United Sports Car Championship (USCC)

mrntd · Feb 24, 2014

New engine in the sport.

Honda is following Ford's lead and debuting the second twin-turbocharged V6 to be used by Daytona Prototypes in the United Sports Car Championship. The wait won't be long to see it on track because the new engine will debut with the Starworks Motorsport team in a Riley Gen3 prototype chassis at the 12 Hours of Sebring from March 12-15.

The new HR35TT engine is based on Honda's J35 production V6 found in a variety of its models, including the current Accord. The racing version benefits from dry sump lubrication, but is still similar to the production version with an aluminum block, direct injection and single overhead camshafts. It is fueled by 100-octane E10 fuel, but like many racing engines, exact power figures have not been released.

Starworks has had a close relationship with Honda since it won the LMP2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2012 with a Honda Performance Development ARX-03b chassis and Honda engine. We can't wait to see this new mill hit the track, and see how it fairs against Chip Ganassi Racing's EcoBoost-powered Riley. Scroll down to read the press release for the full details.
Click to expand...

ScottinBend · Feb 24, 2014

So sad to hear about the Red Dragon.....

Jon Fogarty actually lives in here Bend, so this is my hometown team.
Good luck to them and Memo and can't wait for next year.

Steve · Feb 26, 2014

Level 5 set for TUDOR Championship exit (racer.com)

Marshall Pruett | Wednesday, 26 February 2014

Rolex 24 at Daytona GT Daytona class winners Level 5 Motorsports are set to exit the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship after a memorable result at Round 1.
RACER has learned the Scott Tucker-owned sports car team will not compete at the upcoming Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, and is expected to formalize its departure from the TUDOR Championship this week.

Drivers Townsend Bell, Bill Sweedler, Jeff Segal and Alessandro Pier Guidi drove the No. 555 Ferrari F458 to the GTD win at Daytona after IMSA reversed a penalty on the final lap that initially awarded the victory to Flying Lizard Motorsports, and the sister No. 556 Ferrari piloted by team owner Scott Tucker, Mike LaMarra, Terry Borcheller and Guy Cosmo wasn't far behind, placing sixth in GTD.

"Scott Tucker gave me the authority to choose where we race this year, and I'm not here to throw stones, but I decided it's not in Level 5's best interest to move forward this season in the TUDOR Championship," Level 5 team manager David Stone told RACER. "We'll run some cars in the Ferrari Challenge series and have been approached by some people to run in the Pirelli World Challenge series, so we'll look at that; and there are numerous manufacturers that are building LMP2 coupes and that's a possibility.

"I've got two different OEM possibilities we're bidding on for 2014 that could be as simple as some test outings and could include doing some events in TUDOR. I've spoken with the series about that, and they said they'd be open to accommodating additional prototypes. So we're looking at all avenues for the team to go forward."

The move for the multiple ALMS class champions comes as a late surprise, but Bell and Sweedler, who've partnered since the 2012 ALMS season, appear to have a contingency plan in place.

As RACER reported late last year, Grand-Am Rolex GT champions AIM Autosport were close to fielding a standalone Ferrari GTD entry this season,but with that deal falling through, team principal Ian Willis appeared at the Rolex 24 working with Level 5 and could step in to run Bell and Sweedler for the remainder of the year.

"Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell will likely join AIM, and we'll assist their program if that's what ends up happening," Stone confirmed. "AIM is who I recommended to Bill and Townsend to carry on with."
Click to expand...

Steve · Feb 27, 2014

Stronger words about Level 5's withdrawal in this one.

Level 5 Confirms Withdrawal from TUSC (sportscar365.com)

John Dagys | February 25, 2014

Despite having come out on top in last monthâ€™s Rolex 24 at Daytona, Level 5 Motorsports has withdrawn from the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship with immediate effect.

The four-time American Le Mans Series class champions, which fielded a pair of Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 cars in the new-for-2014 GTD category, scored its first class victory at Daytona with drivers Bill Sweedler, Townsend Bell, Jeff Segal, Alessandro Pier Guidi and team owner Scott Tucker.

While having initially planned to continue through the 11-round TUDOR Championship with at least one Ferrari for Sweedler and Bell, team manager David Stone made the decision to pull the plug on the program Monday.

