2011 Blancpain Endurance Series

http://www.planetlemans.com/2011/07/26/trio-of-mp4-12c-gt3-race-cars-to-star-at-spa/

I can't decide if that car has a stupid grin on it or if its one of the best looking race cars I've ever seen.

http://blancpain-endurance-series.com/results.php?season=2011&event=3&session=Combined Qualifying

http://blancpain-endurance-series.com/newsitem.php?key=120

http://blancpain-endurance-series.com/index2.php

Live stream quail results cant wait see this how motorsport should be viewed able to watch free to air online

Preview for the race. OP updated with stream link so you can watch from TORA!


"Total 24hrs of Spa, Test day and Preview" by Blancpainendurance

Now LIVE!!! See original post embeded video.

fabulous

haribo porsche

The McLarens qualified terribly, what happened there?

I know they had a few problems with the cars and had very little running in quali

Is the live stream down for anybody else or is it just me?

No, its down for me too

Oh I see, there are minor gaps, probably to let the commentator rest his vocals. It should be off for 2 hours since going down.

Now added 1 hour highlights of Spa 24hours, and the AMZAZING race from Magny-Cours. Just watch the first 20 minutes. Truely immense racing!

Added the 4-part stream from Blancpain Enduro's Dailymotion page to Simon's OP.

Thanks Conner!

For those that saw, and were interested, I bring you....

The Reiter Lambo crashing into the pitlane at Spa. OOOOOOOH DEAR!!

Here's an interesting press release

United Autosports announces McLaren campaign for 2012



• Pair of new McLaren MP4-12C GT3s to be entered for full 2012 season
• Five race Blancpain Endurance Series campaign also announced
• Team to return to the famous Spa 24 Hours for a third consecutive year
• Notable driver line up already takes shape

United Autosports today marked the next stage in its development as the team announced key details of its plans for a fresh assault on the 2012 season. The Anglo-American race team, established 18 months ago, will enjoy a new manufacturer relationship and switch to longer distance events as its core activities. The team will be equipped with a pair of new McLaren MP4-12C GT3 cars for a full season entry in the 2012 Blancpain Endurance Series.

The 2012 Blancpain Endurance Series will see United Autosports contest the headlining GT3 class with its new McLarens contending for both class and overall wins in a season due to feature five races, four over three hours in duration, and the fifth the world famous and increasingly important 24 Hours of Spa.

A typically entertaining and thoroughbred driver line-up is in place and will feature an entry in both the Professional driver and Pro/Am classes of the Blancpain series. In typical United Autosports style, the squad is sure to attract the attention of the world's motorsport media. Full details of the driver line-up will be announced in the coming weeks.

With the 2012 calendar still to be confirmed the series is expected once again to feature world class circuits and packed grids, while the United Autosports McLarens look set to be matched against a number of high profile entries including teams fielding Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW and AMG Mercedes GT3 cars.

Zak Brown (USA). Chairman & Co-Owner of United Autosports:

"I'm absolutely thrilled to join the Blancpain Series next year with McLaren. I have done a lot of business with them over the years in Formula One and admire their success, so consider them great partners. “The new car looks awesome and is very quick. I can’t wait to see two McLarens in United colours next year.”

Richard Dean (GB), Managing Director & Co-Owner of United Autosports:

“The combination of a new racing challenge in the Blancpain series and a pair of very exciting new cars is a mouth-watering prospect. Combined with our driver line-up, it should give us everything we need to make the next big step forward, to compete for regular major results.

“We want to continue to build both the capabilities and the results for United Autosports and this link with McLaren is a perfect fit for a British based team with a high quality and very high profile British marque.

“The McLaren GT team have a high benchmark in terms of the support and customer service we have enjoyed over the past two seasons from Audi. That we have made the decision to run the McLarens in 2012 though should be seen both as a vote of confidence in the package and a statement of intent for the future.”

Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren Group CEO said: "I am delighted United Autosports will be racing the MP4-12C GT3 in 2012. I know the team is looking forward to receiving a GT car full of Formula 1 technology, and we are committed to ensuring ownership of the 12C GT3 is as enjoyable as racing it."

(ends)

United Autosports

Created in 2009, United Autosports is co-owned by American Zak Brown and Briton Richard Dean, both successful entrepreneurs and international race car drivers. The unique Anglo-American racing team currently fields Audi R8 LMS GT3 sports cars from its United Kingdom headquarters in Leeds. It also races a fleet of “Legends of Motorsports” historic racing cars from its US facility in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 2011, the team is competing in full-seasons of FIA GT3 European Championship, Avon Tyres British GT Championship and the “Legends of Motorsports” series. It will additionally contest selected GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series events, the 24 Hours of Spa (Belgium), the Macau GT Cup race (China) and a one-off appearance in the Petit Le Mans round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup at Road Atlanta (USA).

