Motorsport Series News Roundup for August 24, 2022

This week’s Motorsport Series News Roundup focuses on sports cars and touring cars. There is news of the new Acura ARX-06, future plans from Inter Europol, touring cars in the Middle East, a look at the driver categorization system and more.

Sports Cars

• Acura have unveiled their ARX-06 LMDh car for the 2023 IMSA season. “We’ve taken the challenge presented by this new rule package from IMSA and the ACO, and developed what we believe is a very competitive solution,” said Pierre Descamps, who led HPD’s powertrain design team for the ARX-06. “We’ve gone in a new direction for HPD in the design of the ICE. It is still a V6, which of course for Honda is well-known, but we have incorporated several new elements which we believe will make best use of the electric MGU and battery pack.” Wayne Taylor Racing have more of the technical details here.

• Sportscar racing team Inter Europol are set to add Le Mans Cup and Asian Le Mans Series programs for 2023 according to Daily Sportscar. “The team have taken the decision to field entries in the Le Mans Cup to help create a strong prototype ladder within the three ACO-run championships.”

• Daily Sportscar have a two part feature on the the plan for a two car ‘Vandervell LMH’ WEC entry for 2023. “The car, set to be dubbed the Vandervell LMH with no final decision yet reached on whether the Vanwall brand is to be used as the ‘Brand’ for the entry, tested last month at Lausitzring with both Tom Dillmann and Esteban Guerrieri, Dillmann having his first laps in the car.” You can read Part 1 here.

• The Robb Report looks at How Cadillac Made Its Menacing New Project GTP Hypercar. “The exciting thing about the new class, and being able to compete on a world stage again, is that it’s forming a new golden era of racing where race cars can be beautiful,” says Chris Mikalauskas, Cadillac’s lead exterior designer. “This race car has amazing proportions, it’s much wider than the outgoing DPi car; it’s lower and longer and really sleek. It’s a designer’s dream to get those proportions to work with.”

• There has been a lot of talk and opinion on the changes coming to the driver categorization system both by the FIA and SRO. Daily Sportscar looks at the Sweeping Changes To FIA Driver Categorisation System Coming For 2023 while John Dagys at Sportscar 365 Plus argues Why a Bronze Mandate Would Ensure GTD’s Long-Term Future.

Touring Cars

• The TCR Middle East Series is set to return for a 2022+2023 winter season. “To minimise logistics costs, the calendar is structured into two pairs of back-to-back weekends, with Dubai Autodrome hosting rounds three and four on 17-18 December to conclude a double-header in the United Arab Emirates. Rounds at Bahrain International Circuit (27-28 January) and an additional event the following week at a venue to be announced soon will bring the curtain down. Each race is scheduled for around an hour and will feature mandatory pit stops, allowing teams the flexibility of entering with one or two drivers. The series promoter Driving Force Events is now developing an attractive low-cost logistics package which works in harmony with other TCR series’ calendars and allows European-based teams to ship cars and equipment to the Gulf region in early November, returning before the end of February.”

• In Australia, the V8 Touring Cars National Series will return as a stand-alone category next year. “The re-born V8 Touring Cars Series, which last ran a stand-alone event in 2019, will remain exclusively for pre-COTF Supercars up to and including the FG Falcon and VE II Commodore. Retaining its Motorsport Australia Series status, the series will run a stand-alone calendar and will continue to award Superlicense points.”