8Star Motorsports conducted the first test of its No. 3 Corvette Daytona Prototype Tuesday at Sebring in preparation for the June 1 Grand-Am Rolex Series round at Belle Isle Park in Detroit. Team owner and driver Enzo Potolicchio shared the test driving chores with Michael Valiante and Rafael Matos at the Florida track's short course.

“It was a really good day for 8Star for the amount of improvements we made during our first-ever test,” said Potolicchio. “Stephane (Sarrazin) and Pedro (Lamy) had not driven the car before this year, so everything we've done so far has been during a race weekend, which isn't the ideal situation.

"I think having Valiante here was definitely a positive because of the feedback he was able to give us from all his DP experience. The car is a lot quicker and lot easier to driver – its more connected front to rear. We showed a lot of speed here at Sebring and will have a better car next week at Detroit.”

Valiante is scheduled to substitute for full-time 8Star DP driver Sarrazin at Mid-Ohio on June 15 with co-driver Lamy. Sarrazin has prior commitments for this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans that takes place the next week. Valiante and co-driver Richard Westbrook took a Corvette DP to victory last year at Mid-Ohio.

“We worked really well together and the car got better every time we went out,” said Valiante. “Hopefully, today's test and the races between now and then will give the team a great baseline to start with and be really competitive.

"Enzo's got a real drive and push to make 8Star Motorsports a top-level team and I think they've got all the ingredients to make a successful, championship-winning team. Now it's just a matter of building a database of knowledge with the car and today's test was a great start.”

8Star Motorsports team manager Gary Neal was satisfied with the day's activities.

“It was a very productive test,” said Neal. “We have not had the opportunity to learn the tendencies of the Coyote chassis to this level at the race weekends. The Sebring test allowed us to run through a systematic test program and we made some big gains in car performance. We now head to Detroit with a clear direction for the setup.”
 

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest active sports car race. The first event was held in 1923 and for driver and machine, it's the ultimate test of speed, efficiency and endurance. Participation is by invitation only as the Automobile Club de I 'Quest (ACO) selects the 56 entries. The 81st edition is set for June 22–23 at Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France.

Two identically prepared SRT Viper GTS-Rs will return to the Le Mans stage for the first time since finishing one-two in the GTS class three consecutive years—1998-2000. SRT Motorsports accepted an invitation in February from ACO to field the two-car team in the LM GTE Pro class.

"Racing is a cornerstone of Viper's illustrious history," said Ralph Gilles, President and Chief Executive Officer, (SRT) Street and Racing Technology Brand and Motorsports, Chrysler Group LLC. "Le Mans is a world stage. The GTS-R has enjoyed great success at Le Mans in the past and we're excited to start a new chapter of Viper racing at that historic venue."

The festive atmosphere and famous location of the semi-permanent race course southwest of Paris is a perfect international stage for the SRT brand.

"Racing is a big part of everything that SRT does," said Beth Paretta, Director of Marketing and Operations, SRT Brand and Motorsports. "Racing is in our name—Street and Racing Technology—so the line is very blurred between what we do on the road and what we do on the track. We've enjoyed some past success at Le Mans, so you want to not only show well, but also run competitively on the track. The whole motorsports world is watching and it's extremely exciting for us to be part of it and a big challenge to do well."

Viper's success in motorsports has served as a symbol to owners, the brand and even the company itself.

"Having the Viper return as a flagship, American sports car in general and SRT being elevated to a separate brand within Chrysler Group, it's very symbolic for the company as a whole given the challenges we've faced over the last four years," said Paretta. "It was like a beacon while they were going through the darkest days of the company, when you weren't even sure if the company was going to exist. You had this wonderful network and group of owners who were so passionate and loved this car so much because of the community and the friends that they've made just by owning this special car. So the idea that it could have gone away was very sad for them. The fact that it survived is something that a lot of people rally around and are so happy and rightfully emotional about because it's such a big part of their lives.

"Just a few short years ago, there was a question about our existence as a company. So after a few years of hard work, not only did we survive but we're thriving. This SRT Motorsports effort is a symbol for the whole company – showing that we did fight back and we're going to be fighting in a very real sense on the track."

