Sebastien Loeb Racing has announced it will not take part in this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, nor in the 2013 European Le Mans Series season.
The team, founded by nine-time rally champion Sébastien Loeb and his associate Dominique Heintz, raced in last year's ELMS championship with an Oreca Nissan LMP2, and was gunning for a Le Mans entry this year.
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| Photo: Sébastien Loeb Racing |
But the team lost the backing of a major sponsor, so was forced to scale back its ambitions to the FIA GT Series, the French Porsche Carrera Cup and the French GT championship.
Loeb Racing's exit means the Race Performance's Oreca Nissan LMP2 can now join the field for the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.
Danica Patrick was pleased to hear Bernie Ecclestone talking about her.
"Yes I did see something about Bernie's comments and they sounded complimentary. It looked like he was kind of acknowledging my ability to drive a car. So that was kind," she said in Bristol, Tennessee.
The 30-year old has burst into the mainstream of North America again after winning the pole for NASCAR's biggest event, the Daytona 500. In the world of Formula 1, rumours have been coming and going about her.
"I've always said that unless that it would be something I would want to do for real, as in race a Formula One car, I don't see any point in testing it," Patrick clarified.
"It is a lot or work to get fitted in the car comfortable enough to go drive it. Then as a driver, for me at least, I run the risk of what if it doesn't go well, and then people judge me for that. So, unless it was something that I was really serious, I wouldn't do it."
That attitude hasn't stopped Ecclestone being nice.
"I will say that Bernie over the years has actually sent a lot of messages. Any kind of big high point that happens in my career, whether it be at Indy, or Daytona now, or winning in Japan - things like that, he has sent messages.
"He even sent me like a big picture one time that was signed by him. He's actually been really nice."
Then she referred to Bernie's quote from 2005 when she finished fourth at the Indy 500, the highest finish for a woman there until she finished third: "She did a good job, didn't she? Super," said Ecclestone in Indianapolis for the US Grand Prix.
"Didn't think she'd be able to make it like that. You know, I've got one of these wonderful ideas that women should be all dressed in white like all the other domestic appliances."
"I don't necessarily think that his comments a long while back are representative of his opinion of me."
While Danica felt complimented; it's not the start of a new venue for her.
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President Obama, faced with few options for financing his clean-energy ambitions, on Friday proposed diverting $2 billion in revenue from federal oil and gas leases over the next decade to pay for research on advanced vehicles.
Volkswagen and the UAW have discussed setting up a German-style labor board at VW's assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., the automaker's human resources chief said today.
Toyota is recalling about 310,000 FJ Cruiser compact SUVs worldwide because cracks can develop in the rear door panels, allowing the seat-belt retractors to detach.
The first Corvette upgrade from Callaway Cars came in 1987 as an option from select dealers. The Vettes would go to Old Lyme, Conn. for the conversion, straight from the factory in Bowling Green, Ken.
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The Big Apple isn't known for its automotive culture, but there are plenty of landmarks for car lovers to check out while attending the New York auto show.
As people welcome Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, we've been wondering what type of vehicle he'll choose to transport himself.
Nissan is recalling the Altima,
The fuel economy of vehicles sold in the United States last year had the sharpest gains in almost four decades, with Honda Motor, Volkswagen AG and Mazda producing the most efficient fleets.
Hyundai said it would increase its dealer network in China from 802 to 860 this year to further boost its sales there.
Chrysler is to hire 200 more people at its Jeep plant in Toledo, Ohio to meet demand for the Wrangler off-roader.
Thai vehicle assembler and parts maker Thai Rung Union is to spend THB500m (US$17m) to expand production capacity and raise revenue by 15% this year.
Porsche executives said 2012 was the best sales year in the companyand#8217;s 63-year history.
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