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Rosberg X Racing secure second Extreme E title at Antofagasta Minerals Copper X Prix in dramatic season finale

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Official Release
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3 December 2023, Chile: Rosberg X Racing (RXR) secured a dramatic second Extreme E championship at the final round of the 2023 season in Chile.

Nico Rosberg’s outfit took the title, their second in three seasons, in a rollercoaster Grand Final at the Antofagasta Minerals Copper X Prix, crossing the finish line in second place despite a severely damaged ODYSSEY 21.

The race saw nearest rivals ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team (ASXE) retire after Laia Sanz rolled in the closing stages. Their retirement from the Grand Final meant ASXE did not secure enough points for a maiden championship victory.

Winners of the final round of Season 3 were Veloce Racing, with their third victory of 2023 securing a top-three finish in the championship standings. Completing the Round 10 podium positions were Season 2 champions X44 Vida Carbon Racing.

In the Redemption Race, Amanda Sorensen and RJ Anderson ended their first full Extreme E campaign with a race win as No. 99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing recovered from a difficult Round 9 to end the season a higher note.

Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, RXR, said: “Winning the 2023 Extreme E Championship is a dream come true. It was neck to neck all season with ASXE, but I’m just so happy and speechless right now. We fought so hard last year and narrowly missed the win, so it was stressful when I saw that we had a puncture. But as always, we never give up. Despite the challenges, our team’s spirit never waned. This championship is a powerful reminder that with passion and perseverance, anything is achievable.”

Johan Kristoffersson, RXR, said: “After an intense season, winning the Extreme E Championship for a second time is incredible. ASXE put up an impressive fight this season, and I enjoyed every minute of the battles. I want to dedicate this win to Kyle LeDuc, who sadly passed away recently and who we will miss racing against.”

Grand Final

The Grand Final was action-packed from the start, with ASXE’s Mattias Ekström taking the lead as his team chased down the points needed to steal the championship title from RXR.

Veloce Racing’s Kevin Hansen slotted into second, while RXR’s Johan Kristoffersson tried to push his way through the pack into third place. As the Swede muscled his way towards the inside line, he caught the steep banking of the corner and his RXR ODYSSEY 21 veered off-line on two wheels.

Kristoffersson remarkably got the car back under control, albeit in fifth place, and a mammoth task lay ahead as a subsequent puncture forced the team to pit after just one lap, while closest rivals ASXE lead the race.

Ekström entered the Switch Zone in first place, with Veloce Racing’s Hansen hot on his heels. Behind the frontrunners, the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team’s (NEOM McLaren XE) Tanner Foust fought to slow down his ODYSSEY 21, running into the back of X44 Vida Carbon Racing’s Fraser McConnell as the pair entered the Switch Zone.

The incident resulted in a time penalty for the American, but this proved irrelevant for NEOM McLaren XE’s race as the damage sustained ensured a retirement from the Grand Final.

The collision also hindered X44 Vida Carbon Racing’s progress. Despite being able to continue, Sir Lewis Hamilton’s outfit had to run at a much reduced pace and dropped down the order.

In the battle for the lead, ASXE’s Sanz and Veloce Racing’s Molly Taylor left the Switch Zone almost in unison. It looked like Sanz would maintain the advantage for ASXE, but Taylor got the upper hand by deploying her ENOWA Hyperdrive to snatch first place.

The DNF for NEOM McLaren XE and the damage for X44 Vida Carbon Racing meant that RXR just had to finish the race to take third place and seal the championship, unless Sanz could win back the lead and secure enough points for ASXE’s maiden title. This was to prove difficult, as after leaving the switch zone RXR’s Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky encountered another problem aboard her ODYSSEY 21 as she wrestled to get the car over the finish line.

Entering the closing stages, Sanz and Taylor made contact as the Spaniard tried to retake first place. Sanz was pushing hard, but soon after the ASXE ODYSSEY 21 reached its limit and entered a spin.

