfect for my preparation.”

The Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour will be held on February 26-28.

V8 Supercars driver Tim Slade has been confirmed as a starter in this year’s Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour.

The Lucky 7 Racing V8 Supercars driver will compete as part of a two-car collaborative effort from German team Black Falcon and Australian squad Erebus Racing.

Erebus’ Australian GT Championship regular Peter Hackett, two-time Porsche Supercup champion Jeroen Bleekemolen and American sportscar racer Bret Curtis will join Slade in the Erebus Racing entered SLS.

The second car, to be run under the Black Falcon banner, will feature an all-international driver line-up of Sean Breslin, Sean Paul Breslin, Vimal Mehta and Rob Wilson.

Slade says that he expects his car to be challenging for the victory when the race gets underway on February 26.

“I can’t see why we won’t be going for a win,” said Slade.

“I’ve watched Bleekemolen for years in (Porsche) Supercup and A1GP, and Pete has been going really well in the GT Championship so it is a strong combination. It is great to be able to work with one of the most professional GT teams in Australia, Erebus Racing, and take it up to the internationals that are coming down.

“It’s also a bit of an advantage for me to help my main job – any laps at Bathurst are great, especially in a car that runs at a similar pace to the V8. But I’m excited to be running and working with the Erebus guys and from AMG.”

With Erebus Racing’s own cars unavailable for Bathurst due to the opening AGTC round taking place just one week later in Adelaide, Hackett says that teaming with Black Falcon is the ideal outcome.

“It will be a good thing to blend Black Falcon’s international GT racing experience and the local experience that Erebus Racing has to form the strongest team we can,” said Hackett.

“We are really excited to be part of the Event, even if it took a bit longer than expected to put the deal together, and want to go out there and represent for our sponsors and supporters as best we can.”

The Black Falcon team kicked off its 2012 season in fine style at the weekend, winning the Dubai 24 Hour. Bleekemolen was joined by Khaled Al Qubaisi, Thomas Jager and Sean Edwards in the winning car, while Mercedes SLS GT3 entries from rival team Heico Motorsport filled the remainder of the podium.

Dutch ace Peter Kox, who will race at Bathurst with Ted Huglin and Cameron McConville in the Consolidated Chemical Co. Lamborghini Gallardo, finished eighth in a Reiter Engineering Gallardo and proved the V10-powered Italian supercars pace by setting the fastest race lap.

Another team bound for Bathurst, United Autosports, had entered the only two Audi R8 LMS cars in the race and got its cars to the finish in 19th and 29th positions after a variety of problems. United will embark on its first Bathurst adventure with a single Audi R8 LMS entry in February with Mark Patterson and Frank Yu amongst their driving line-up.

The teams have just a one-week break until a second 24-hour race – this time at the famous Abu Dhabi Yas Marina circuit – completes the pre-Bathurst activities.

Peugeot has ended its sportscar racing program.

Effective immediately, the French manufacturer has withdrawn from its endurance commitments due to declining sales within the Peugeot group.

“This decision has been taken in the context of a difficult economic environment in Europe,” Peugeot said in a statement.

“Peugeot has chosen to concentrate resources on its sales performance in 2012.”

Peugeot entered the sportscar world in 2007, campaigning its diesel 908 prototype in the Le Mans 24 Hours and associated series.

Victory in the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hour race was Peugeot’s greatest success during the time in the sport. It also won the inaugural Intercontinental Le Mans Cup title ahead of the series’ transformation into the World Endurance Championship this year.

Peugeot’s withdrawal comes as a major blow to the WEC, which had been expecting a fierce rivalry between Audi and Peugeot.

Toyota and Porsche will both start on LMP1 programs soon. Toyota’s car will not contest a full campaign this year, while Porsche’s new entry will not hit the track until 2014.

Some of the biggest names in American motorsport have joined forces for the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans to showcase a unique concept demonstrating extreme performance with half the weight and horsepower of a traditional racing car.

The Project 56 group brings together the design talents of DeltaWing Racing Cars LLC; the manufacturing capabilities of All American Racers - the company owned by 1967 Le Mans winner and American racing legend Dan Gurney; and back-to-back American Le Mans Series championship winning racing team, Highcroft Racing.

