(Grand-Am)
The GT class victory in the Daytona 24 Hour went to Andy Lally, John Potter, Richard Lietz and Rene Rast in the No. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3. "I absolutely knew we had the potential to do it," Lally said of the victory. "It was a pleasure to be able to join the team. It was absolutely epic to come home... on the top step, especially the 50th." What Lally didn't say is that the team took tremendous satisfaction in hanging one on Kevin Buckler's TRG juggernaut, which finished second with drivers Steven Bertheau, Marc Goossens, Wolf Henzler, Spencer Pumpelly and Jeroen Bleekemolen in the No. 67 Porsche 911 GT3. Leh Keen, Andrew Davis, Hurley Haywood and Marc Lieb completed the Porsche GT podium sweep in their No. 59 Brumos Porsche 911 GT3.

(Grand-Am)
Billy Johnson (with teammate Jack Roush Jr.) led the final 18 laps in the No. 61 Roush Performance Products/Gary Yeomans Ford Mustang Boss 302R to win Friday’s Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series BMW Performance 200. The victory gave Roush’s father, team owner Jack Roush, his first Grand-Am victory at Daytona International Speedway. Johnson finished 1.061 seconds ahead of Charles Espenlaub in the No. 48 Fall-Line Motorsports BMW M3. Espenlaub’s teammate Bryan Sellers was third in the No. 46 BMW. The race began in the wet with twenty-five of the race’s 58 laps run under a total of six caution flags. The BMW Performance 200 will be televised on SPEED on Sunday, Feb. 4, at noon ET.

(Grand-Am)
Pierre Kleinubing - after his teammate Jayson Clunie started at the rear of the field in his No. 31 i-Moto/Cybernation.net Mazda after missing qualifying with engine issues - won the ST class race anyway with a last-lap front stretch pass of Nic Jonsson (with Andy Lally) in the No. 10 Kinetic/Kia Racing Kia Forte. The margin of victory was .021 seconds in a side-by-side finish. The pair had battled with Gregory Liefooghe (with J. Capestro-Dubets) in the No. 81 BimmerWorld Racing BMW over the final laps. Liefooghe finished third. “I was the lucky one in the end,” Kleinubing said. “Nic gave me a big push and I was able to get by the Bimmer. Once we got side-by-side, we rubbed a bit and slowed his momentum and I was able to get by him again. Lucky to be here. Finally got a win.”

(Highcroft Racing)
The revolutionary DeltaWing Le Mans sports prototype racer is set to conduct its first full-scale rolling-road wind tunnel test next month. The first set of the uniquely designed-and-built Michelin tires has been delivered, which was the final piece needed in order to conduct wind tunnel testing with the actual racecar. Featuring tires designed and built by Michelin in France, the fronts on the most radical race car in the world are stunningly only four inches wide. “It takes a company like Michelin who have a global perspective and understanding of the importance of efficiency and personal mobility to be able to come up with a tire that meets the goals of the DeltaWing,” said Ben Bowlby - the DeltaWing designer who was recently awarded the Dino Toso Racecar Aerodynamicist of the Year award at RACE TECH Magazine's World Motorsports Symposium for his work in designing the groundbreaking DeltaWing. “The level of technology that Michelin can bring is second-to-none and having a company like them who have an incredible racing heritage and an outstanding road car business is a perfect match for us. “What they have done for us is completely incredible and I can’t wait to see these tires in action very soon.” The full-scale DeltaWing racecar will soon leave its development headquarters at Dan Gurney’s All-American Racers in California to head to the Windshear facility in Charlotte, North Carolina, for testing. Technical personnel from Michelin, transmission partner EMCO Gears and the DeltaWing engine partner (who will be announced at Sebring) will be on site at the first track test that is scheduled to follow the wind tunnel visit. “Michelin races to learn and races to win,” said Silvia Mammone, Michelin motorsports manager and project leader for the Michelin DeltaWing. “There is tremendous focus in the auto industry worldwide on making vehicles lighter without sacrificing performance, and we hope to learn a great deal from our collaboration with the DeltaWing program.” The car’s official entry for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June was recently submitted by Project 56 DeltaWing partner, Highcroft Racing. Marino Franchitti has been named the first test driver of the DeltaWing.