As Sanz recovered to remain in second place, the race and championship win looked ever more elusive. ASXE’s fate was sealed when a few corners later Sanz entered a roll, ending her race and the team’s chances of title glory.

Veloce Racing completed an untroubled run to take a third victory this season and end 2023 in the top three in the championship standings – their best-ever Extreme E result. Behind the race winners, both X44 and RXR continued to struggle, as Åhlin-Kottulinsky crawled around the course with her severely damaged car.

Despite crossing the line over four minutes after Veloce Racing, RXR’s second-place was enough to secure a second Extreme E championship win since their title in the 2021 inaugural season. This marked a valiant effort from both Kristoffersson and Åhlin-Kottulinsky, with the latter winning her first-ever Extreme E title.

Even further back, X44 Vida Carbon Racing were able to cross the line to take the third step on the podium and steal fourth place on the championship leaderboard from No. 99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing.

Redemption Race

Quickest off the mark was No. 99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing, having narrowly missed out on the Grand Final based on the team’s Continental Traction Challenge time.

JBXE’s Andreas Bakkerud launched round the outside to slot in behind Anderson, with Timo Scheider running in third for Carl Cox Motorsport ahead of ABT CUPRA XE debutant Adrien Tambay.

Scheider held nothing back as he committed to the inside line, getting past Anderson to take the lead. The American soon regained first place, holding on to a good racing line to muscle his way ahead of the Carl Cox Motorsport driver.

There was more drama to follow, though, as a mechanical failure for the charging Scheider forced the German to pull over, ending Carl Cox Motorsport’s Season 3 campaign with a DNF.

The remaining three teams left the Switch Zone and ABT CUPRA XE’s Klara Andersson set her sights on Tamara Molinaro’s JBXE ODYSSEY 21.

The Swede soon completed the overtake, taking second place behind No. 99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing as Sorensen executed a smooth run for Redemption Race victory.

RESULTS

Grand Final

  1. Veloce Racing 8:31.760mins
  2. Rosberg X Racing +4:19.110mins
  3. X44 Vida Carbon Racing +8:11.502mins
  4. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team DNF
  5. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team DNF

Redemption Race

  1. No. 99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing 8:34.434mins
  2. ABT CUPRA XE +14.909s
  3. JBXE +20.993s
  4. Carl Cox Motorsport DNF

Championship Standings

  1. Rosberg X Racing: 182 points
  2. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team: 171 points
  3. Veloce Racing: 155 points
  4. X44 Vida Carbon Racing: 121 points
  5. No. 99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing: 113 points
  6. ABT CUPRA XE: 81 points
  7. Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E 71 points
  8. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team: 68 points
  9. Carl Cox Motorsport: 50 points
  10. JBXE: 50 points

To learn more about Extreme E, visit – www.Extreme-E.com

Utilizing AI as a Fleet Management Solution

By
SM
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Photo by Marcin Jozwiak on Unsplash

Like most problems throughout the years, fleet management has evolved and rapidly changed alongside technology. Fleet management is a critical component for businesses that rely on vehicles to deliver goods, provide services, or manage transportation logistics. With the popularization and innovations come about in recent years with artificial intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT, fleet management solutions are quickly adapting to the new technology.

AI when used in fleet management is great for a multitude of optimizations. The key aspects include 24/7 monitoring, streamlining operations, enhancing driver safety, and reducing costs. Using AI, fleet management is about to get significantly cheaper and much more effective.

Real-time Monitoring

While real-time monitoring has already existed in fleet management, a major downside is latency. The time it takes for those responsible for the monitoring to provide adequate feedback to the drivers can be significant. Fortunately, with an AI Powered Dash Camera Solution, the latency between infraction and support is almost nonexistent.

For example, a trained AI can utilize a dash camera to identify potential collision threats, correct distracted drivers, and record logs of harsh braking or acceleration. With AI being at the helm of the monitoring all the previous benefits are also instantly reported to a human representative who can quickly contact the driver to provide support. Overall, AI real-time monitoring is likely the best benefit because providing great assistance to drivers is the best way to improve a fleet.

