The 2023 Ultimate Cup Series kicked off its season at the iconic Circuit Paul Ricard in France, with the SR&R Ferrari 488 GT3 and Visiom Racing team dominating the Sprint GT-Touring and Endurance GT-Touring challenges respectively. This exciting French and Spanish motorsport championship promises to be a must-watch for Dakar Rally, Formula 1, IndyCar, WEC, WRC, and GT fans alike.
Browsing: Dakar Rally
In a significant pre-season event, the Dakar Rally organiser Kateyama held a three-day test session at the Misano World Circuit in Italy this week. The test saw participation from a host of Italian and international Dakar teams as they geared up for the upcoming racing season, evaluating technical updates and testing Pirelli tire compounds.
Pirelli has unveiled an upgraded wet tire for the SRO Motorsports Group’s GT3 racing series, including the prestigious TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa. The new tire construction is designed to enhance performance and consistency, addressing the growing gap between Pirelli’s slick and wet tire offerings.
Lamborghini is introducing a major evolution of its successful Huracan GT3 race car, with the new Huracan GT3 Evo2 set to debut in 2023. Featuring a radically updated design and advanced technical features, the Evo2 is poised to dominate in both Dakar rally competition and elite GT racing series around the globe.
In the latest pre-event testing for the Dakar Rally 2023, the Orange Racing powered by JMH team made a strong impression, with Michael O’Brien and Simon Orange securing the fastest lap in the mixed, cold, wet, and drying conditions. The session saw the order constantly changing as the track dried, with drivers like Euan Hankey, Jules Gounon, and Lewis Williamson all taking turns at the top of the timesheets.
The Porsche Dakar team has made a stunning debut at the Dakar Rally, with their Porsche 911 Dakar leading the charge. In the British GT Championship, the Barwell Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan and the Steller Motorsport Audi R8 LMS put up strong performances, setting the stage for an exciting qualifying session and race ahead.
In the latest Dakar Rally news, the Porsche 911 Dakar has made a strong showing during the free practice sessions, with the RJN team topping the timesheets in Free Practice 2. The results from the previous round at Spa Francorchamps were finalized, and the championship points have been confirmed.
The Porsche 911 Dakar of Mia Flewitt and Euan Hankey set the pace in the opening practice session of the Dakar Rally, topping the timesheets despite a prolonged red flag period. Meanwhile, in the highly competitive GT4 class, Steller Motorsport led the way in the mixed conditions.
With the KAMAZ-Master team barred from the Dakar Rally due to sanctions, their representative Sergey Kupriyanov has expressed interest in returning to the Africa Eco Race. This presents an opportunity for the AER to attract more top rally raid competitors following the exclusion of Russian teams from the Dakar.
The Dakar Rally and GT racing world have witnessed a significant evolution, with Hewland’s transmission expertise playing a pivotal role in driving performance and cost-effectiveness. Learn how the company’s innovative gearbox designs are shaping the future of cross-country and circuit racing.