Weekly Racing Roundup (10.29.18)

Ecurie Ecosse / Nielsen Wins Le Mans Cup Finale at Portimao

Ecurie Ecosse / Nielsen won the final Michelin Le Mans Cup race of the season at Portimao on Saturday, securing the runner-up position for Colin Noble and Alasdair McCaig in the championship.

The Scottish duo looked set to lead home a 1-2 finish for the team but United Autosports’ Colin Braun passed James Littlejohn within the final ten minutes.

Noble and McCaig were able to finish second in the Le Mans Cup drivers’ standingsi after Jens Petersen and Leonard Hoogenboom wrapped up the championship at the previous race.

It was the Ecurie Ecosse drivers’ second consecutive win with their No. 79 Ligier JS P3 Nissan.

Giacomo Piccini took the GTE class win with his Kessel Racing Ferrari 488 GT3 that he shares with Sergio Pianezzola.

It was their fifth win of the season having won every race apart from the two Road to Le Mans rounds of the championship.

RESULTS: Portimao

Spengler Tests Class 1 BMW DTM Challenger

Bruno Spengler has completed the first test of BMW’s new DTM challenger, its first car built to the new Class 1 regulations.

The 2019 M4 DTM features a new two-liter turbo engine, with smaller, more efficient engines replacing the previous V8 powerplants.

Spengler recently drove the car at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing.

“The first few kilometres felt very good,” said Spengler. “That marked the start of a new era for us and for the DTM. 

“Being able to be there right at the start made it very special for me. It was a very interesting and productive roll-out. Now I am looking forward to the next steps in its development.

“I can just imagine how much fun it will be to take to the track with so much BMW Turbo Power. You can feel the extra horsepower. 

“We will put on even more of a show for the fans in 2019. The amount of time at full-throttle is reduced – but the top speed is higher than before. We will have to work even harder at the wheel.”

The first test organized by DTM promoter ITR will take place at Estoril on Nov. 11-14.