Route Optimization and Fuel Efficiency

AI algorithms can optimize route planning based on various factors such as traffic patterns, weather conditions, and delivery schedules. By analyzing historical data and current variables, AI can suggest the most efficient routes, reducing fuel consumption and travel time. A lot of services are even integrating AI into their platforms, such as the best fuel card for truckers. It can direct your driver’s routes depending on which fuel stations accept it, so you know that you’re able to make the most of your card. This not only contributes to cost savings but also reduces the environmental impact of the fleet, aligning with sustainability goals.

Inventory Management and Asset Tracking

Another way AI can benefit from fleet management away from the road is by managing inventories. When having access to the company’s RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) and GPS locations, AI will be able to precisely track goods and equipment, and alert to any inconsistencies.

Through AI, a company would have more accurate inventory management, lower risk of theft, and increased visibility on the supply chain. All of which can then be reviewed and further optimized based on human suggestion.

Cost Reductions

Using all the above benefits provided by AI also results in major cost reductions. These reductions can be seen in lower insurance premiums, fuel savings, reduced asset loss, and more. Companies that have already implemented AI in their fleet will have always seen a tangible impact on their bottom line. AI is tireless and efficient and is perfect for optimizing a vehicular fleet.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the integration of AI into fleet management represents a paradigm shift in how businesses operate and manage their transportation assets. The combination of real-time monitoring, route optimization, and inventory management not only enhances operational efficiency but also leads to substantial cost savings. As technology continues to advance, businesses that embrace AI in their fleet management practices are poised to stay ahead of the competition, providing better services, reducing environmental impact, and securing a more sustainable and profitable future.

A shining example of innovation in the powerful LED Flashlight

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SM
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With its innovative combination of small size and remarkable brightness, the Marauder Mini’s Powerful LED Flashlight is a shining example of innovation in the portable illumination industry. This compact powerhouse is ready to change your expectations, whether you’re a survivalist, an outdoor enthusiast, or just someone who appreciates a dependable light source on the go.

Unparalleled Delight:

The Marauder Mini’s appeal stems from its extraordinary lighting experience. Using cutting-edge LED technology, this tiny torch produces light that not only outshines its little stature but also revolutionizes its class. Imagine yourself deep in the woods, with the Marauder Mini’s bright LED beam shining like a little sun, illuminating the path ahead and giving you the courage to face any obstacle.

Precision and quality are at the heart of the Marauder Mini’s LED technology, which goes beyond mere brightness. Avoiding the harsh artificial colours that typically come with poorer flashlights, the accurately regulated light spectrum keeps the lit environment true to colour. 

Small size, huge effect

Size is important in the portable lighting industry, and the Marauder Mini is aware of this. Its design principle is based on making mobility and potency work hand in hand. Concealed within its tiny and elegant body is a technical wonder that defies the common belief that smaller flashlights are weaker. It becomes a discreet friend who is always prepared to take action.

The Marauder Mini is more than a tool it becomes an extension of your hand thanks to its ergonomic design. You can concentrate on what you’re doing instead of fumbling about in the dark, thanks to the ergonomically designed buttons and grips. No matter the situation—an unexpected power outage, an unplanned camping excursion, or a late-night exploration its small size makes it perfect for everyday carry.

Robust and reliable:

Your trust in a torch should be proportional to its resilience in the face of nature’s worst conditions. Durability is a top priority for the Marauder Mini. Made from sturdy, high-quality materials, it can withstand the wear and tear of an active lifestyle. Thanks to its water-resistant construction, the torch isn’t scared of a little rain. Thanks to its shock-resistant design, you can easily shrug off any unintentional trail bumps or drops.

Reliability and security are also aspects of its durability. However, the Marauder Mini is built to perform flawlessly in any environment. Have faith that it will function without a hitch in any scenario where a dependable light source is not only an amenity but an absolute need, such as during an exhilarating outdoor activity, an unexpected storm, or an emergency.

