Latest news with #PorscheCarreraCup
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Arise Racing GT survives tricky Queensland conditions
The Arise Racing GT team headed to Queensland Raceway last weekend, after the pairing of Jaxon Evans and Elliott Schutte claimed wins in three of the GT World Challenge Australia championship's first four races. And while they didn't add to that tally at the Willowbank circuit, they still have a strong lead in the Pro-Am Driver's Championship. 'I think if this is a bad weekend, then it's not so bad,' said Schutte after race two. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert 'Overall we'll take this weekend and move on.' The team's #26 crew took their Ferrari 296 GT3 to a third-place finish in the opening race of the weekend, but could only manage fifth in race two, as uncharacteristically wet weather caught out many drivers in the field, resulting in a disjointed, safety car-filled affair. The team's second entry, the #77 Ferrari, had an eventful weekend that included a major change prior to action getting underway. Jordan Love stepped aside from his usual co-driver seat with Steve Wyatt and was replaced by his brother, Aaron. Supplied Credit: CarExpert No stranger to racing, Aaron Love began the season in Supercars and has experience racing in Porsche Carrera Cup in Australia and France. Despite limited time in the Ferrari, Love took little time to adapt and he and Wyatt managed to claim fifth place in the opening race. They then improved in the second race, finishing in fourth, ahead of their teammates. 'First weekend done and dusted, second race is done,' said Aaron Love. 'Second time in the car for myself in dry conditions. It was a heap of fun, managed to snag fastest lap and make up a few positions. Supplied Credit: CarExpert 'Steve jumped in the car, a good driver swap, popped out second and couldn't quite hold off a few of the cars. A few of the safety cars probably helped us out there and we came home fourth. 'A few things went our way and few things didn't go our way, but ultimately it was a good, fun weekend.' Evans and Schutte's championship rivals, Brad Schumacher and Broc Feeney, claimed victory in race one and then backed it up with third place in race two. Supplied Credit: CarExpert While that closed the gap in the driver's standings, the Arise Racing GT duo still hold a 22-point advantage with three more rounds to run. The team also has a five-point lead in the Team's Championship, as it looks to add to the silverware it claimed in its debut season. The next round of the GT World Challenge Australia series will be at Melbourne's Sandown Raceway on July 25-27.
USA Today
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Formula One Miami Grand Prix: Single-day tickets cut costs, add flexibility for F1 fans
Formula One Miami Grand Prix: Single-day tickets cut costs, add flexibility for F1 fans Show Caption Hide Caption 'F1': See new trailer with Brad Pitt ripping around a racetrack Watch the new trailer for "F1," with Brad Pitt ripping around in a very fast Formula 1 car. MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Formula One returns to South Florida for the fourth annual Miami Grand Prix May 2-4, and race organizers are providing a new way for aspiring F1 fans to experience the event. F1 Miami is offering one-day tickets for the first time – allowing ticket buyers to attend the race either Friday, Saturday or Sunday at the Miami International Autodrome surrounding Hard Rock Stadium. Fans can attend Friday for $65, $75, $100 or $125 – depending on the grandstand they select – to watch the first practice session and qualifying for Saturday's Sprint race. Those prices increase to $200-$315 for the F1 Sprint race Saturday, and $505 to $910 for Sunday's main event. Miami is also offering a Sunday campus pass for $350 for the first time, while a campus pass for the entire weekend is $430. A campus pass gets you into the race to walk around and enjoy the event, but it does not provide a seat or access to grandstands. The one-day ticket offering is a result of feedback Miami race organizers received from fans who attended the last three races, where buying three-day ticket packages was the only option. It allows fans to adjust financially or just from a scheduling perspective. 'It really stems for us on our responsibility to continue to be a key pillar of growing the sport,' F1 Miami race president Tyler Epp told USA TODAY Sports. 'There are certainly fans within the United States who've been following Formula One for decades. But there's also a new crop of fans that have come on board here in the last couple of years. I think our role as a promoter is to make sure that we create an accessible environment.' Miami has already seen immediate results from one-day ticket sales: 81% of single-day grandstand buyers will be first-time attendees, including 39% coming from out of state. F1 Miami one-day tickets will remain on sale until they are sold out, and Epp expects the Miami race to have another sellout weekend. The race had weekend attendances of 242,955 in 2022; 270,000 in 2023; and 275,000 last year. The Porsche Carrera Cup series and F1 Academy will also hold practice sessions Friday, with races on Saturday and Sunday, adding to the weekend experience. 'We really try to make sure that heading into Year 4, we've been very customer centric – like really, actually listening to the people who are supporting us, the fans who've been here since the first year, but also the fans who are considering coming for the first time,' Epp said. 