Button’s Pikes Peak challenger
The new Pikes Peak challenger from Radford Motors, the Pikes Peak Edition Type 62-2, has been revealed ahead of its appearance at the world-famous mountain next month in the 101st edition of the PPIHC event.
This competition-spec 62-2, based on the road-going version of the Lotus 62-2 that is being coach built by Radford, is a 710 bhp hill climb special powered by a 3.5-litre supercharged V6. It will sport a JPS black and gold livery and be driven by Tanner Foust and Jenson Button.
861 kg.
710 bhp.
14,115 ft.
Oxygen.
Fuel.
Foust.Bring
On
The
Mountain.@PPIHC @TannerFoust @AntAnstead @JensonButton @TopGear https://t.co/cIBgbPdJzK pic.twitter.com/DHdcRci7Wz— Radford Motors (@Radfordmotors) May 5, 2023
The Radford will join the usual varied Pikes Peak entry, which will again include a modified 2016 AVE Riley LMP3 car for “fastest pastor” Don Wickstrum and the first-ever Aston Martin entry for Venture Engineering.
2023 running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is set to run on June 25, following Button’s appearance in the centenary Le Mans 24 Hours earlier in the month in the Garage 56 Nascar.
Ravenol becomes ‘official supplier’ of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport
German high-performance lubricant brand Ravenol has become an ‘official supplier’ for Mercedes-AMG motorsport.
The new long-term partnership means Mercedes-AMG Performance cars will be lubricated with Ravenol products in future. From now on, the customer racing teams can also order products from Ravenol’s high-performance portfolio through the global Mercedes-AMG Motorsport sales channels.
“GT racing is an important area of our activities. Here, we have very good long-term partnerships. These also include numerous Mercedes-AMG customer teams, for instance competing in DTM, ADAC GT Masters or the 24-hour races at the Nürburgring or in Spa. We are very much looking forward to the cooperation as an official supplier of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport,” said Martin Huning, motorsport director at Ravenol.
25 cars on World Challenge Asia Buriram entry
A new season of Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS gets underway in Thailand this weekend, with 25 GT cars set to compete at the Chang International Circuit.
That number will increase to at least 40 next time out at Fuji when the bulk of Fanatec Japan Cup’s cars join the grid.
The 25 entries assembled for Chang – which last welcomed Asia’s biggest continental series in 2019 – include 22 full-season participants and three Thai race-by-race teams armed with local knowledge. And they’re going to need it given the quality of driver pairings eager to begin the new campaign in style.
Saturday and Sunday’s races will be broadcast on SRO’s GT World YouTube channel.
Porsche takes early World World Challenge lead
After five events (and nine races) in the 2023 season, Porsche has taken an early lead in the 2023 Fanatec GT World Challenge Powered by AWS manufacturer’s title race.
The German brand has a narrow lead over reigning Champion Mercedes-AMG, while Audi Sport and BMW M are in close contention for third place.
“Our customers are racing all over the world at the great SRO Events,” said Porsche 911 GT3 R project manager, Sebastian Götz.
“Being part of the Fanatec GT World Challenge is a great opportunity to see our Teams and Porsche cars racing on four continents and fighting for an overall manufacturer championship. The 2023 season start was really strong for Porsche, and leading this important championship gives us a very positive push, knowing that there is still a long way to go and more than 40 races left to collect points…”
The season now continues with a triple-header. The Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS crosses the English channel for the first Sprint Cup race of the season, at the Kent circuit of Brands Hatch. And over in Thailand, the 2023 Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia will get away at Chang International, where all seven Fanatec GT World Challenge manufacturers are in contention. Finally, Australia will hold its third round at Phillip Island.
Images courtesy of Radford Motors, SRO and Mercedes-AMG