Flexibility in Use:

Being able to adjust to a wide variety of situations is what really makes the Marauder Mini stand out. It’s not just a light; it’s a multipurpose instrument that meets all of your lighting demands. Thanks to its versatility, the Marauder Mini can fit in anywhere you need it to, whether that’s creating a warm atmosphere at a campground or letting someone know you need help in an emergency.

Suppose you were exploring a cave with little illumination and could control the brightness to save power without sacrificing visibility. Because of its adaptability, the Marauder Mini goes beyond being just a torch and becomes a multi-functional lighting solution that fits your ever-changing lifestyle.

Power that lasts:

When you really need a torch, its quality determines how well it performs. By using efficient and rechargeable batteries, the Marauder Mini solves the typical problems with conventional flashlights. Having extra batteries on hand or being unprepared when the light goes out are things of the past.

Longer battery life and less environmental impact are two benefits of the Marauder Mini’s energy-efficient design. An example of efficiency, the Marauder Mini shines in a world where caring for the environment is critical. 

In summary:

The Marauder Mini’s Powerful LED Flashlight stands out as a shining example of the ever-changing world of small LED flashlights, expertly combining strength, mobility, resilience, adaptability, and runtime. It’s more than simply a tool; it’s a friend who makes life easier and more enjoyable.

AARON WILLISON WINS RECORD BREAKING $50,000 RISKON360! OPEN WHEEL SHOWDOWN IN LAS VEGAS

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Official Release
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (December 2, 2023) – Aaron Willison of Langley, British Columbia, Canada led wire-to-wire for the richest payday in pavement open wheel history, a $50,000 USD or $67,480 Canadian haul, after the 100-lap Riskon360! Open Wheel Showdown for Winged Sprint Cars at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Willison was joined by Kingsburg, Calif.’s Kody Swanson and Dave Danzer of Oswego, New York as winners at the richest short track event in the country for the 2023 season.

“We need equipment to go racing and this is going to fund our entire year. I work really hard on my restarts. We work really hard on our motor program. We work really hard on getting the thing to take off. There’s a lot of effort that goes into that stuff behind the scenes. You got to have a well-rounded skillset if you think youre going to hold off the best in the country. This was the greatest race car I’ve ever driven today and it’s been a dream season.”

Willison earned pole for the 100-lap contest after claiming Friday’s fast-dash. The C- and B-Main Events narrowed the 52 Sprint Cars on the grounds to 26 starters for the feature event on the .375-mile oval.

Bryan Gossel spun in turn four for the first caution flag on lap two. The choose cone allowed track-record holder Jason Blonde of Litchfield, Michigan to drive up alongside Willison on the restart. Willison held the top spot however. Willison, Blonde, and Franklin, Mass.’s Bobby Santos III broke free of the large pack of Sprint Cars. Anthony Quintana of Idaho spun in turn four and collected Canadian Jeff Montgomery for the next caution flag, ending both of their evenings on lap seven.

Eighth-starting Ryan Litt of London, Ontario, Canada challenged Santos for third in lapped traffic but couldn’t complete the pass with a three-wide maneuver. A restart allowed him to later gain the track position for third.

Willison led Blonde, Litt, Santos, and Tacoma, Washington’s Evan Margeson into the lap 50 break for fuel and a fresh right rear tire.

When racing resumed, Falcon, Colorado’s Mike Hathaway crashed hard into the front stretch wall in an incident which tangled up Audra Sasselli of Selma, Calif. as well.

Blonde back pedaled significantly on the subsequent restart, drifting back to the eighth position. Litt slowed from the third position while Canadian Richie Larson and Oregon’s Kyle Alberding crashed in the fourth turn for a caution on lap 69. Idaho’s Mike Murgoitio also stopped and had to be retrieved. Spins followed on two successive restarts before track workers had an extended stop to clean fluid from turns three and four.