'Our opportunity is to create a fan for life and get them to come back for our Formula One weekend, but get to know us in a more unique way ... for them to fall in love with the experience.' Miami Grand Prix Take a turn by turn of Miami's new F1 track. Staff Reports, USA TODAY In February, F1 named South Florida Motorsports – led by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and CEO Tom Garfinkel – Promoter of the Year. The Miami Grand Prix was uniquely recognized by F1 for delivering 'the best all-round event in 2024' that 'embodied the F1 mission statement to deliver the world's greatest sports and entertainment spectacle.' Musical artists Pitbull, Kygo, DJ Tiësto, Kaskade, Sofi Tukker, Cedric Gervais, Maffio and Justin Quiles will perform during this F1 Miami weekend, while the National Anthem before the race will be sung by King Bell, a 14-year-old artist from Fort Lauderdale. McLaren's Lando Norris won his first F1 race at Miami last year, creating some parity in the sport last season despite Red Bull's Max Verstappen (who won the first two Miami races) winning the F1 driver's championship for the fourth consecutive year. Verstappen and Norris have already won F1 races this season, while McLaren's Oscar Piastri is in the lead for the driver's championship after winning three of the five races already this season. Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton's move from Mercedes to Ferrari also adds to the intrigue during the 2025 season. Single-day tickets have also been available at other F1 races around the world in Australia, China and Saudi Arabia earlier this year. They will be offered at Emilia-Romagna (May 16-18), Monaco (May 23-25), Canada (June 13-15), Netherlands (Aug. 29-31), Monza (Sept. 5-7), Azerbaijan (Sept. 19-21), and the two remaining U.S. races in Austin (Oct. 17-19) and Las Vegas (Nov. 20-22). Las Vegas race organizers already sold out of their first release of one-day tickets, which began at $50, but more one-day tickets will be available later this summer. They hope to cater to locals working on the Las Vegas Strip who may not be able to attend all three race days, as well as fans from nearby states California, Arizona and Utah wanting to make a day trip to experience the action. 'People know the excitement around the race, and people want to see that," F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix vice president of premium sales and service Alli England told USA TODAY Sports. "And that's when we see the demand for those single days."
Zawya
10-04-2025
- Automotive
- Zawya
'Saudi Motorsport' announces 3 support races for Formula 1 race in Jeddah
Jeddah: Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC), the promoter of the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (STC Formula 1), announced the organization of three support races in conjunction with the highly anticipated Formula 1 race, which will take place from April 18 to 20 at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the fastest street circuit in the world. SMC said that the weekend will witness the return of the Formula 1 Academy races to Saudi Arabia for the second consecutive year, a step aimed at enhancing and developing the sporting skills of talented female drivers, preparing them to compete at the highest levels of motorsport. The company also said that the third round of the Formula 2 Championship, organized by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), will be held, consisting of 14 rounds. The Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East races will also return to Jeddah, with the other two rounds of this championship launching. SMC said that ticket sales for the race are ongoing and can be purchased through the following link:
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Here's What It's Like to Drive at One of the Best Private-Track Clubs in the World
No matter what the preferred expressions of luxury may be, we who obsess about best-of-the-best products, places, and experiences understand one thing: when you encounter the real deal, you know it. For me, it's holding a flawless yellow 10-carat cushion-cut diamond at Harry Winston, piloting a McLaren F1, and now, driving at Magarigawa—a private club and track about 66 miles southeast of Tokyo. Some of the greatest circuits in the world take their cues from nature. The topography, not a designer, is what's responsible for the legendary Corkscrew at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, as it encompasses the hillside's challenging 18 percent drop. The same holds true for the famous Eau Rouge corner at Belgium's Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps, also presenting an 18 percent change in elevation. More from Robb Report Spring-Break Travel Prices Have Hit a Record High This Year This New Track Club Gives Members Access to Miami's F1 Circuit Japan Hit a Record 37 Million Tourists Last Year Magarigawa—the name refers to the winding Nanamagarigawa River that runs through the property, part of which flows underground—is also the product of its dramatic landscape, and features 20 percent and 16 percent uphill and downhill grades, respectively. The foundation is a previously untouched mountaintop on the Boso Peninsula, surrounded by lush valleys. The club's founders, the Japanese conglomerate Cornes & Company, spent years searching for a spot that offered seclusion, drama, and quick access to Tokyo and nearby airports. (Through two of its subsidiaries, Cornes & Company is the official Japanese retailer for Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, and Bentley, so a passion for cars runs deep.) The 250-acre automotive country club, perched atop the site's highest point, features a ribbonlike 2.2-mile track with 22 corners slithering around stomach-dropping peaks and pitches. Construction was painstaking and took more than three years. Hermann Tilke—famed designer of Formula 1 tracks—and his team were tapped