(Highcroft Racing)
Marino Franchitti

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Check out Michelin's racing website - "Michelin Alley" - and get in on all of the behind-the-scenes buzz. Go here. - PMD

THE ALL-NEW AE STORE IS HERE!

CLICK ON THE PIC BELOW TO CHECK IT OUT!

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" with hosts John McElroy, from Autoline Detroit, and Peter De Lorenzo, The Autoextremist, and guests this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

By the way, if you'd like to subscribe to the Autoline After Hours podcasts, click on the following links:

Subscribe via iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=311421319

Subscribe via RSS:

http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/podcasts/feeds/afterhours-audio.xml

(Krohn Racing)
Krohn Racing will field its No. 76 Proto-Auto Lola Ford at the Daytona 24 Hour race this weekend with drivers Nic Jönsson, Colin Braun, Ricardo Zonta and Team Owner Tracy Krohn doing the driving for the 50th anniversary of the event at the 3.56 mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway road course on January 28-29, 2012.

(Ford Racing)
Ford World Rally Teamâs Petter Solberg and Chris Patterson finished third in their Ford Fiesta RS WRC in this weekâs Rallye Monte-Carlo.

(Aston Martin Racing)
Aston Martin will begin its Grand-Am campaign in the Grand Sport class this Friday during the first round of the 2012 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (CTSCC) at the Daytona International Speedway. Aston Martin Racing has joined forces with Toronto-based Multimatic Motorsports to enter a pair of Vantage GT4s in the Grand American Road Racing series. Scott Maxwell and Joe Foster will drive the lead car, while Hollywood's Patrick Dempsey will drive the second car. Chris Porritt, Aston Martin’s Chief Engineer, will compete alongside Dempsey in a one-off guest appearance. The first round of the 2012 CTSCC will run for two and a half hours with a mandatory driver change. 

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Check out Michelin's racing website - "Michelin Alley" - and get in on all of the behind-the-scenes buzz. Go here. - PMD

THE ALL-NEW AE STORE IS HERE!

CLICK ON THE PIC BELOW TO CHECK IT OUT!

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" with hosts John McElroy, from Autoline Detroit, and Peter De Lorenzo, The Autoextremist, and guests this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

By the way, if you'd like to subscribe to the Autoline After Hours podcasts, click on the following links:

Subscribe via iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=311421319

Subscribe via RSS:

http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/podcasts/feeds/afterhours-audio.xml

(SPEED Energy Team Photo/Toyo Tires)
Robby Gordon and navigator Johnny Campbell (No. 303 SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires HUMMER) won the 29km timed special Stage 14, the last stage of the 2012 Dakar™. Gordon won the brief 29km (18-mile) final stage with a large 21-second margin over the second place finisher.  Gordon finished fifth overall in the 2012 Dakar, capturing three stage wins and a total of seven podiums along the way.  In addition, Gordon’s HUMMER was the only two-wheel-drive vehicle finishing in the top ten. The overall route traveled 254km from Pisco to Lima, Peru, marking the completion of a 14-day Pan American odyssey which began on the Atlantic coast in Argentina, crossed through the Andes, and then turned north to Peru along the Pacific coast.

(ALMS)
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón will add Virginia International Raceway for the 2012 season. North America’s premier sports car championship will contest its first race at VIR on Saturday, Sept. 15 in a four-hour enduro. The first ALMS race at VIR – located in Danville, Va. – also will mark the first competition on the track’s 4.1-mile, 31-turn Grand Course. The race will be broadcast on ESPN2.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Check out Michelin's racing website - "Michelin Alley" - and get in on all of the behind-the-scenes buzz. Go here. - PMD

THE ALL-NEW AE STORE IS HERE!

CLICK ON THE PIC BELOW TO CHECK IT OUT!

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" with hosts John McElroy, from Autoline Detroit, and Peter De Lorenzo, The Autoextremist, and guests this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

By the way, if you'd like to subscribe to the Autoline After Hours podcasts, click on the following links:

Subscribe via iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=311421319

Subscribe via RSS:

http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/podcasts/feeds/afterhours-audio.xml

(APR Motorsport)

APR Motorsport has announced that famed factory Audi driver Emanuele Pirro will join its efforts for the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Pirro will be behind the wheel of the No. 51 APR Motorsport Audi R8 Grand-Am for this year's race. Pirro drove to five wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as two championships in the American Le Mans Series in Audi R8 and R10 racing machines.

