In brief, June 2009

Porsche factory drivers Romain Dumas and Timo Bernhard have completed the driver line-up for Audi’s three-car attack on the Le Mans 24 Hours. The move reflects Porsche’s increasing influence over Audi parent, the VW Group.

The proposed 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship could have as many as 12 races. Series boss Stephane Ratel says he has interest from four continents, which should take it as far afield as Australia and Argentina.

Ratel is proposing that the new series abandons the endurance format of the FIA GT Championship in favour of two one-hour races each weekend, most likely without refuelling. The move is aimed to attract new fans.

The new Nissan GT-R GT1 contender will make its debut in this month’s Tourist Trophy, the opening round of the FIA GT Championship. The V8-engined car, which is scheduled to contest four FIA GT races this year, was unveiled at the Paul Ricard launch of this year’s series last month.

Acura American Le Mans Series driver Simon Pagenaud will drive the Pescarolo Sport-entered privateer Peugeot 908 HDi in the Le Mans 24 Hours. The Frenchman will also be reserve driver for the factory Peugeot squad.

Former Renault Sport boss Bernard Dudot, a lynchpin of Renault’s first two forays into F1, will act as consultant to the Automobile Club de l’Ouest. Dudot, 70, will advise a new sporting committee set up to formulate rules for the Le Mans 24 Hours and its associate series.

The Spanish Epsilon Euskadi squad and Gigawave Motorsport are the first teams to withdraw their respective LMP1 and GT1 entries from the Le Mans 24 Hours. Two GT2 entries, one Ferrari and one Porsche, move up from the reserve list to take their places.

The Team Great Britain A1GP squad has been put into administration following a winding-up order instigated by one of its creditors. Series boss Tony Teixeira vowed to keep the team in the series at the final two races at Brands Hatch and Mexico City in May.