The Viper hasn't been on the Le Mans stage since 2000 but Paretta and the SRT Motorsports team have a good idea what to expect. They attended the race last year to formulate a plan should an invitation come.

"We went to do some research should we ever get back on the track at Le Mans and were astounded by the interest shown by the amount of fans who lined up and waited to simply get a glimpse of our SRT Viper GTS-R show car and take photos," said Paretta. "People came wearing all sorts of jackets, both Viper jackets and competitor jackets and it was interesting too that they very much crave to see this American rivalry between the brands; they take such pleasure in watching them kind of duke it out on the track. There are Viper Clubs that are very strong in Europe. They travel great distances to see races and they'll travel great distances to be together for activities such as road rallies and track days. The Viper Nation is truly a global entity."

Although Le Mans was the target, the SRT Motorsports team is somewhat surprised it came so soon. "The goal was to get to Le Mans but none of us thought that we'd get there our first year out, honestly," continued Paretta. "We're not taking any minute of it for granted because of the process of either qualifying or getting invited. Because we had a short year last year, we had to rely on a direct invitation. You can see how hard everybody is working, putting their heart and soul into this because to be there is just amazing."

It wasn't until August last year that the SRT Viper GTS-R made its official return to the track, competing in the American Le Mans Series at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. While Le Mans is the biggest global race, Paretta quickly points out the importance of competing here at home.

"The American Le Mans Series and what will be United SportsCar Racing (the name of the consolidation of the two main North America sports car racing entities—ALMS and Grand-AM Road Racing) is the premiere sports car racing in North America. The North American market is very important," Paretta commented. "That's why a lot of the European brands choose the American Le Mans Series and Grand-Am Road Racing to showcase their cars in the GT Class.

"We know this program is very important to SRT owners around the world. At every race, whether it's in the American Le Mans Series or at Le Mans itself, we have owner experiences where they can be with our team for the weekend to enjoy a true VIP experience. Owners get a behind-the-scenes look at what's going on, meet the drivers and ask questions of the engineers. Hopefully, we'll continue to go to Le Mans for many years to come but as a sports-car fan, if you can make the trip even once, it's worth it."

It's difficult to overlook Viper's previous success at Le Mans but SRT Racing Manager Gary Johnson points out the competition has changed since that last visit.

"The rules have changed over the years but we're going with the same commitment to do our best," said Johnson. "Our plan is to be as competitive as we can and see what happens at the end. I think it's a dream come true for anybody that's been involved in motorsports as the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the pinnacle of sports car racing."

Johnson is fully engaged in the process, even to the point of dreaming about the event. "It's kind of funny," he said. "I've been having dreams about Le Mans ever since we talked about getting invited. It's just one dream that keeps repeating in my head. I'm thinking about it 24 hours a day I guess."

From the SRT brand team to engineering, the perception of Le Mans is the same—the ultimate test.

"It means a lot to our customers because the racing pedigree of the car can largely be determined with this one annual race," said Russ Ruedisueli, Head of SRT Motorsports Engineering, Chrysler Group LLC. "For our engineering team, it's the ultimate endurance test to see how well we've developed the cars and seeing how they perform over 24 hours."
"Everybody on the current team realizes our past success and how Viper teams before us have set a high standard. We can't help but have that in the back of all of our minds, so we'll work as hard as ever to hopefully live up to that same standard."

SRT Motorsports has partnered with Riley Technologies, based in Mooresville, N.C., on the design-and-build process of the SRT Viper GTS-Rs. The two cars competed in four ALMS races in 2012 in preparation of the full 2013 season. In the first three races this year, the No. 91 has recorded three consecutive top-five finishes including a podium – third – at Long Beach. The driver stable includes Marc Goossens, Dominik Farnbacher, Jonathan Bomarito and Kuno Wittmer. They are joined by Tommy Kendall and Ryan Dalziel for the endurance events.
The Viper's successful racing heritage began in 1996 with its first racing entry, the original GTS-R, which earned five international GT championships and the 1997 to 1999 FIA GT championships in addition to the three consecutive one-two finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the GTS class.