American Le Mans Series founder Dr. Don Panoz has also joined the project as a key advisor.
The group has received an invitation from Le Mans 24 Hour race organizers, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest to contest the 2012 race as an additional 56th entry.

The 56th place on the grid is reserved for a technologically innovative car to participate “outside the classifications” – a vehicle showcasing new applications and unique technologies previously unseen in the world’s greatest endurance race.

While racing cars have traditionally strived for increased performance through gains in horsepower and aerodynamic downforce, the DeltaWing concept concentrates on exploiting efficiency gains found outside contemporary regulations to reduce fuel consumption without reducing performance.

The new and experimental car is targeting competitive performance with only half the horsepower of the outright contenders. It does this through halving the amount of aerodynamic drag of traditional racing cars as well as a similar reduction in weight.

The Project 56 Group is in discussion with engine partners to provide a 1.6-liter turbocharged power plant for the project – producing approximately 300 horsepower.

The car will be unlike any previously seen at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car features a slender nose with extremely narrow front track – minimizing the horsepower required to push the car to speeds of 200mph around the 8.5 mile circuit.

Eliminating the use of traditional wings, downforce for the DeltaWing is generated solely beneath the car by the contoured underbody.

The DeltaWing selection was revealed today at the ACO’s annual press conference coinciding with this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans event.

Construction of the new machine will begin next month at Gurney’s California facility. The Highcroft Racing team will begin track testing of the new car later this year.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world’s oldest and most famous endurance race. First held in 1923, the event has attracted the world’s finest automotive manufacturers and drivers.

Highcroft contested the race for the first time in 2010 while Gurney won the race in 1967 aboard a Ford GT40 with AJ Foyt – famously spraying champagne on the podium for the first time to kick start a now world-renowned tradition.

VINCENT BEAUMESNIL, Directeur Sports, Automobile Club L‘Ouest:

In 2010 the ACO Sporting Committee decided to create the garage #56 to promote new technologies. When the ACO Management met the representative of the Delta Wing project everybody thought immediately that it would be a high quality project for Le Mans Experimental entry in 2012. The interest of this project is based on the optimization of all factors that have an impact of global energy consumption and efficiency of the car : weight, power, drag.

The ACO want to give the opportunity to evaluate each technology, and this project shows that ahead of hybrid, bio fuel or electric technology - we can explore other ways to improve efficiency.

BEN BOWLBY, Chief Technology Officer, Delta Wing Racing Cars:

The secret to the DeltaWing car is simplicity and efficiency. To achieve the dramatically reduced carbon footprint we have looked at ways to reduce weight and drag, as well as the total number of components required to build the car. Essentially, the car has a three-point layout with the narrow front and wide rear track – as opposed to the rectangular layout of contemporary racing cars. We have a delta-shaped car that allows us to take a different route to achieving our performance goals as well as enhancing driver protection.

We need much less chassis torsional stiffness for handling performance so we don’t need to use such stiff and brittle materials in the chassis. We can use light, tough and energy absorbing materials instead.
“One of the attractions of Le Mans is the incredible variety of vehicles in competition - with different fuel types, open and closed cockpits, GT cars – there are lots of different solutions and they all run together during the event.

What is particularly impressive is the fact the ACO decided to create the 56th entry where a car that is outside the regulations is invited to participate to showcase an even greater diversity of automotive engineering concepts.

It’s an industry runway, it shows what the future may look like. We are lucky to receive this entry and amongst all the other diversity, the DeltaWing will be very much in the spirit of Le Mans.

The 56th entry is really a golden opportunity for us because it gives us the chance to make a step change and “race” a car that doesn’t comply with the existing rule book.

We really have to applaud the ACO for having the foresight to create this opportunity for an entry like ours. We believe this is a true automotive innovation which could be the catalyst for changing the way people look at not only racing car design, but automotive design as a whole.

DUNCAN DAYTON, Owner, Highcroft Racing:

This is an amazing opportunity. To take a car like this with a totally innovative design to Le Mans and run before a worldwide television audience of more than 600 million people is an incredible story. This will be the first legitimate test with 55 other cars on the track – it will be a huge challenge but one that we are looking forward to.