â€œThe decision was 100 percent my responsibility,â€ Stone told Sportscar365. â€œScott Tucker has placed all operational responsibilities and decisions squarely on my shoulders. Based on various reasons, itâ€™s my opinion that participation in the TUDOR Championship for 2014 is not in the best interest of Level 5.

â€œI want to be really clear that Iâ€™m not trying to be negative or disrespectful of the TUDOR Championship. I have no ill will or negativity against them. They need to do what they feel is right for them, just as I must do the same for Level 5.â€

Stone said there were a number of factors that went into his decision, including IMSAâ€™s ruling at the Rolex 24 that initially penalized the race-leading No. 555 Ferrari for avoidable contact.

The No. 45 Flying Lizard Motorsports Audi R8 LMS crew celebrated as winners in victory lane, with IMSA reversing the penalty and awarding Level 5 the win nearly four hours after the checkered flag.

â€œIt was my opinion we should not have been [in the TUDOR Championship] in 2014 to begin with because of it being a development year for the series,â€ Stone said. â€œAs was apparent, the time fame it was taking for them to provide rules, driver rankings, etc led me to believe theyâ€™ve got their hands full and I do not envy the position they were and are still in.

â€œThe series needs time to sort itself out and I donâ€™t want to be one of the participants that has to suffer through that the first year. I feel that the series has focused more on quantity than quality. The reality is you can only properly support so many teams at any given track at one time.â€

Stone also attributed the seriesâ€™ permitted paddock space, which has been reduced for 2014 due to the capacity grid sizes, as just one factor into their decision to withdraw.

Level 5 had interest from three customers to run in Prototype Challenge this year, but Stone said IMSAâ€™s initial class capacity regulations released in October, along with a revision in the schedule, resulted in those prospective clients to pull out.

â€œI believe until racers have a voice to create a series that they want to race in, it is unlikely to change in any significant and meaningful way,â€ Stone said. â€œI feel like every team that has a full-season entry should have an elected representative from their team and there should be regular meetings with a certain list of topics to be debated, decided and voted on.

â€œThat way, you are creating a series thatâ€™s consistent with what racers want as opposed to a sanctioning body dictating the environment. After all, we are the customers. No pun intended, but in order to arrive to that position takes stones. As long as teams cave in to the way any sanctioning body dictates, there is no rational reason to expect meaningful changes.â€

While Stone said that Level 5 will unlikely return to the TUDOR Championship in any class this year, they are actively exploring customer programs for the Pirelli World Challenge, potentially with the same Ferraris that were raced at Daytona. The team will also continue to manage and support cars in Ferrari Challenge.

Additionally, Stone said they have also been approached by a few OEMs for a manufacturer-based prototype effort that would likely start off as an engine development program. He declined to disclose a possible time frame for such a project but said it could involve participation in the FIA World Endurance Championship, TUDOR Championship or European Le Mans Series.

â€œRight now, itâ€™s a reorganization and reshuffle of Level 5 to do what is sensible for the team,â€ he said. â€œIf the right opportunity presents itself to start another race-winning operation, then we would consider doing that. Our options are wide open.â€

As for the future of Sweedler and Bell, who currently lead the GTD driversâ€™ championship, itâ€™s understood the duo will continue in the class with a to-be-announced program.
Click to expand...

minirab · Feb 27, 2014

NASCAR working it's magic.

Steve · Feb 28, 2014

More bad news.

Sebring TV Schedule Announced (sportscar365.com)

February 28, 2014

FOX Sports 1 will carry live coverage of the first three hours of the 62nd running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida on Saturday, March 15, the second round of both the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and the Tequila PatrÃ³n North American Endurance Cup.

The remainder of the event will be streamed live on IMSA.com and through the FOX Sports Go mobile app. The FOX broadcast team will provide commentary to both streams. The IMSA.com stream will be available globally.

FOX Sports 1 also will televise a three-hour full race highlight show from Sebring beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, March 16.

The balance of the 2014 TUDOR Championship television schedule will be announced next week. The Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge event at Sebring International Raceway on Friday, March 14, will be streamed live in its entirety on IMSA.com beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

The two-hour broadcast will air March 19 on FOX Sports 1 at 1 p.m. ET and will re-air March 23 on FOX Sports 2 beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Click to expand...