Mclaren MP4-12C GT3

• Twin turbocharged, 3.8 litre V8 M838T Mclaren engine, 493 bhp (500 PS).
• Bespoke 6 speed sequential shift transmission.
• Unique carbon fibre ‘MonoCell’ chassis.
• Carbon fibre body incorporating front splitter, door blade, rear wing, diffuser and front fender louvres.
• F1 steering wheel (as used on MP4-24 F1 car).

My my, they seem a busy team. They're running P2 cars in Petit aren't they, as well as finishing the Brit GT with they're Audi R8's

Wonder if this is for the GT or GT3 series?

i wonder if these will be sanctioned to use in grand am.

Last race of the series now added. New commentator for this race, and he is terrible. The action is so much more exciting than he makes out.

In a joint press conference held at Silverstone, SRO Motorsports Group CEO Stephane Ratel and Vice President of Blancpain SA Alain Delamuraz presented the next stage of the evolution of the Blancpain Endurance Series. Building on the success of the five event inaugural season, the plans for 2012 include an extra high profile race meeting, the launch of the SRO Supercar Club and an exciting new package of GT races that will be part of each of the six events on some of the most exciting circuits in Europe.

2012 Calendar
The 2012 Blancpain Endurance Series calendar will have an additional 3-hour race and take place on six Grand Prix circuits across Europe. With the exception of the Total 24 Hours of Spa, each of the meetings will be held over two days.

April - Monza, Italy
June - Silverstone, Great Britain
July - Paul Ricard, France
July - Total 24 Hours of Spa, Belgium
September - Germany (circuit TBC but likely Hockenheim or Nurburgring)
October - Barcelona, Spain

The actual dates will be confirmed once the calendars for the FIA GT World and FIA GT3 European Championships have been finalised so as to avoid any clashes of dates between these important SRO promoted international GT Championships. Date clashes with the Avon Tyres British GT Championship and, possibly, the ADAC GT Masters will also be avoided to allow teams the possibility of entering both their national championship and take part in one or more of the international series.
Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo

The prestigious Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo is likely to race at most of the six rounds in 2012 and provide a fantastic focal point for the GT support package at the Blancpain Endurance Series weekends.
Blancpain Revival Series

In addition to the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo, Stephane Ratel unveiled the Blancpain Revival Series, a link with the recent past that will allow enthusiastic amateurs to have their own place within the Blancpain Endurance Series meetings. It will be a series reserved for GT cars which raced between 1994 and 2004 and will be co-organised with a promoter specialising in historic cars. An innovative format with free practice, qualifying and a 45-minute race all taking place on the Saturday of each meeting.

SRO Supercar Club
A programme for owners of the most exclusive and authentic Supercars, that is all about enjoyment at each of the six race weekends in 2012

For an annual subscription each owner can enjoy:
- Access to all the events
- Lunch in the hospitality unit
- VIP parking in the paddock
- Two hours of track time on the Sunday

In addition they will be invited to take part in the “RACB GT PARADE” during the Total 24 Hours of Spa and in an annual Supercar Rally.

Stephane Ratel, CEO of SRO Motorsports Group, said:
“Launched in 2011, the Blancpain Endurance Series is the result of twenty years of motorsport experience built up by the SRO Motorsports Group. The recipe for 2011 was quite simple: to bring GT3 cars to endurance racing, by setting up a convivial championship which met the requirements and expectations of teams and drivers alike. Simplicity, technical competence, a rigorous sporting environment, excellent organisation, an attractive calendar and top-quality TV production allowing pan-European live broadcast: these were the priorities of the first season.
“In 2012, under full acceleration, this new reference in GT racing, which has quickly become known as the ‘Blancpain’ in the paddocks, will move to a new level. More competitors, more diversity, more events…
“As a reflection of their prestigious title sponsor’s market position, the race meetings will become a cosmopolitan public relations platform, exclusive and convivial, built around a stable programme of complementary series, racing on the most beautiful European circuits.”

Alain Delamuraz, Vice President of Blancpain SA said:
“Blancpain is proud and happy to confirm their large support for motorsport in general, and for SRO in particular. The immense success we have seen with the Blancpain Endurance Series proves that we were right to believe in this return to the roots of the true spirit of GT racing, namely a mix of professional and amateur drivers, with numerous makes of car, competing in endurance races.
“Blancpain, the oldest watch brand in the world, shares in the watchmaking art the same values of the respect of traditions and heritage as those shown by the world of GT racing. That is why we are pleased to confirm our strong presence for 2012 as partners and timekeepers.”