(Aston Martin)
Multimatic Motorsports has been appointed by Aston Martin Racing as its official partner to campaign two Vantage GT4s in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (CTSCC) for 2012. Toronto-based Multimatic Motorsports has won the championship three times (2002, 2005 and 2008). The lead car will be driven by Multimatic regulars Scott Maxwell and Joe Foster. Actor   Patrick Dempsey will drive the second car, partnered in the opening round of the series by Aston Martin Chief Engineer and vastly experienced Vantage GT4 racer Chris Porritt. Aston Martin will compete in the headlining Grand Sport category, which is contested by six- and eight-cylinder production-derived sports cars.

(Toyota)
Scion unveiled its Scion Racing/GReddy FR-S race car at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. Based on the 2013 Scion FR-S that will go on sale in the spring of 2012, the 600-horsepower FR-S race car is the result of a collaboration between Scion Racing and GReddy, a performance-products company that has been involved with Toyota and racing for over twenty years. The FR-S will compete in the 2012 Formula DRIFT series with veteran driver Ken Gushi behind the wheel.

   The Indy 500. It's never too early to start thinking about Indy. Legendary American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, will headline the Miller Lite Carb Day concert Friday, May 25 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

(Toyo Tires)
Robby Gordon (No. 303 SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires two-wheel-drive HUMMER) won today’s Stage 9 of the 2012 Dakar™ by 1-minute 38-seconds over race-leader, Stephane Peterhansel.  Gordon’s charge has reduced Peterhansel’s lead to less than six minutes with four days left of competition. Today’s 556km stage ran from the coastal cities of Antofagasta to Iquique, northward along the Pacific Ocean coast of Chile. Competitors were faced with a variety of terrain including canyons, hills and perilous silt-beds known as “fesh fesh.”  Highlights of the Dakar are broadcast in the U.S. each night on the NBC Sports Network (formerly known as Versus) at 1:30am EST (10:30pm PST.) 

     Corvette Racing. America's most successful road racing team, Corvette Racing, will be seeking its ninth American Le Mans Series championship and its eighth victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2012. To that end, the team has revised its driver lineup, with a combination of youth and experience. Antonio Garcia joins Oliver Gavin, Jan Magnussen, and Tommy Milner as the four full-season drivers. Richard Westbrook will reprise his role as third driver in endurance events (Sebring, Le Mans, and Petit Le Mans), and Jordan Taylor will join Corvette Racing for the three long-distance races. Taylor, a 20-year-old resident of Apopka, Fla., and the son of championship-winning driver Wayne Taylor, will become the 23rd driver to race in Corvette Racing colors. The team will participate in the Sebring Winter Test on February 8-9 in preparation for the season-opening 60th Anniversary Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 17. With two automatic invitations to qualify for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the team will return to the French circuit for the 80th running of the classic endurance race on June 16-17, 2012.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Check out Michelin's racing website - "Michelin Alley" - and get in on all of the behind-the-scenes buzz. Go here. - PMD

THE ALL-NEW AE STORE IS HERE!

CLICK ON THE PIC BELOW TO CHECK IT OUT!

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" with hosts John McElroy, from Autoline Detroit, and Peter De Lorenzo, The Autoextremist, and guests this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

By the way, if you'd like to subscribe to the Autoline After Hours podcasts, click on the following links:

Subscribe via iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=311421319

Subscribe via RSS:

http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/podcasts/feeds/afterhours-audio.xml

December 21, 2011

Editor-in-Chief's Note: We're pleased to be able to bring you the best images from the 2011 racing season as shot by our friend and maestro of Sportscarinsider.com, John Thawley. John and I go way back to a time when we were both doing completely different things, and it has not only been fun to see this chapter of John's life develop in living color (or black&white as the case may be), but it has been a thrill to be able to display the scintillating images of someone whom I consider to be one of the outstanding photographers working in the business today. Enjoy the "best of" gallery from "JT" here, and we look forward to seeing his work in the pages of AE again next year. - PMD