Ken Hale will attempt to retire from his third career as Director of Sales and Marketing at Wilwood Engineering in Camarillo, California.

Hale is an avid car enthusiast and that enthusiasm is reflected in his daily activities. In fact, his retirement plans include long hours in his garage working on car projects. 

Hale joined the Wilwood Team back in 2008 and during that time he has particularly enjoyed interacting with everyone in the racing and aftermarket industries. He will remain connected with Wilwood on a consultant basis and will be seen at various events throughout the year. 

While Hale will be missed, he is going to be replaced by Steve Cornelius who is more than capable of picking up where Hale left off. Cornelius has been with Wilwood for 25 years and is probably one of the best known and highly respected associates at Wilwood. The Team is excited about Steve’s appointment and look forward to continued growth under his stewardship.

An agreement has been reached between Mercedes AMG Petronas and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes for Paddy Lowe to join the team on June 3.

Lowe will strengthen Mercedes AMG Petronas in the role of Executive Director (Technical) and will work closely with Team Principal, Ross Brawn; Executive Director (Business), Toto Wolff; and the team’s senior technical management.

As Team Principal, Ross Brawn will retain overall responsibility for technical and sporting matters.

SCORE International has launched an Internet giveaway contest to commemorate "45 Years of SCORE Baja 500 Glory."

Five major SCORE sponsors have contributed prizes for this inaugural SCORE contest as pre-running continues in earnest this weekend over the 501-mile desert race course for the upcoming 45th Tecate SCORE Baja 500.
    
With entries accepted online at www.score-international.com, the winners for each of the five prizes will be determined by random draw. Entries close on Monday, June 10, 2013, and entrants must be at least 18 years of age or older; one entry per person will be accepted.

Complete details and rules can be found on the SCORE website.

Entries from around the world continue to arrive for Round 2 of the 2013 SCORE Desert Series, to be held May 30-June 2 in Mexico’s Baja California Norte, starting and finishing in Ensenada, the seaside port on the Pacific Ocean, 80 miles south of San Diego.
    
SCORE is celebrating its 40th year as one of the world’s foremost desert racing organization in 2013, and this race is traditionally one of the most popular events on the SCORE schedule. Most of the world’s best desert racers will be in action at this year’s 45th anniversary of the Tecate SCORE Baja 500, the original desert race produced by SCORE on July 26, 1974.
    
All current SCORE sponsors providing the five prize packages are BFGoodrich Tires, Monster Energy, Rigid Industries, GoPro and King Shocks.
    
Prizes to be awarded in the "45 Years of SCORE Baja 500 Glory" giveaway are:

- One (1) First Prize-set of (4) four BFGoodrich Tires MT/AT 35” 17” max in size.
- One (1) Second Prize-Monster Energy Fridge and six cases of assorted Monster Energy Drinks.
- One (1) Third Prize-Rigid Industries 30” LED Light Bar.
- One (1) Fourth Prize-two (2) King Shocks Bump Stomps.
- One (1) Fifth Prize-GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition.
    
The direct link to enter the contest can be found at: score-international.com/45-years-of-baja-500-glory-giveaways/.

The Tecate SCORE Baja 500 is an elapsed-time race with staggered starts with the green flag on Saturday (June 1) dropping first for the motorcycles and ATVs at 6 a.m., with cars and trucks leaving the start line three and one-half hours after the last Sportsman ATV at approximately 10:30 a.m.

Starting in 30-second intervals, the official time limit to be an official finisher in the race will be 22 hours.

For more information, visit the official website of the new SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.

Five of this year’s USAC Hall of Fame inductees will be honored Thursday night at the Indiana State Fairgrounds as part of the pre-race activities at the “Hoosier Hundred,” the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series race.

Five more will be honored Saturday night at the “Night Before the 500” National Midget race at Lucas Oil Raceway.

