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Tag: Le Mans

  • Audi announces strategic partnership with Formula 1

    Audi announces strategic partnership with Formula 1

    Mumbai: Audi, which announced its entry into Formula 1 at the end of August, has selected Sauber as a strategic partner for the project and plans to acquire a stake in the Sauber Group. The partnership will see the traditional Swiss racing team competing as the Audi factory team from 2026 onwards, using the power unit developed by Audi for the pinnacle of motorsport.

    Sauber has around 30 years of competitive experience. While the power unit will be created at Audi’s Motorsport Competence Center in Neuburg an der Donau, Sauber will develop and manufacture the race car at its site in Hinwil (Switzerland). Sauber will also be responsible for planning and executing the race operations.

    “We are delighted to have gained such an experienced and competent partner for our ambitious Formula 1 project. We already know the Sauber Group with its state-of-the-art facility and experienced team from previous collaborations and are convinced that together we will form a strong team,” said Audi AG member of the board for technical development Oliver Hoffmann. For example, Audi Sport has already regularly used the Sauber Group’s high-tech wind tunnel in Hinwil, just under four hours away by car, during the successful Le Mans era and during the development of the Class 1 touring car for the DTM.

    “Sauber is a first-class partner,” he added.

    “Audi is the best partner for the Sauber Group. It is clear that both companies share the same values and vision. We are looking forward to achieving our common goals with a strong and successful partnership,” said Sauber Holding chairman Finn Rausing.

    Development of the power unit, which consists of an electric motor, battery, control systems and a combustion engine, is already in full swing at the facility of the specially founded Audi Formula Racing in Neuburg an der Donau. More than 120 employees are already working on the project. “Sauber is a first-class partner for the use of the Audi Power Unit. We are looking forward to working with an experienced team that has helped shape many eras of Formula 1 history. Together, we want to write the next chapter starting in 2026,” said the company’s managing director Adam Baker.

    The expansion of the Neuburg facility is in full swing. The timetable up to the first race with Audi participation in the 2026 season is ambitious. The expansion of the Neuburg facility in terms of personnel, buildings, and technical infrastructure should be largely in place in 2023. The first tests with the power unit developed for the 2026 regulations in a Formula 1 test car are planned for 2025.

    Formula 1 is taking a big step towards sustainability with the new regulations that will come into effect in 2026. This was an important prerequisite for Audi’s decision to enter the championship. The power units will be more efficient than they are today, as the proportion of electric power will increase significantly. The electric drivetrain will then have nearly as much power as the internal combustion engine, which comes to 400 kW (544 hp). The 1.6-liter turbocharged engines will be powered by sustainable synthetic fuel that is CO2-neutral (according to EU standards). Formula 1 has also set itself the goal of being CO2-neutral as a racing series by 2030.

  • Patrick Dempsey: Racing le mans on discovery turbo

    Patrick Dempsey: Racing le mans on discovery turbo

    MUMBAI: The list of legendary actors-turned-racers is as short as it is iconic: Paul Newman, Steve McQueen and James Garner. Discovery Turbo follows Patrick Dempsey’s attempt to join this elite group when he tackles the world’s oldest – and most grueling – automotive endurance race, France’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. The premiere television seriesPATRICK DEMPSEY: RACING LE MANS follows Dempsey as he and his team, co-owned with Italian soccer superstar Alessandro Del Piero, prepare for the vehicular equivalent of climbing Mt. Everest. From sponsor recruitment, to time trials, to juggling his family and Hollywood career, the four-part miniseries offers unlimited access to Dempsey and his Porsche 911 GT3 RSR team as they prepare to risk everything on Europe’s most historic track. PATRICK DEMPSEY: RACING LE MANS premieres on Discovery Turbo on Thursday, November 07 at 9 pm.

    “Racing is my true passion, and taking on Le Mans will be the biggest challenge of my life so far. Le Mans pushes both driver and machine to the absolute brink, testing focus, skill and endurance unlike any other event in the world,” said Dempsey. “Just getting to Le Mans is almost as challenging as the race itself. This project reflects a 360-degree-view of the entire race process – including all the ups and downs along the way.”

    Rahul Johri, Senior Vice President and General Manager – South Asia and Head of Revenue, Pan-Regional Ad Sales and Southeast Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, “Discovery Turbo will give viewers an exclusive window into one of the most renowned sporting events–Racing at Le Mans. Le Mans,a 24-hour grueling endurance race,is a pinnacle of motorsports and the ultimate melding of man and machine. The thrilling action will keep Discovery Turbo viewers on the edge of their seats as they watch their favourite actor-turned-racer Patrick Dempseypushing his skills to the limits.”

    Patrick will take his turn at the wheel, alongside Porsche racing partners Patrick Long and Joe Foster at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 22 and 23. Since its inception in 1923, the race has tested the strength and stamina of both drivers and their vehicles. When the flag drops, racers compete against each other for a full day, as they must manage their vehicle’s maintenance and resources as they work through their own hunger and exhaustion. 

    FULL EPISODE DESCRIPTIONS BELOW

    PATRICK DEMPSEY: RACING LE MANS

    Episode 1

    Premieres Thursday, November 07 at 9 pm

    Hollywood leading man Patrick Dempsey has set himself an enormous goal – to compete at the most prestigious race in motorsports – the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Following in the footsteps of legendary idols Paul Newman, Steve McQueen and James Garner, Dempsey’s passion and commitment to racing has earned him respect within the racing community. But the road to Le Mans isn’t without sacrifice, as Patrick must strike a balance between his day job on set and his desire to secure time in the driver’s seat. Alongside demanding sponsorship commitments and a challenged car manufacturer, Patrick and partner Joe Foster navigate the minefield that lies before them as they struggle to keep their team on the road to Le Mans.

    Episode 2

    Premieres Thursday, November 14 at 9 pm

    Not only is actor Patrick Dempsey a race car driver, he’s a race team owner – and with that title comes the stress of raising money to keep his car on the track. Like Paul Newman and James Garner before him, Patrick is balancing his time behind the wheel with the demands of finding financing. With delinquent sponsors consistently coming up short, Patrick and partner Joe Foster are scrambling to keep their team solvent.

    Episode 3

    Premieres Thursday, November 21 at 9 pm

    An 11th hour deal allows Patrick Dempsey to keep his race team alive, but organizational restructuring brings in a wave of new players. Constant tweaking of the driver line-up causes some unrest among the team, and after a much-anticipated invitation to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, it becomes imperative to field the most competitive team possible. Strong showings at Sebring and Laguna Seca, coupled with the addition of veteran racer Patrick Long to the Le Mans driver line-up, give the team the jolt of energy it’s been seeking for months.

    Episode 4

    Premieres Thursday, November 28 at 9 pm

    For leading man Patrick Dempsey, this is the moment of truth. After nursing his team through two tumultuous seasons with partner Joe Foster, they arrive in France to tackle the near-impossible goal they set for themselves a year ago – to compete in motorsport’s most grueling event – the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With veteran driver Patrick Long as their teammate, a podium finish in their class is within reach. But like Paul Newman and Steve McQueen before him, Patrick Dempsey must navigate the media circus that surrounds Le Mans, and stay focused on the task at hand. When the checkered flag drops, he has 24 hours to realize his dream.