As im in europe right now, more precisely in Belgium, I didn’t hesitate to take my S5 for a trip and go check out the action in Spa.

Noriaki, a very talented photographer I see at most of the races back in Japan and who also came to shot in Le mans for me was in Spa as well. He took that quick shot. N-RAK Photo AgencyLegendary corner! Eau rouge and Raidillon! Looks easy flat for F1 cars. It was almost flat out for us to with the LMP1 cars back in Mai for the 1000km race but we ran low downforce setting like Le Mans which made it difficult.
I also payed a visit to Dr. Colin Kolles. He’s now running the HRT F1 team. Last year, I got a last minute opportunity to put a deal together with him which gave me the chance to do a unforgettable Le Mans debut. Very thankful for that!

His squad is actually composed with a lot of mechanics form my ex F3 team back in 2000 so i saw them to.

I saw Mr. Le Mans as well there, the one and only Tom Kristensen. He was doing some danish job…

With less than three weeks before the first round at Silverstone, Audi Sport Team Joest has confirmed its driver lineups for the inaugural Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. The 2010 Le Mans winners have entrusted a mix of drivers to pilot its two Audi R15 plus TDIs in the three-round championship which kicks off on Sept. 12 at the famed British circuit.

Eight-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish spearhead the driving strength, as the pair will share the wheel of the No. 7 Audi in all three races. Dindo Capello and TImo Bernhard will pilot the No. 8 entry at Silverstone.

Capello rejoins Kristensen and McNish in the No. 7 car for a three-driver lineup at the American Le Mans Series season-ending Petit Le Mans on Oct. 2. Audi’s sister car will feature the strength of Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer and Benoit Treluyer, the same trio that recorded a second place result at Le Mans.

The No. 7 Audi will again be piloted by Kristensen and McNish in the third and final round in Zhuhai, China on Nov. 7. For this round, Capello will again move over to the No. 8 machine but will be paired with Frenchman Romain Dumas.

Eight of Audi’s nine drivers will compete in at least one of the three rounds, with the only omission being Mike Rockenfeller, who teamed with Bernhard and Dumas to win this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans for the German brand.

“Because there’s only a make and team but no driver classification we’re using the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup as an opportunity to integrate the drivers who haven’t competed for us very often, even better with our team,” said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “Our aim is to compete at Le Mans in 2011 with the same drivers as this year.”

Audi Sport Team Joest Driver Lineups:

1000 Kilometers Silverstone (GB), Sept. 12
No. 7 Tom Kristensen (DK)/Allan McNish (GB)
No. 8 Timo Bernhard (D)/Dindo Capello (I)

Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta (USA), Oct. 2
No. 7 Dindo Capello (I)/Tom Kristensen (DK)/Allan McNish (GB)
No. 9 Marcel Fässler (CH)/André Lotterer (D)/Benoît Treluyer (F)

6 Hours of Zhuhai (CN), Nov. 7
No. 7 Tom Kristensen (DK)/Allan McNish (GB)
No. 8 Dindo Capello (I)/Romain Dumas (F)

This kid is a full on fan! Comes to many races! Look at him! So cool! He has everything exactly like on my suit, even the puma logo! This is at Fuji but he comes to most of the races.

sorry for the long break and not posting anything…. Its summer time so i don’t like to spend to much time behind the computer… I prefer to be at the beach or the pool… hehe

So… Since the Le Mans 24H race in june I had 3 races.

Super GT in Sepang, finishing a OK 8th. Not great but it was the best we could do with all the handicap weight on our car. Just disappointing when you can fight for victory…

Formula Nippon In Fuji, finishing 2nd. Was a good race in real hot conditions, Kohei hirate won it, he was clearly ahead of everybody so we need to work better for the next races. Championship Gap to the leader shrank down to 5 points which is good. Motegi is coming up in  1o days.

Super GT in Sugo. Finishing 7th, again, we have a heavy car but our performance shouldn’t be that poor, we are seriously lacking speed since we changed our engine in Sepang. For me it was one of the most frustrating races of my life. Racing at the back of the field, not being able to overtake by all means. Not fun! Championship is still looking ok, 10 points from the leaders, if we get our speed back, there is no reason why we cant repeat our title…

Super GT results Sugo

Super GT results Sepang

Super GT Raninking

Formula Nippon Race 3 Fuji Results

Formula Nippon Rankings

Like last year, with Lexus and Gazoo Racing, I had the oportunity to participate in one of the most challenging races for man and mashine, the 24 h of Nurburgring.

We call it the green hell… which it basically is with its 25km of narrow high speed track around the german hilly country side.

So many cars on the track and lots of unpredictable situations with accidents and weather changes.

We experienced some problems during the race so we coudlnt compete anymore for a nice position but the most important for us was to finish. I realy enjoyed the time with the hole team and we had a lot of fun with my japanese colleges.

Well done to Lexus for the nice new looking car. LExus LF-A

I thought I was young when I tried a rally car for the first time when I was 11. It was a Ford escort Cosworth group N. I’ll try to find the TV footage made about me doing it… I was on the TV news… 1993

But this kid… thats some serious stuff! cant believe it! He’s ON IT!

Ben on the Concept 2 rower, me on the Tacx indoor ergometer and JP on with the Dumbbells

Audi has made three changes to its sportscar line-up this year, as it attempts to regain the Le Mans 24 Hours crown from Peugeot.

This week’s AUTOSPORT magazine revealed that three-time Le Mans winner Marco Werner has been dropped and Alexandre Premat will focus on the DTM, while former American Le Mans Series champion Lucas Luhr is not expected to feature.

The trio has been replaced by Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer and Benoit Treluyer, who will share one of the R15s at Le Mans this year.

Fassler raced twice for Audi in the ALMS in 2008 and raced at Le Mans for Chevrolet in 2009. Lotterer won last year’s Japanese Super GT title and drove a Kolles-run Audi R10 at Le Mans, while Treluyer raced a Pescarolo-run Peugeot 908 in last year’s 24 Hours.

“In view of our strong competitors, we have to be perfectly positioned in terms of drivers,” said Audi motorsport boss Wolfgang Ullrich. “Marcel, Andre and Benoit attracted our attention during the past two years and we are convinced they are a very good combination for Le Mans.”

“For the time being plans for them are fully focused on Le Mans 2010, but all three of them are still relatively young and may become part of our sportscar project over the long term.”

“For me, having the chance to be part of the Audi team this year is incredible,” said Fassler. “I’m looking forward to the challenge and expect the R15 to be competing for overall victory.”

Lotterer added: “I’m proud about having been selected by such a successful team, this is a major step in my career. Last year as a Le Mans rookie I learned a lot, now I’ve got the chance to compete for a top-class team.”

Treluyer said: “I’d never have expected to immediately get a slot with a factory team for Le Mans after my return from Japan. With Andre and Marcel, we’ve got a car in which we can clinch overall victory.”