to both conceive of and engineer the course, which officially opened in 2023. (Tilke built the tracks at Circuit of the Americas, Azerbaijan, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, to name a few.) The course is narrower than many new tracks because the founders wanted members to purely focus on their driving. No racing is allowed, and no motorcycles, either. My son, Walker, and I are touring Magarigawa while visiting Japan. We are graciously hosted by pro racer Hideto Yasuoka, a former Porsche Carrera Cup champion, a Formula 3 racer, and now a Super GT competitor. Yasuoka has been an official member of the Magarigawa team since the beginning. He meets us early in the nearby town of Tateyama and chauffeurs us to the property. The temple-like entrance gate and minimalist signage immediately make us speak in hushed tones. As we twist up the winding access road, we pass a dog park, a gas station, a helipad, and two car storage facilities, one for 150 rarefied vehicles and a bigger Fort Knox–like structure housing 300 vehicles along with a fully staffed workshop and repair facility. For privacy reasons, we don't get to look inside, but I play 20 Questions with our host. 'Are there any Valkyries or Gordon Murray T.50s in there?' I dare to ask. 'We can't talk about specific member cars, but in general, yes,' is his reply. (He later shared with us that he set the current track record in a Valkyrie.) Not all of that precious sheet metal stays under wraps, though. As we continue up the road to the massive contemporary clubhouse, we pass nine glass-and-stone-skinned villas nestled into the hillside. Inside each one, we glimpse Ferraris, Paganis, Aston Martins, Lamborghinis, Porsches, and the like, all parked adjacent to the main living spaces to allow members to enjoy their automotive art even at rest. Another 18 villas—the club's zoning maximum—are slated to be built. At the top, we park at the sprawling and impressively imposing clubhouse. Exiting the club's sleek lobby, we enter a vaulted, glass-walled, wood-paneled space with leather furniture, ceiling-mounted fire-extinguisher lines, and flatscreens flashing live feeds from the track. We are standing in the poshest 'pits' I have ever encountered—18 bays, each holding two cars. It looked more like an exclusive resort in Aspen. Next, Yasuoka leads us through the club's wine-and-cigar bar, a simulator room, sumptuous locker rooms for men and women—with natural onsen (hot springs) features sourced from the grounds—and an outdoor infinity-edge pool. Spa rooms look out over various corners of the track, as does the well-equipped gym (trainers are always on duty). We also get a glimpse at the indoor and outdoor play areas for the members' children—dozens of pairs of little sneakers scattered at the entrance. We end the tour in the formal restaurant and are served a Michelin-star-worthy four-course lunch courtesy of the club's official hospitality partner, Kayana Resorts. The glass walls of the dining area give us full views of the cars on track. In the distance, Mt. Fuji stands proudly. Finally, it's our turn to drive. 'The club doesn't have any specific age restrictions,' says Yasuoka to my thrilled 19-year-old son, as he brings us back to the pit exit. There, three Toyota GR86 Cup Cars are lined up for our use (the club also has Porsche, Subaru BRZ, and Toyota Yaris Cup Cars for rent). 'Members are really starting to gravitate toward race cars and away from production cars,' he said. 'The cost of running them, including brakes and tires, is much less.' On the biggest downhill curve of the track, Yasuoka stomps on it in the lead car as I stay stapled to his bumper. 'The track is designed to allow even novice drivers the chance to get 80 to 85 percent out of their car right away,' he would later explain. 'It's narrow enough that you really can't mess up the racing line.' He was right. As we get warmed up and pick up speed, piloting the GR86s around all 22 turns begins to take on the rhythm and grace of dancing. There are long straights, decreasing radius sweepers, and a few fast left-right squiggles, which I wish I had time to master. The long, sweeping uphill left-hander is both the high note and the bravest pill: a completely blind 20 percent corner requiring you to keep your foot in it, take a deep breath, and put a lot of trust in the pro. As we lap, I begin to experience the sort of Zen-like focus the founders intended drivers to feel. It's exhilarating—and addictive; the track's flawless surface consistent and grippy. Too soon, though, Yasuoka brings us back into the pits. There are excellent private tracks in the U.S. and beyond, but none come close to this caliber in my opinion. California-based restoration house Singer came to Magarigawa in 2024 to launch its brand in Japan. 'We were able to give potential clients and current customers an experience like none other on one of the most important and brilliant circuits in the world—configured in a way that shows how a car best performs,' says Rob Dickinson, Singer's founder and executive chairman. Currently, 80 percent of the club's 400 members are from Japan, with the other 20 percent coming from Asia, Europe, and the U.S. The eventual maximums are 500 full memberships (which never expire) and 750 associate memberships (which renew every five years). 'We will only admit a handful of new full members each year at irregular intervals,' says Yasuoka. The good news: associate memberships are granted upon approval without limit, and this year's deadline for application is June of Robb Report The 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast The World's Best Superyacht Shipyards The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht Click here to read the full article.