The DeltaWing project really represents a unique opportunity for all automotive industry sectors; the OEMs and suppliers, whether it be engines, drivetrains, lubricant and fuel companies, tire manufactures – it is such an innovative concept that it provides an incredible platform for them to market and prove their capabilities.
In my opinion, it has the potential to be one of the most significant developments in motor racing in 50 years. It is so new and exciting, and such an interesting departure from the traditional race car development path – it is highly relevant to the future.

Given that the world is concentrating on efficiency and green technologies in an attempt to achieve sustainability, this project in my opinion will help promote the direction that is being adopted throughout the entire automotive industry.

DAN GURNEY, Founder, All American Racers:

The combination of proven items that make up the character and capabilities of the DeltaWing car make it an extremely exciting project. It weighs half as much current cars, it burns half as much fuel, uses much less tire and goes the same speed because of the exceptional aerodynamics and low drag.
“Almost every aspect of the car is really basic engineering but the combination of the total package should be astoundingly good.

After looking at the project and the technical aspects of the car I was asked if we were selected to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, would I like to be involved – or in our case, would we like to build it. I didn’t hesitate for a moment – my response was absolutely yes. I have a lot of curiosity and when I first discussed this car with Ben Bowlby I listened closely and tried to shoot holes in what he was saying but I quickly found I wasn’t able to. I told him I was very interested. I believe the targets and predictions are valid and now we have been given the green light from the ACO – count me in.

It has been a very long time since I have been to the 24 Hours of Le Mans – in fact, the last time I was there for the race I won with AJ Foyt and the Ford GT40. I certainly am very much looking forward to heading back there next year and seeing our car compete.

Once again the French are leading the global charge for efficient automobiles as they have done so often in the past.

DON PANOZ, Founder, American Le Mans Series:

I am extremely proud of the progress that the ACO and the American Le Mans Series have made in showcasing sportscar racing as the global leader in green racing. The ACO has proven itself to be a leader in encouraging manufacturers to investigate new technologies to tackle the world’s greatest endurance race. Their decision to encourage this forward thinking through the creation of “Garage 56” has been the inspiration and catalyst to bring together some of the biggest names in US motorsport with a view to “how can we do things differently.

I am delighted to play a role in bringing this project to life as I believe it is one of the most important technical innovations and philosophies displayed in the sport for many years. I am also thrilled that the bodywork of the DeltaWing car will utilize R.E.A.M.S. - Recycle Energy Absorbing Matrix System – the same system debuted on the Panoz Abruzzi earlier this year at Sebring. This is a multi-layer composite system that is lighter than carbon fiber, equally strong and can be recycled. Technologies like this will certainly help us achieve our performance goals.

This entire project is an incredibly exciting opportunity and I am sure the fans will be eagerly awaiting the chance to see the car in action at Le Mans in 2012.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Vehicle weight: 475kg
Horsepower: 300 BHP
Wheel base: 2.9 m
Aerodynamic drag: Cd 0.24
Front track: 0.6m
Rear track: 1.7m
O/A length: 4.65 m
O/A width: 2.00m
Height: 1.03 m
Brakes: Carbon discs and pads
Fuel cell capacity: 40 liters
Chassis construction: lightweight composite
Front tire: 4.0/23.0 R15
Rear tire: 12.5/24.5 R15
Weight distribution: 27.5% Front/72.5% Rear

KEY TECHNICAL FEATURES:

• Engine and transmission are “non-stressed members” in the chassis structural design which allows the installation of a wide variety of lightweight powertrains.

• The car features a 4 cylinder 1600cc liquid intercooled turbocharged engine that will produce approximately 300 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and weigh 70kg.

• Transmission is a 5 speed plus reverse longitudinal design with electrical sequential paddle shift actuation. The differential features an efficient variable torque steer/differential speed-controlled planetary final drive reduction layout with the entire transmission weighing only 33kg.

• Vehicle weight distribution is necessarily more rearward than traditionally seen with 72.5% of the mass between the wide track larger rear tires.

• 76% of the aerodynamic downforce acts on the rear of the car which has a lift to drag ratio of >5.0.
• Rear wheel drive coupled with the rearward weight and aerodynamic distributions greatly enhances inline acceleration capability.

• Unique amongst today’s racing cars, more than 50% of the vehicle’s braking force is generated behind the center of gravity giving a dynamically stable response.