Willison dominated the final 30 laps of the proceedings for the $50,000 pay day with a 4.882 second advantage at the checkered flag. Santos finished second followed by tenth-starting Davey Hamilton, Jr. Canadian Robbie Price and Idaho’s Bryan Warf rounded out the top-five. Margeson surrendered a top-five finish with just two laps to go due to mechanical issues and was scored tenth. Santos earned $20,000 for second while Hamilton was a $10,000 third.

The all-time winningest USAC Silver Crown driver Kody Swanson of Kingsburg, Calif. charged from tenth on the grid to win the $10,000 to win Riskon360! Open Wheel Showdown for Midgets. Swanson drew the ten inversion with assistance from Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice after setting quick-time over the field of Midgets.

“Yeah I mean it means a lot to me. You asked in terms of my career it certainly does. For me, racing is deeper than just myself. I’m so thankful for this,” Swanson said. “This is the type of drive you drive from Southwick, Mass. for. There’s a lot of people I’m so blessed to have in my life. This is a challenging race track and that’s what makes it so fun to drive. There’s a bunch of a really good cars and drivers that made it special.”

Swanson’s teammate Todd Bertrand of Danielson, CT appeared poised to win the feature. He fended off a challenge from 2023 Little 500 winner Jake Trainor of Medway, Mass. to lead lap 12 in lapped traffic. Swanson worked his way up to second position by lap 21. Trainor drove inside of Swanson on a restart but Swanson held the position. Swanson was running second on lap 31 with an eight tenth deficit to Bertrand. He tracked down Bertrand, then knifed underneath him on the backstretch to lead lap 38.

Bertrand Motorsports wrapped up a one-two finish followed by Trainor, Kody Swanson’s younger brother Tanner, and two-time USAC National Sprint Car champion Justin Grant of Ione, Calif. rounded out the top-five finishers.

In Speed Tour Super Modified action, 2023 Oswego Classic winner Dave Danzer prevailed in a wild 30-lap feature worth $5,000 to win. The Speed Tour had a ten-car inversion which saw fast-time qualifier Danzer and weekend long contender Davey Hamilton start on the fifth-row. Hamilton advanced into the lead by lap 11. A pair of hard crashes on both ends of the track stopped the action, but the drivers involved were uninjured.

Hamilton separated himself from Danzer by a few car lengths before tangling briefly with a lapped car. The contact caused damage that stuck Hamilton’s throttle open, sending him barreling into the turn three wall and onto his side for a caution on lap 24. Danzer inherited the lead and paced the final six circuits for the coveted win followed by Canadian Jim White and Colorado’s Cris Muhler rounding out the podium.

Race fans can learn more about the Open Wheel Showdown at www.OpenWheelShowdown.com or on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour Hits Halfway as Darkness Falls on Sebring International Raceway

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Official Release
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Eighth Edition of Classic Sebring 12 Hour Tribute Event to Sebring’s Rich Motorsports and Aviation History Concludes Sunday at Sebring International Raceway

SEBRING, Florida (December 2, 2023) – The Eighth Running of the Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) Classic Sebring 12 Hour, Pistons and Props, presented by the Alan Jay Automotive Network, hit the halfway mark early Saturday evening as darkness fell on Sebring International Raceway.

Each of the four competing Run Groups have completed the first two of their four race segments that will be run over the course of Saturday and Sunday, and a mixed group of potential first time winners and previous HSR Classic 12 Hour champions has emerged as the race leaders at the halfway point.

In Group C, Pierce Marshall and Eric Foss have carried the momentum of yesterday’s B.R.M. Endurance Challenge overall race victory in the HSR Sebring Historics straight into the HSR Classic 12 in pursuit of their first “HSR Classics” overall win. With the first two segments in the books, Marshall and Foss have co-driven the Matador Motorsports 2017 No. 02 Cadillac DPi to a more than one minute overall lead in Group C. While the lead margin looks somewhat comfortable on paper, the Matador team is being kept honest by Stuart Wiltshire who crossed the line first in Group C race two in his No. 10 Acura ARX-05 DPi.

