The Mission H24 project’s new hydrogen-electric powered racing prototype recently completed its first laps at the Lurcy-Levis circuit with Norman Nato at the wheel.
MissionH24 has just kicked off a new phase in its development. H24 Racing hit the track with the new H24 prototype for the first time at the Lurcy-Levis circuit in central France. Development driver Norman Nato was able to get a sense of the improvements made to the aerodynamics, cooling system and propulsion. The team also tested out a lighter and more compact gearbox and an electronic braking system. Thanks to a weight increase of 150 kg, bringing the H24 closer to the mass of a GT3, performance has also gotten better.
The 89th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 21 and 22 August this year celebrates rejuvenation, with the introduction of a Hypercar class.
Quite rightly, the high-performance, stylish machines in the new category take centre stage on the 2021 race poster.
Devised to depict speed and to evoke the distinctive day/night aspect of the world-famous race, the understated 2021 poster design leaves the limelight to the spectacular cars.
Corvette Racing has announced it will compete at the upcoming TOTAL 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (29 April – 1 May) with its Corvette C8.R.
Fresh from their victory at the Rolex 24 At Daytona in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Corvette Racing will enter a single C8.R at the WEC season-opener.
Antonio Garcia (Spain) and Oliver Gavin (UK) are set to drive the No. 63 C8.R – the first time they have shared a car in their Corvette Racing careers.
I have just completed my follow-up Excel file for the forthcoming 2021 season. It is of course subject to many changes, in particular on the driver’s side. Many have not yet been decided upon and many still need to get their 24h of Le Mans licences.
I can make the file available if you send me a message with your email address.
The dates of the races keeps changing due to the current health conditions. Let us hope that spectators will be allowed.
Portimão shifted to June; Spa-Francorchamps set to host FIA WEC season-opener
The opening round of the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship, which was due to be held in Portimão (Portugal) in early April, has been postponed until June.
Spa-Francorchamps will now host the Prologue, as well as the WEC season-opener.
The decision, approved at today’s FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting, has been made following the uncertainty surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic including travel restrictions from different Governments in various countries, meaning travel to and from Portugal is heavily compromised. Furthermore, it is hoped that the new date for Portimão will increase the possibility of fans being able to attend the race.
Aston Martin launches new car in return to F1 after 61 years
SILVERSTONE, England (AP) – The Aston Martin team presented its new Formula One car on Wednesday, revealing a slick livery of British racing green as it returns to the series for the first time since 1960.
Aston Martin left after failing to score any points that year and returns to the grid with high hopes after signing four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel. He has won 53 F1 races but endured a dismal final year with Ferrari in 2020 during which he secured just one podium finish.
“I love the history of motor racing and Aston Martin is one of the great names of the past, so it is fun to be part of their return,” Vettel said at the team’s online launch on Wednesday. “I have not driven the car yet, obviously, but I think it looks great. I am really looking forward to getting it out on the track.”
He will race alongside Canadian driver Lance Stroll, whose father Lawrence Stroll owns the team after completing a nearly $1 billion takeover last April.
The Silverstone-based team was then rebranded from Racing Point to Aston Martin, and Sergio Perez – who drove consistently well and won one race last season – was replaced by the 33-year-old Vettel.
It will be Vettel’s fourth F1 team after starting with Toro Rosso before winning four straight titles with Red Bull from 2010-13 and then joining Ferrari. He fell short of delivering the title the Italian manufacturer so craves, finishing runner-up behind Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton despite leading the championship at the halfway stage in 2017 and ’18.
“Even though I have raced for four Formula One teams and for many years, starting a new season with a new team still gives me a sense of excitement,” the veteran German driver said. “As a driver, I have always kept my eye on the competition and this team has consistently impressed me with what they have been able to do without the biggest of budgets. So, when (they) approached me last year, and explained what their ambitions were, I was immediately very motivated to join the team.”
When the 22-year-old Stroll and Vettel take to the grid in the AMR21 car at the season-opening GP in Bahrain on March 28, it will be the first time Aston Martin will have been on the grid since Roy Salvadori and Maurice Trintignant lined up for the 1960 British GP.
“Aston Martin returning to Formula One after an absence of 61 years will have a powerful effect on the sport, the media and the fans, commanding global attention,” Lawrence Stroll said. “We now have the pieces in place, the people and the partners, to make real progress. I firmly believe we have the perfect blend of experience and youth in Sebastian and Lance.”
They will get to grips with the car at preseason testing in Bahrain from March 12-14.
Not WEC but interesting enough in my view. I have stopped following F1 a few years back. Maybe this could change if Alpine is successful.
Ce mercredi, l’équipe française a levé le voile sur la voiture qui disputera la saison 2021 avec à son volant le tandem Fernando Alonso-Esteban Ocon.
La litanie des présentations en vue de la saison qui débutera le 28 mars prochain au Bahreïn s’est poursuivie ce mardi en Formule 1. Ainsi, quelques heures seulement après que Mercedes a dévoilé les courbes de sa nouvelle Flèche d’argent, ce fut au tour d’Alpine de révéler les couleurs de sa toute première Formule 1. Des couleurs évidemment différentes puisque, pour marquer le passage de Renault à Alpine, le traditionnel jaune de la marque au Losange a laissé la place à une dominante bleue, même si, identité française oblige, du blanc et du rouge apparaissent ici ou là. D’un point de vue du châssis, avec le gel de la réglementation en vigueur cette année, inutile de chercher de grandes différences entre la Renault RS 20 et cette Alpine A521.
This Wednesday, the French team lifted the veil on the car that will compete in the 2021 season with the Fernando Alonso-Esteban Ocon tandem at the wheel.
The litany of presentations in view of the season which will start next March 28 in Bahrain continued this Tuesday in Formula 1. Just a few hours after Mercedes unveiled the curves of its new Silver Arrow, it was Alpine’s turn to reveal the colours of its very first Formula 1. Colours obviously different since, to mark the passage of Renault to Alpine, the traditional yellow of the brand at the Losange gave way to a dominant blue, even if, French identity obliges, white and red appear here and there. From the point of view of the chassis, with the freezing of the regulations in force this year, there is no need to look for big differences between the Renault RS 20 and this Alpine A521.
JJ's Le Mans 24h 