(Conquest Racing)
Conquest Endurance has announced today (12/19) that it will be the importer and distributor for the OAK-Pescarolo cars in the United States and will field a car in the LMP2 class for 2012. The newly formed Conquest Endurance entity is a subsidiary of the Conquest IndyCar Racing Team managed by Eric Bachelart. It will handle all U.S. sales of the 2012 OAK-Pescarolo LMP2, which has rolled off the line thanks to the extensive work undertaken by Onroak Automotive, OAK Racing’s constructor department. The 2012-spec prototype has been designed with private teams in mind and will suit both professional and gentlemen drivers, according to Conquest Endurance. The car complies with the ALMS’ cost-capped LMP2 regulations and will be available for sale at the beginning of 2012. The racing machine  will be compatible with all current LMP2 engine manufacturers including Nissan, Roush Yates and Ford, HPD and others. The Oak-Pescarolo’s 2012 testing program will begin in January with a Nissan powerplant.

(Ford Racing)
Ford Racing Performance Parts has announced a naturally aspirated, 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder "Crate Engine Concept" for 2012 that should prove to be interesting. This engine is the precursor for a range of production-based 4-cylinder offerings. The "Concept" engine is a direct-injection, 2.0-liter that features independent variable valve timing and will be available in the spring of 2012. The new line of crate engines will be available as "plug and play" kits that include the necessary interface components for proper installation. The range of applications for this new line of production-based 4-cylinder crate engines goes from race cars to street rods, kit cars to off-road buggies and even marine installations. For more info visit http://www.fordracingparts.com

(BMW)
BMW Works Driver and reigning American Le Mans Series (ALMS) GT Champion Joey Hand will contest the DTM series with BMW next year. Hand, 32, has contested various North American championships with BMW race cars since 2004. In partnership with BMW Works Driver Dirk Müller Hand won the ALMS GTE class and helped BMW Motorsport and BMW Team RLL to the teams’ and manufacturers’ titles. During the past season he won the Daytona 24 Hours with a Riley BMW, and made his debut in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. There, Hand rotated driving duties at the wheel of a BMW M3 GT with Müller and Priaulx, resulting in the trio scoring a podium with third in the GTE-Pro class. Hand initially tested the BMW M3 DTM at the “Circuito Monteblanco” in southern Spain from November 15th to the 18th.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Check out Michelin's racing website - "Michelin Alley" - and get in on all of the behind-the-scenes buzz. Go here. - PMD

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE AE STORE

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" with hosts John McElroy, from Autoline Detroit, and Peter De Lorenzo, The Autoextremist, and guests this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

By the way, if you'd like to subscribe to the Autoline After Hours podcasts, click on the following links:

Subscribe via iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=311421319

Subscribe via RSS:

http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/podcasts/feeds/afterhours-audio.xml

(Image © 2011 - John Thawley Motorsports Photography - http://www.johnthawley.com)

Editor-in-Chief's Note: We're pleased to be able to bring you the best images from the 2011 racing season as shot by our friend and maestro of Sportscarinsider.com, John Thawley. John and I go way back to a time when we were both doing completely different things, and it has not only been fun to see this chapter of John's life develop in living color (or black&white as the case may be), but it has been a thrill to be able to display the scintillating images of someone whom I consider to be one of the outstanding photographers working in the business today. Enjoy the "best of" gallery from "JT" here, and we look forward to seeing his work in the pages of AE again next year. - PMD

(LAT Photo USA)
Ford Racing formally unveiled the 2013 Cobra Jet Mustang at the Performance Racing Industry show in Orlando, Fla. last Friday. Cobra Jet fans can help choose the color of the 2013 Cobra Jet, either classic white, silver or black, by voting online at www.fordracing.com. Voting ends Dec. 31, 2011.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Check out Michelin's racing website - "Michelin Alley" - and get in on all of the behind-the-scenes buzz. Go here. - PMD

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE AE STORE

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" with hosts John McElroy, from Autoline Detroit, and Peter De Lorenzo, The Autoextremist, and guests this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

By the way, if you'd like to subscribe to the Autoline After Hours podcasts, click on the following links:

Subscribe via iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=311421319

Subscribe via RSS:

http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/podcasts/feeds/afterhours-audio.xml

(Image © 2011 - John Thawley Motorsports Photography - http://www.johnthawley.com)