Nathan · Mar 1, 2014

I think the above should be titled. How to alienate fans.

MCS02 · Mar 1, 2014

I miss Speedvision! Like we need another stick and ball channel!!

CHKMINI · Mar 1, 2014

Headlines should read "NASCAR TUDOR Series......."

Steve · Mar 1, 2014

Nathan said: ↑

I think the above should be titled. How to alienate fans.
Click to expand...

I agree, completely. I read they won't be geoblocking so maybe this is partly a misguided attempt to increase exposure to a worldwide audience.

Steve · Mar 1, 2014

AMR Withdraws, 66 Entries Now Expected for Sebring (sportscar365.com)

John Dagys | March 1, 2014

This monthâ€™s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring is unlikely to feature a capacity grid, following at least two withdrawals from the event this week.

An updated entry list for the second round of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship was released on Thursday, which confirmed the withdrawal of the No. 97 Aston Martin Racing Vantage in the GT Le Mans class.

The factory entry, which was driven by Darren Turner, Stefan Muecke, Pedro Lamy, Richie Stanaway and Paul Dalla Lana at the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona in January, appeared on the initial Sebring entry list with to-be-announced drivers but has since been pulled.

AMR team principal John Gaw told Sportscar365 last month they had yet to confirm their prospective program for the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup and had been waiting on what Balance of Performance changes, if any, would be made to the V8-powered car.

IMSA later confirmed the GTE-spec Vantage would be given a 20kg weight break and 0.3mm increase in air restrictor size for Sebring.

AMRâ€™s withdrawal reduces the GTLM field to 11 entries.

A further entry change comes in the GT Daytona class, with the Rolex 24 class-winning Level 5 Motorsports squad confirming its exit from the series this week.

While both Level 5 Ferrari 458 Italia GT3s still remain on the official entry list, at least one is expected to be formally withdrawn, with another team understood to be in the stages of finalizing an entry with drivers Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell for the remainder of the season.

Sweedler and Bell were part of Level 5′s class-winning effort at Daytona and would retain the driversâ€™ championship lead heading into Sebring.

Should a deal be done to keep one of the Ferraris on track, it would result in a reduced entry of 66 cars for the race, two fewer than the raceâ€™s maximum capacity.

Itâ€™s understood there are no teams remaining on the reserve list, which was published in December.
Click to expand...

minirab · Mar 8, 2014

Just saw on the IMSA site that the Kansas race won't be on the tube, can we

hope that it was cancelled?!

CHKMINI · Mar 8, 2014

minirab said: ↑

Just saw on the IMSA site that the Kansas race won't be on the tube, can we

hope that it was cancelled?!
Click to expand...

....and replaced with

CHKMINI · Mar 8, 2014

MID- OHIO ??????

Steve · Mar 8, 2014

Kansas is still on the schedule.

Mid-Ohio is still not...

IMSA | TUDOR United SportsCar Championship | Upcoming Events

mrntd · Mar 8, 2014

With good coverage there will less sponsorship. Less money. Fewer cars. Then it dies.

Steve · Mar 10, 2014

Yup, the Kansas race is PC only, now no coverage either. That's 3 strikes in my book.

No TV, Radio Coverage for Kansas PC Event (sportscar365.com)

John Dagys | March 10, 2014

When Prototype Challenge teams visit Kansas Speedway this June for its double-header TUDOR United SportsCar Championship event, it will be without mainstream media coverage.

IMSA has confirmed to Sportscar365 that the June 6-7 event on the 2.37-mile oval/road course will not feature television, online video streaming or MRN coverage for the weekend, which also includes a round of the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge.

According to IMSA VP of Marketing David Pettit, the decision to forgo FOX Sports 1/2 coverage came down to its TV rights contract that was carried over from last year, which permitted a set number of â€œpremier series racesâ€ that were allowed as part of the package.

â€œWhen we split out the PC class, specifically at Kansas, we had to make a decision, â€˜Do we carry that one class and pay incremental for that?â€™â€ Pettit told Sportscar365. â€œThere would have been an additional cost to that. Weâ€™d have to look at our partners to help make some of that happen.

â€œA lot of what we do from a TV standpoint, the revenue is generated by our official partners. If you look at the PC class, there are no automotive partners in that. When you look at our TV coverage as an example, thereâ€™s a lot of advertising done by OEM and official automotive partners right now.

