2013 British Grand Prix Preview

By Jun 27, 2013, 5:00 PM EDT
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The British Grand Prix is one of the few races that has appeared on every single F1 world championship calendar since 1950, visiting many of the UK’s greatest race tracks before eventually settling at Silverstone during the 1990s. It welcomes a baying crowd that leaves very few seats empty, draped in the Union Jacks which they hope will spur the British drivers onto a highly popular victory.

British Grand Prix Talking Points

Webber looks to excel without the pressure

By announcing his move to Porsche’s endurance racing programme and his departure from F1 at the end of the season, Mark Webber has allayed the pressure that has been on him ever since Sebastian Vettel ignored ‘multi 21’ in Malaysia. As a result, the Australian driver could be in the running for his first win of the season at Silverstone, and what would be his third at the track.

Hopes of a home win hinge on Hamilton

Britain’s four lions will all be keen on impressing at their home race, but Lewis Hamilton is the only driver with a real chance of winning the grand prix in front of his home fans. di Resta and Button will settle for points, Chilton for beating his teammate and/or the Caterhams, yet Hamilton’s fighting spirit could yet shine through on Sunday as he looks to repeat his 2008 victory.

Can Ferrari rekindle its championship charge?

Ferrari may have enjoyed a good race in Canada with a double score, but the problem was that the man Fernando Alonso really needed to beat (Vettel) still finished ahead. Silverstone is a circuit at which the team has a good record, last winning in 2011 through the newly-moustachioed Spanish driver. A good result combined with a Vettelian failure is just what Ferrari require.

Will Williams score in #600?

Williams celebrates its 600th grand prix this weekend amidst one of its worst seasons ever, which is a shame for the legendary team. However, a point at the team’s home race would go down very well and go a long way to silencing their critics; this could be the race that makes or breaks their season.

Vergne vs Ricciardo is given extra importance

Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo are great friends, having been teammates even before their time in F1. With Webber’s announcement though, the gloves are now off and the pressure is on. Both drivers will be aware that a run of good results could see them join Vettel next season, and starting off on the right foot at Silverstone is crucial.

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Track: Silverstone Circuit
Laps: 52
Corners: 18
Lap Record: Fernando Alonso 1:30.874 (2010)
Tire Compounds: Medium (Option); Hard (Prime)
2012 Winner: Mark Webber (Red Bull)
2012 Pole Position: Fernando Alonso 1:51.746
2012 Fastest Lap: Kimi Raikkonen 1:34.661
DRS Zones: Wellington Straight (T5 to T6); Hangar Straight (T14 to T15)

Thursday – Free Practice 1: 05:00am ET
Thursday – Free Practice 2: 09:00am ET
Saturday – Free Practice 3: 05:00am ET
Saturday – Qualifying: 08:00am ET
Sunday – Race: 08:00am ET

Ford unveils a new Mustang for 2024 Le Mans in motorsports ‘lifestyle brand’ retooling

Associated PressJun 9, 2023, 7:00 PM EDT
Ford Mustang Le Mans
Ford Performance
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LE MANS, France — Ford has planned a return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with its iconic Mustang muscle car next year under a massive rebranding of Ford Performance aimed at bringing the automotive manufacturer “into the racing business.”

The Friday unveil of the new Mustang Dark Horse-based race car follows Ford’s announcement in February (and a ballyhooed test at Sebring in March) that it will return to Formula One in 2026 in partnership with reigning world champion Red Bull.

The Mustang will enter the GT3 category next year with at least two cars in both IMSA and the World Endurance Championship, and is hopeful to earn an invitation to next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. The IMSA entries will be a factory Ford Performance program run by Multimatic, and a customer program in WEC with Proton Competition.

Ford CEO Jim Farley, also an amateur sports car racer, told The Associated Press the Mustang will be available to compete in various GT3 series across the globe to customer teams. But more important, Farley said, is the overall rebranding of Ford Performance – done by renowned motorsports designer Troy Lee – that is aimed at making Ford a lifestyle brand with a sporting mindset.

“It’s kind of like the company finding its own, and rediscovering its icons, and doubling down on them,” Farley told the AP. “And then this motorsports activity is getting serious about connecting enthusiast customers with those rediscovered icons. It’s a big switch for the company – this is really about building strong, iconic vehicles with enthusiasts at the center of our marketing.”

Ford last competed in sports car racing in 2019 as part of a three-year program with Chip Ganassi Racing. The team scored the class win at Le Mans in 2016 in a targeted performance aimed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ford snapping Ferrari’s six-year winning streak.

Ford on Friday displayed a Mustang with a Lee-designed livery that showcased the cleaner, simplified look that will soon be featured on all its racing vehicles. The traditional blue oval with Ford Performance in white lettering underneath will now be branded simply FP.

The new mark will be used across car liveries, merchandise and apparel, display assets, parts and accessories and in advertising.

Farley cited Porsche as an automaker that has successfully figured out how to sell cars to consumers and race cars in various series around the world while creating a culture of brand enthusiasts. He believes Ford’s new direction will help the company sell street cars, race cars, boost interest in driving schools, and create a merchandise line that convinces consumers that a stalwart of American automakers is a hip, cool brand.

“We’re going to build a global motorsports business off road and on road,” Farley told the AP, adding that the design of the Mustang is “unapologetically American.”

He lauded the work of Lee, who is considered the top helmet designer among race car drivers.

“We’re in the first inning of a nine inning game, and going to Le Mans is really important,” Farley said. “But for customer cars, getting the graphics right, designing race cars that win at all different levels, and then designing a racing brand for Ford Performance that gets rebranded and elevated is super important.”

He said he’s kept a close eye on how Porsche and Aston Martin have built their motorsports businesses and said Ford will be better.

“We’re going in the exact same direction. We just want to be better than them, that’s all,” Farley said. “Second is the first loser.”

Farley, an avid amateur racer himself, did not travel to Le Mans for the announcement. The race that begins Saturday features an entry from NASCAR, and Ford is the reigning Cup Series champion with Joey Logano and Team Penske.

The NASCAR “Garage 56” entry is a collaboration between Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet and Goodyear, and is being widely celebrated throughout the industry. Farley did feel left out of the party in France – a sentiment NASCAR tried to avoid by inviting many of its partners to attend the race so that it wouldn’t seem like a Chevrolet-only celebration.

“They’re going right and I’m going left – that NASCAR thing is a one-year deal, right? It’s Garage 56 and they can have their NASCAR party, but that’s a one-year party,” Farley said. “We won Le Mans outright four times, we won in the GT class, and we’re coming back with Mustang and it’s not a one-year deal.

“So they can get all excited about Garage 56. I almost see that as a marketing exercise for NASCAR, but for me, that’s a science project,” Farley continued. “I don’t live in a world of science projects. I live in the world of building a vital company that everyone is excited about. To do that, we’re not going to do a Garage 56 – I’ve got to beat Porsche and Aston Martin and Ferrari year after year after year.”

Ford’s announcement comes on the heels of General Motors changing its GT3 strategy next season and ending its factory Corvette program. GM, which unlike Ford competes in the IMSA Grand Touring Prototype division (with its Cadillac brand), will shift fully to a customer model for Corvettes in 2024 (with some factory support in the IMSA GTD Pro category).