Editor-in-Chief's Note: We're pleased to be able to bring you the best images from the 2011 racing season as shot by our friend and maestro of Sportscarinsider.com, John Thawley. John and I go way back to a time when we were both doing completely different things, and it has not only been fun to see this chapter of John's life develop in living color (or black&white as the case may be), but it has been a thrill to be able to display the scintillating images of someone whom I consider to be one of the outstanding photographers working in the business today. Enjoy the "best of" gallery from "JT" here, and we look forward to seeing his work in the pages of AE again next year. - PMD

(Indianapolis Motor Speedway)
Jim Rathmann, winner of both the 1960 Indianapolis 500 and the international 500-mile "Race of Two Worlds" in 1958 at Monza, Italy, died on November 23rd. Rathmann was already a three-time runner-up in the "500" (1952, 1957 and 1959) when he scored his greatest victory in 1960. In that memorable race Rathmann and Rodger Ward staged an epic two-hour duel for the win with the two drivers spending the entire second half of the race rarely more than a few feet from each other. The lead changed hands six times in the final 30 laps until Ward happen to notice telltale discoloration appearing in the center of his right front tire, indicating that the cords were about to show through. He led as late as Lap 197 before reluctantly slowing down to salvage second as a greatly relieved Rathmann nursed his ailing tires to the finish and won at a record average speed of 138.767 mph.

As an illustration of just how different things were in those days, the winning Ken-Paul Special was a brand-new Offenhauser-powered car Rathmann had commissioned from his old friend A. J. Watson on behalf of Rathmann's partners, Kenny Rich and Paul Lacy. Rathmann and his chief mechanic, Chickie Hirashima, drove a station wagon out to Watson's shop in Glendale, Calif., to pick up the car whereupon they loaded it on to an open trailer and then towed it back to the Midwest themselves. More than rewarded by the eventual first-place prize money checks totaling a record $110,000, Rathmann later estimated the entire investment at only $35,000.

Rathmann went on to run a very successful go-kart business that produced the highly sought-after Rathmann Xterminator and he even held the rights to retrieving centuries-old treasure chests, firearms and cannons from sunken pirate ships off the coast of Florida. In later years Rathmann owned a successful Cadillac and Chevrolet dealership in Melbourne, Fla. Close friends with all of the early astronauts, Rathmann actually pulled off a most unlikely coup by having one of them discreetly affix a Rathmann car dealership decal to the famous golf cart that was driven on the surface of the moon! Yet another venture was the G.C.R. Corporation team that contested the USAC championship series in 1966 and 1967, the "G" being for Gus Grissom, the "C" for Gordon Cooper and "R" for Rathmann.

Rathmann was inducted into the Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2007. He passed away in a hospice in Melbourne, Fla., nine days after suffering a seizure at his home. He was 83. Rathmann is survived by wife Kay, sons Jimmy and Jay, stepsons Zack and Tosh Pence, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A special thanks to the IMS Media folks for the above details about Jim Rathmann.

  Randy Bernard, IndyCar. Randy Bernard has announced organizational changes in the commercial and operations/competition divisions of the sanctioning body of the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights effective Jan. 1. As first reported by Indy car media guru Robin Miller, the IndyCar CEO announced that Terry Angstadt has resigned as Commercial Division President and will be succeeded by Marc Koretzky, who joined IndyCar in May as Director of Corporate Business Development. Also, "because of increasing demands on the Competition and Operation division," IndyCar will split the responsibilities of President of Operations and Race Director into separate positions. Brian Barnhart will remain President of Operations, overseeing the operational and logistical areas, while IndyCar is reviewing candidates to fill the position of Race Director. Removing Barnhart from IndyCar race control is a move Bernard had to make, as Barnhart had lost all respect with the drivers and the situation had grown intolerable.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Check out Michelin's racing website - "Michelin Alley" - and get in on all of the behind-the-scenes buzz. Go here. - PMD

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE AE STORE

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" with hosts John McElroy, from Autoline Detroit, and Peter De Lorenzo, The Autoextremist, and guests this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

By the way, if you'd like to subscribe to the Autoline After Hours podcasts, click on the following links:

Subscribe via iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=311421319

Subscribe via RSS:

http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/podcasts/feeds/afterhours-audio.xml

(Photos courtesy of Aston Martin) 