The past weekend's unprecedented extension of qualifying until 8 p.m. forced USAC officials to look at rescheduling the planned Silver Crown racing event where the Hall of Fame members were to be inducted.

Concerns over staffing and Hall of Fame members participating in the Speedway activities and fan focus on the Fast Nine qualifying window, which would keep attendees at IMS until after 8 p.m., left USAC officials little choice but to look at a rescheduled date for the race.

Drivers Jack Hewitt, Tom Bigelow and Tony Bettenhausen, race organizer Earl Baltes, and USAC official and driver Henry Banks will share the spotlight in Thursday’s pre-race ceremonies.

Saturday’s ceremonies at Lucas Oil Raceway will include inductions for Pancho Carter, A.J. Watson, Bob Wilke, Don White and Johnny Rutherford. Details regarding 2013 induction ceremonies involving Al and Bobby Unser are pending and will be announced when finalized.

The "Hoosier Hundred" now serves as the 2013 Traxxas Silver Crown Series opener after the past weekened's cancellation at Lucas Oil Raceway. Defending two-time winner Jerry Coons Jr. hopes to become the third driver in the 60-year history of the race to win it three straight years. The previous three-in-a-row winners were Jimmy Bryan and Al Unser, who won four in a row.

Saturday’s “Night Before the 500” classic continues USAC’s 2013 National Pavement Midget Series and concludes with a 50-lap feature.

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest is looking for the person who will give the start to the formation lap for the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours.

A spectator will be given this honor in the context of the 90th anniversary of the world-famous endurance race. The lucky winner will be drawn by lot from among those with a grandstand seat.
 
As a sports organizer, one of the ACO’s priorities has always been its determination to be as close as possible to its public. Since 1923, the Le Mans 24 hours is living proof of this with an annual crowd of around 250,000 spectators.

This year, the ACO is asking one of the spectators to give the start to the formation lap of the race. Only Daniel Poissenot, the Clerk of the Course, experiences this thrilling sensation, which he’ll share for the first time this year.

Once the formation lap is under way, the lucky spectator will go up on to the footbridge to rejoin the officials to be present at 15h00 when the 56 cars are unleashed for the flying start to the Le Mans 24 Hours after the formation lap.

To win this incredible honor, a draw will be carried out among all the ticket holders of a grandstand seat.

First, a grandstand among those which line the Le Mans circuit will be drawn by lot. Then, a second draw under the eagle eye of a bailiff will designate the seat chosen. The winner will be contacted by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest on Saturday June 22, three hours before the start, and the keys of the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours will be handed to him/her symbolically.

Never before has a major motor car race been started by one of the spectators. Visit www.24h-lemans.com for more information.

This year's Wales Rally GB will feature the return of some classic Welsh forest stages in Snowdonia, one of which hasn't been included since the 1960s.

Details of the new route were announced this week, following last month’s confirmation that the event, the final round of this year’s championship, would move from Cardiff to a new base in Deeside, North Wales.

The 2013 itinerary features 24 competitive stages, more than half of which are either totally new or haven’t been featured in the World Championship since the Nineties.

The event will kick off on November 14 with a start ceremony in the town of Conwy on the North Wales coast. That evening, in darkness, crews will tackle three stages in Snowdonia and Denbighshire: Gwydyr, which was last used in the 1960s and Penmachno and Clocaenog, which last formed part of the rally in 1996.

Friday’s itinerary takes crews south to a trio of modern Wales Rally GB stages. The roads of Myherin, Sweet Lamb and Hafren were included in the 2012 event, but their format will be modified slightly this year. The day will feature a remote service at Newtown.

Saturday’s stages are a mix of the old and new, with Penllyn (last used in 1991) Dyfi (restored to full length for the first time since 1998), Gartheiniog (similar to 2011 but with small changes) and Dyfnant (similar to 2012). A new family-oriented Spectator Stage in mid Wales is also planned.
 
Sunday’s action includes another Spectator Stage, this time in North Wales, and a repeat of Friday’s Gwydyr and Penmachno tests. The rally will reach its climax with a blast around the spectacular Great Orme early on Sunday afternoon.