• Locking propensity of the un-laden front wheel at corner entry is greatly reduced due to virtually no lateral load transfer with the narrow front track/wide rear track layout, steered wheel “scrub drag” moment is virtually zero greatly increasing tire utilization and reducing mid turn understeer.

• Advanced computer modeling of structures, impact energy management, aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics and tires has been used to develop the DeltaWing design.

• Driver position, restraint layout and energy absorbing structures designed to meet the latest occupant survival criteria.

David Brabham will return to the Le Mans 24-Hour race having secured a deal to drive with JRM Racing in 2012.

Brabham will contest the FIA World Endurance Championship in the LMP1 class, driving a Honda High Performance ARX-03a chassis. Brabham is no stranger to the car having had a significant role in its development while at Highcroft Racing – his former American Le Mans Series (ALMS) team. Looking to race this very car in last year’s 24-Hour classic, Brabham gave it its first run at the 2011 Sebring 12-Hour race, where with minimal preparation he came second.

With a thorough understanding of the car, Brabham is looking forward to returning to the Sports Car Prototype cockpit.

“I did a great deal of development work with the (HPD ARX) and therefore I like to think that it has some of my DNA in it,” said Brabham.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be part of JRM’s LMP1 programme. I can’t wait to get started!”

Brabham knows the JRM Racing team well having driven for it in the 2011 FIA GT1 World championship – in its Sumo Power Nissan entry – where he finished equal 10th. The England-based Australian is expecting the start of this season to be a challenge as the team prepares for a new championship that has a very different race format to that of the GT1 series.

“Stepping from GT1 to the World Endurance Championship is going to be a steep learning curve for the team,” said Brabham.

“But there’s some great people involved at JRM Racing and I shall do all I can to use my experience of the car and endurance events to bring us up to speed as quickly as possible.”

It’s a welcome return to the Le Mans 24-Hour for Brabham, who missed the event last year after the collapse of Highcroft Racing soon after the Sebring podium. Unable to secure a seat so close to the race, Brabham was forced to sit out the event which he won with Peugeot in 2009.

Brabham will team up with Peter Dumbreck and Karun Chandhok. Dumbreck is an experienced international driver who made headlines all around the world when his Mercedes-Benz Sports Car flipped at Le Mans in 1999. Chandhok raced with Team Lotus in the 2011 Formula One World Championship.

JRM Team Principal James Rumsey is delighted with the strength of the driver line-up.

“I am delighted to announce our drivers so soon after confirming our intention to enter the FIA World Endurance Championship,” Rumsey.

“The three drivers chosen gives us a very strong line up and provides us with a perfect blend of experience, speed and PR profile.”

The World Endurance Championship starts at Sebring on March 17 followed by rounds at Spa-Francorchamps, Le Mans, Silverstone and at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Brazil. The final events of the season will be held at the Bahrain International Circuit and Fuji Speedway in Japan, with a Chinese event, at either the Zhuhai or Shanghai International Circuits, to round out the season.

Despite winning the Le Mans 24 Hour just six months ago, Audi is full steam into its 2012 preparations with testing of next year’s LMP1 sports car in the United States.

After previous tests of the next development of the 2011 Le Mans-winning car taking place behind closed doors, Audi is now going into public at a race track for the first time. Since Saturday, Audi Sport has been running tests with two vehicles at the Sebring (Florida) circuit.

Taking turns at the wheel of the two development vehicles are the 2011 Le Mans winners Marcel Fässler (Switzerland), German André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer (France). Also involved in the tests are Dindo Capello (Italy), Denmark’s Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish (Scotland), who were last victorious at Le Mans in 2008.

The traditional American circuit has a special significance for Audi, not only because Audi has celebrated nine victories at the Sebring 12 Hours since the 2000 season.

The 5.95-kilometre track features 17 highly different types of corners, offering plenty of variety, which makes for excellent test conditions. The rough concrete of the former airfield’s take-off and landing strip, in combination with the tarmac of the other track sectors creates particularly demanding test. The warmer climate has also been welcomed by the European drivers at this time of year.

On March 17, the 12-Hour race will open the new FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) as well as the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) at this venue.

While the component tests have already started, Audi will not announce the details of the 2012 racing program, the driver line-up and the technical state of the development until a later date.