â€œSo that commercial commitment drives a lot of that consideration. Not to slight PC by any means, itâ€™s extremely expensive and without some connections, itâ€™s hard to make that viable.â€

IMSA and FOX Sports announced last week the complete TV schedule for the TUDOR Championship, which features the majority of races live on FOX Sports 1, including premier events at Long Beach, Watkins Glen and the P/GTLM and PC/GTD double-header at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

For Kansas, Pettit confirmed that live timing and scoring will be made available on IMSA.com, while theyâ€™re exploring the option of streaming the track PA, which will be anchored by Greg Creamer. Creamer was recently announced as an addition to the IMSA/MRN Radio staff.
Click to expand...

Full article here.

Nathan · Mar 10, 2014

The swirling in the bowl is getting faster.

This whole thing is becoming a primer for how to ruin a race series.

minirab · Mar 10, 2014

They can spin it anyway they want.

Steve · Mar 10, 2014

Millennium withdraws Sebring prototype entry (racer.com)

Marshall Pruett | Monday, 10 March 2014

The 62nd Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring is expected to take the green flag with 65 entries, down from 66 after the Millennium Racing team withdrew its ORECA 03-Nissan P2 from the event.

Partnered with Action Express Racing, Delta Motorsport and its Millennium-sponsored No. 9 Corvette DP (TOP) finished third in January's Rolex 24 at Daytona. The veteran WEC team had planned to run its own P2 car at Sebring, but after testing on the 3.7-mile circuit last week with tire manufacturer Dunlop, team principal Simon Dowson felt they lacked sufficient running time on the spec Continental rubber used in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship's Prototype class.

"We did two days with Dunlop and then were planning on running Continentals and [doing] chassis tuning on Day 3, but it was rained off and we are just not well enough prepared," Dowson told RACER.

With a two-car WEC P2 program to run under the Millennium Racing banner, Dowson said it's unlikely the team will return with one of its ORECA-Nissans this season, but did express an interest in fielding a Coyote Daytona Prototype with the custom body Delta has developed for the DP chassis constructor.
Click to expand...

Forums

United Sports Car Championship (USCC)

mrntd Well-Known Member
Supporting Member

ScottinBend Space Cowboy
Supporting Member

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

minirab Well-Known Member

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Nathan Founder

MCS02 Moderator
Staff Member Articles Moderator Supporting Member

Attached Files:

image.jpg

CHKMINI Club Coordinator
Lifetime Supporter

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

minirab Well-Known Member

CHKMINI Club Coordinator
Lifetime Supporter

CHKMINI Club Coordinator
Lifetime Supporter

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

mrntd Well-Known Member
Supporting Member

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Nathan Founder

minirab Well-Known Member

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Share This Page

Useful Searches

United Sports Car Championship (USCC)

mrntd Well-Known Member Supporting Member

ScottinBend Space Cowboy Supporting Member

Steve Administrator Staff Member Articles Moderator

Steve Administrator Staff Member Articles Moderator

minirab Well-Known Member

Steve Administrator Staff Member Articles Moderator

Nathan Founder

MCS02 Moderator Staff Member Articles Moderator Supporting Member

Attached Files:

image.jpg

CHKMINI Club Coordinator Lifetime Supporter

Steve Administrator Staff Member Articles Moderator

Steve Administrator Staff Member Articles Moderator

minirab Well-Known Member

CHKMINI Club Coordinator Lifetime Supporter

CHKMINI Club Coordinator Lifetime Supporter

Steve Administrator Staff Member Articles Moderator

mrntd Well-Known Member Supporting Member

Steve Administrator Staff Member Articles Moderator

Nathan Founder

minirab Well-Known Member

Steve Administrator Staff Member Articles Moderator

Share This Page

mrntd Well-Known Member
Supporting Member

ScottinBend Space Cowboy
Supporting Member

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

MCS02 Moderator
Staff Member Articles Moderator Supporting Member

CHKMINI Club Coordinator
Lifetime Supporter

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

CHKMINI Club Coordinator
Lifetime Supporter

CHKMINI Club Coordinator
Lifetime Supporter

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

mrntd Well-Known Member
Supporting Member

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator