DKR’s Le Mans livery
LMP2 team DKR Engineering has revealed its Belgian-themed livery for the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Pilot Challenge set for weekend of firsts at Detroit
This weekend’s Pilot Challenge event in Detroit will see a set of firsts for the series.
Not only will it be the first time that the Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport (GS) class races in Detroit, it will be the first for any IMSA-sanctioned series on the new downtown temporary street course surrounding the Renaissance Center.
The series hasn’t raced on a street course since Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada, in 2010. Needless to say, it will be a new adventure with no background data for the 22 cars entered to rely on heading into the June 2-3 weekend.
The entry list can be found HERE >>>
The Orange Racing McLaren will return!
The Orange Racing by JMH McLaren will not compete in this weekend’s British GT meeting at Donington Park.
Its absence is due to driver Simon Orange’s availability. He has opted to skip the event so he can attend the Premier League Rugby Grand Final, which will feature the Sale Sharks, the team he co-owns, which is looking to secure its first title since the 2005/06 season.
The team will rejoin the championship at Snetterton.
DTM details 2023 changes
The 39th season of DTM gets underway this weekend at Oschersleben. The championship, now run by the ADAC, will run with a tweaked race format, points system and penalty system.
In terms of race length, the duration of this season’s races has been extended by five minutes, taking each sprint to one hour plus one lap.
A new points system has been implemented too. Where previously the top ten drivers picked up points, the first 15 drivers over the finish line will now add to their points tally. The winner scores 25 points, with the runner-up receiving 20. The third podium place is rewarded with 16 points, fourth place picks up 13 points. From fifth (11 points), each position receives one point fewer than the car in front, right down to 15th place (one point). This means that more than 50 per cent of the 28 starters can finish in the points.
DTM’s races will feature a more forgiving ‘penalty lap’ system too. Smaller infringements in the DTM will be punished with a penalty lap. A penalty zone will be set up at every circuit for this purpose. The DTM drivers must drive through this defined area at a maximum speed of 50 km/h and are likely to lose roughly five seconds through this “more lenient” penalty.
The penalty lap also clears up the situation on the track, and removes the need for post-race time penalties in most cases.
Bernhard recognised by Oschersleben
Porsche brand ambassador Timo Bernhard has been inducted into the Oschersleben Walk of Fame ahead of this weekend’s DTM opener.
#DTM – Respect where respect is due: On the eve of the 2023 #DTM opening weekend, team owner and #Porsche brand abassador @Timo_Bernhard was inducted into the Walk of Fame at the Oschersleben race track. Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/5omXaRXHSD
— Porsche Motorsport (@PorscheRaces) May 26, 2023
Manthey’s Spa drivers confirmed
Manthey Racing has revealed an all-star driver line-up for its Spa 24 Hours attack this season with its Porsche 911 GT3 R 992.
The factory-supported team will compete with works drivers Kevin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor and Julien Andlauer.
#Spa24h – #MantheyEMA will field a #Porsche #911GT3R in this year’s @24HoursofSpa (29 June – 2 July) with a strong driver line-up: Works drivers @KevinEstre and @VanthoorLaurens will share the No. 92 cockpit with @JAndlauer pic.twitter.com/J92JixkguL
— Porsche Motorsport (@PorscheRaces) May 24, 2023
Images courtesy of Manthey Racing, DKR Engineering