Aston Martin Racing began tests of its new V12 Vantage GT3 at Brands Hatch in Kent this week, covering almost 1000 kilometres in two days. The majority of the mileage was conducted by factory driver Darren Turner. The design and engineering of the new V12 GT3 endurance racer has been led by Aston Martin Racing’s Chief Engineer for GT, Dan Sayers. The team is now embarking upon a rigorous development and sign off program, which involves extended testing of the car at competition speeds to ensure the longevity of all critical components.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Check out Michelin's racing website - "Michelin Alley" - and get in on all of the behind-the-scenes buzz. Go here. - PMD

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE AE STORE

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" with hosts John McElroy, from Autoline Detroit, and Peter De Lorenzo, The Autoextremist, and guests this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

By the way, if you'd like to subscribe to the Autoline After Hours podcasts, click on the following links:

Subscribe via iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=311421319

Subscribe via RSS:

http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/podcasts/feeds/afterhours-audio.xml

(Ford)

The Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN)/Miikka Anttila Ford Fiesta RS WRC goes flying on Day Three of the 2011 Wales Rally GB. With newly crowned champion Sebastien Loeb (that makes it eight straight) crashed out of the event, Jari-Matti Latvala cruised to victory in the rally on Sunday. It was the Ford driver’s first win of 2011. Latvala started 6.1 seconds ahead of Loeb on Sunday and finished three minutes, 42 seconds ahead of teammate Mads Ostberg of Norway. It was Ford’s third win of the season. “It’s a great feeling because it’s been very stressful and frustrating since my last win (in Finland last season),” Latvala said. “It’s a great way to finish the 2011 season. We now need to push for the world title with Ford next year.”

(Ford)
Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila celebrate their win in the 2011 Wales Rally GB.

(Photo © 2011, autostock, USA - Brian Czobat)

Kasey Kahne (No. 4 Red Bull Racing Toyota) ended an 81-race winless streak with his victory in the Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, but Carl Edwards (No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Aflac Ford) finished second and Tony Stewart (No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet) was third setting up a showdown for next weekend’s season finale in Homestead. Edwards leads Stewart by 3 points. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s a dead heat going in there,” said Stewart in a joint press conference with Edwards. “I want to go to Homestead tomorrow and start. I want tomorrow to be Friday. I’m pumped up, I’m excited about it and ready to go.” “This is going to be a battle. I truly believe it’s going to be a good race,” Edwards said. “That place is magical for us. I really enjoy going there. I hope it comes down to the fastest guy winning the race.” We shall see.

  Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus, the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Racing Team. Johnson's title hopes officially ran out of room in Phoenix, but what an incredible run it has been for the entire Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 team. Congratulations to all for your consistency, excellence and dedication over the entire length of the streak. And we agree with Tony Stewart, Johnson's run was probably a once in a lifetime event, likely never to be repeated.

(BMW Motorsport)
Jörg Müller and Augusto Farfus (No. 55 BMW M3 GT) started from pole and won the GTE class at the final round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup in a six-hour race in Zhuhai, China. Their BMW Motorsport teammates, Andy Priaulx and Uwe Alzen finished second in the GTE class in their No. 56 team car to deliver a one-two for BMW Motorsport and BMW Team Schnitzer, who was responsible for running the two BMW M3 GT cars in Zhuhai. BMW finished second in the GTE Manufacturers’ Championship, ending the 2011 ILMC season in second place behind Ferrari by 19 points. BMW Motorsport also finished runner-up in the team competition to Ferrari.

 The FIA World Endurance Championship. The brainiacs in France decide to add a race to their 2012 schedule in Bahrain on the exact same weekend as Petit Le Mans. Huh? After all the time, money, and effort Don Panoz has contributed to the sport of road racing in this country over the last decade, that's the kind of treatment he gets? Unbelievable and unconscionable. We hope the ALMS comes up with something interesting to counteract this move.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: It's that time of year again and John Thawley has made his annual visit to the "Redneck Regatta" aka the Naples Swamp Buggy races. Enjoy the scenery! - PMD

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Check out Michelin's racing website - "Michelin Alley" - and get in on all of the behind-the-scenes buzz. Go here. - PMD

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE AE STORE

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" with hosts John McElroy, from Autoline Detroit, and Peter De Lorenzo, The Autoextremist, and guests this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

By the way, if you'd like to subscribe to the Autoline After Hours podcasts, click on the following links:

Subscribe via iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=311421319