Welcome back Ford!

Before Ford revealed its return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans to the world, it was already secretly testing the vehicle it would use to compete on the track.

Ford Performance is giving fans around the world an exclusive look at the Ford GT race car’s first shakedown test.

Four Ford GTs will compete next year under the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates banner – two in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship (United States) and two in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

This first official test kicked off the “Road to Daytona” – the seven months Ford and partners Multimatic, CGR and Roush Yates Engines would have to prepare for the GT’s first 24-hour race, the 24 Hours of Daytona.

Nice catch Dion!

We haven't posted a good onboard for some times now so  let's ride along with Dion Von Moltke in his Paul Miller Racing Audi R8 GTD during a dry practice for the Sahlen Six Hours of the Glen.  

Von Moltke with co drivers Christopher Haase and Bryce Miller placed third in class for the very wet race.

Check out the slide at the off camber turn 9.

Momo in Slo-mo: Watkins Glen edition

Another beautiful postcard from MOMO and the guys at Drive.    This time we go to the awesome Watkins Glen for some TUDOR United Sports Car Championship action.  

Enjoy.

Meanwhile, at Sebring...

Matteo Malucelli was rear ended once again, this time it was his fault. After a tankslapper sent him into the tires at the exit of turn one, Malucelli impulsively re enters the track at the exit of a blind corner, right on the racing line. Chaos ensues.

Ben Keating's Viper also had a bit of an overheating problem...



And David Ostella was attacked by the axis of understeer...

Nascar vs Technology: how's that formula working out?

"A DP (Daytona Prototype, ed.)  is nothing more than a late seventies Trans-Am car with more bodywork.   They're an antique, tube-frame car and the mentality of the people we have to deal with is equally antique. 

They don't want change, they don't want technology. They're not interested in selling technology and I think it's going to kill them in the long run. They're just hurtling toward the cliff and they don't seem to realize it."

The scathing quote above from Rob Hill, Director of Operations at Extreme Speed Motorsport from a must read article by Gordon Kirby on the state of the new NASCAR owned United Sport Car Championship.

read then, discuss...

Horrible call robs Level 5 Ferrari of a class win at Daytona. (UPDATED)

Tommy Kendall on the Fox broadcast could not believe it, Dario Franchitti, Marco Andretti, Jeff Segal and even Tiff Needell expressed their outrage via twitter at the bogus call IMSA official made on the last lap of the 2014 Rolex 24.

Audi's Markus Winkelhock tried a low percentage  outside pass at the infield kink on the very last lap.  Anyone who ever raced could see how that was going to turn out and, predictably, the Flying Lizards Audi ran out of road at the exit.
There was no contact yet IMSA officials saw fit to assign the Level 5 Motorsport Ferrari 458 driven by Alessandro Pier Guidi (of "spin and recover at Eau Rouge" fame) a penalty for accidental contact.

The cars never touched.

One of the worst calls I have ever seen in motosport.

UPDATE:   IMSA reversed the call three hours after the end of the race, no doubt feeling the pressure and ridicule from irate fans and professionals alike.  I'm sure Level5 would have preferred to be up on the podium and Lizards, not have to give their Rolex's back.

Read about it over at Racer.com

Meanwhile, at Daytona....

Group photo: Halston Pitman/MotorSportMedia

Still confused about new IMSA championship rules after the GrandAm/ALMS merger?  Be sure to check out Marshall Pruett's guide on Racer Magazine.

Andy Priaulx answers our reader's questions.

Taking time off the Roar Before the 24 practice sessions at Daytona International Speedway, four time FIA touring car champion and BMW works driver Andy Priaulx answered questions from readers on the Axis Facebook page.

Andy gave us his views on racing in America,  learning tracks, simulators, insulting your race car, differences between V8 Supercars and DTM,  the mental aspects of racing and even where the Race of Champions should be held in the future.    

Ten minutes well spent for any fan and aspiring racers.