BBC News
12-02-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Gamer who drove Vettel's F1 car on course for real-world racing
Standing beside Fernando Alonso after being flown to Barcelona for a photoshoot, Sebastian Job was finally a professional driver - despite having never driven a racing car. The 24-year-old Englishman had won a number of 'sim' races - games which simulate real-life races - and been signed by former F1 world champion Alonso's esports team, which later merged with Oracle Red Bull is mandatory for all F1 teams to have an esports division, but Red Bull have done something no other has - put a sim racer in an F1 car."The speed just takes over," said Job in a Red Bull film called Game to Glory, external, documenting his journey from esports to real-world limited laps, Job was within one second of the standard set by ex-F1 driver Patrick Friesacher in Vettel's 2012 title-winning V8 car, and was even more competitive in a Porsche GT3. Job is now aiming to race in the Porsche Carrera Cup at courses including Brands Hatch and Donington Park, after he won three world titles in the virtual version."I went into sim racing because I knew I didn't have the money to get into F1, and 11 years later I get to drive an F1 car - that's inspiring for people to see," he said."On the test days, we saw the true scale of what sim racing can do, so the goal now has to be to get me on the grid for the Porsche series or a similar one." Joseph Soltysik, Red Bull's head of esports, said: "We'd love to see Seb race in real life, and that vision is shared across the wider team."We're trying to find a feasible and sustainable way to fund it." 'The first person to employ me was Fernando Alonso' Job grew up in East Grinstead, Sussex, and showed talent in karting at an early age but his parents could not afford the next stage of that discipline."I knew straight away the traditional route into motorsport wasn't going to be possible because you do need to have an unbelievably wealthy family," he he decided to dedicate himself to sim racing and his parents bought him a set-up worth about £200."I enjoyed it and I knew I was good at it and I wanted to pursue it. But at the time pretty much no-one was doing it as a job," he said."Around 2018, people started to get paid and it lined up nicely with me leaving sixth form. The first person to employ me was actually Fernando Alonso."They flew the drivers out to Barcelona, we got pictures with Alonso, my mum came and I think that was around the time my parents started to clock it." At that age, Job had only just passed his driving test and also won a scholarship to race in Formula Ford, on real race tracks for a his biggest win came in 2020 when he won the Porsche Tag Heuer Esports Supercup, with a prize pot of $50,000 (£40,300).At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, esports was in the midst of a boom, with F1 drivers getting involved and Max Verstappen racing in the tournament Job F1 drivers compete in esports, and 'sims' - short for simulators - are used by teams to model how cars will perform, but sim racers rarely become race Mardenborough's journey from gaming in Cardiff to GT3 inspired the 2023 film Gran Turismo, starring Orlando esports driver has gone on to compete in F1 - yet. Sim racing more accessible - Horner The cost of reaching the F1 grid runs into the millions, and many drivers are the sons of multi-millionaires, or men who competed at a high level in motorsport and can attract believes one day sim racing will open the door for an F1 champion that would otherwise not get that opportunity."There's no doubt in my mind, I don't know how soon, but the most talented people, we probably don't even know who they are because they can't afford to race," he Bull team principal Christian Horner agrees that sim racing could make motor racing more accessible to young drivers."This challenge is to see how closely does the virtual world relate to the real world, that is the question to be answered - that is what this is all about," he said in the Game to Glory documentary."I think sim racing could eventually create a broader pool of talent for the younger drivers because it's way more accessible. Motor racing is expensive whereas sim racing is a much cheaper version."