Group B is emerging as a feel-good family affair with Kyle Collins leading at halfway in the GMT Racing 1972 No. 8 Chevron B21. Collins is driving the same Chevron raced to a 2020 Classic 12 Run Group victory by his Grandfather John Delane who this year has a radio on and is coaching his young protege from the pits.

Former Sebring and Daytona HSR Classics winner Toni Seiler is halfway home to another B.R.M. Chronographes watch as the mid-race leader in Run Group A. Seiler is driving the same 1969 No. 17 Lola T165 in which he scored a close second place Classic Daytona 24 Run Group finish last month at the “World Center of Racing.”

Another entry in line for a first-time HSR Classics win is Patrick Womack who is co-driving his FedEx 2014 No. 11 Toyota Camry with NASCAR ace Joe Nemechek. Taking a page from last June’s popular Garage 56 NASCAR stock car effort at Le Mans, the Nemechek team has equipped the Camry with full headlights, taillights and brake lights in pursuit of a endurance race win in Run Group D. After the first two rounds, Womack and Nemechek led by nearly 30 seconds.

Sunday’s final day of competition at the HSR Classic 12 begins at Noon EST when all four Run Groups will compete in their final rounds in succession to determine the 2024 winners of this year’s Sebring Classic.

Detailed event information for the Classic Sebring 12 Hour and Sebring Historics is available at www.HSRRace.com.

Spectator tickets for the HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour are available exclusively at the Sebring International Raceway ticket office through the weekend. For more information visit www.HSRRace.com. Please note listed prices are for advance purchases and at-event prices may be slightly higher.

Detailed event information for the Classic Sebring 12 Hour and Sebring Historics is available at www.HSRRace.com.

Spectator tickets for the HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour are available exclusively at the Sebring International Raceway ticket office through the weekend. For more information visit www.HSRRace.com. Please note listed prices are for advance purchases and at-event prices may be slightly higher.

About HSR: An International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) property, Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) was formed in the mid-1970s with an event at Road Atlanta. There was one goal then and it remains true today: to celebrate the race cars from the past. As a “time machine” of sights and sounds, HSR provides a venue for competitors and spectators alike to share in the wonderful history and excitement created by the cars that competed at race tracks around the world. HSR currently sanctions eight vintage and historic racing events at some of the world’s most renowned race tracks, including Road Atlanta, Sebring International Raceway, Daytona International Speedway and more. The complete schedule and full event information can be found on HSR’s website at www.HSRRace.com. Look for the HSR Channel on YouTube and follow HSR on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HSRrace/ and on Twitter and Instagram at @HSR_race. A dedicated website for the Classic 24 Hour at Daytona presented by IMSA is available at www.Classic24hour.com.

Rosberg X Racing take the championship lead with a win in Round 9

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Official Release
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2 December 2023, Chile: Rosberg X Racing (RXR) took the win in Round 9, marking the team’s third victory of Season 3 and first victory in Chile at the Antofagasta Minerals Copper X Prix.

Finishing just 0.35 seconds ahead of nearest rivals ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team (ASXE), Johan Kristoffersson and Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinksy have taken the lead in the championship fight by six points with just one round to go.

Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, Rosberg X Racing, said: “I just tried to keep it tidy and keep Laia [Sanz] behind, but it was tight racing. Johan had a great start, and it was a great team effort. It’s really great to be taking home the win. We’re thrilled to be leading the championship and are looking forward to carrying this momentum into the next race.”

Johan Kristoffersson, Rosberg X Racing, said: “It was a great race between me and Mattias [Ekström]. I really enjoyed that battle. Then, watching Mikaela and Laia drive was really impressive. Tomorrow is a new day, and we’re now in the Championship lead, so it’s going to be an exciting showdown.”

X44 Vida Carbon Racing, who entered the Round 9 Grand Final having finished as top Qualifiers, complete the podium but are now out of reach of a second Extreme E title.

Fourth place in the race went to the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team, with Tanner Foust and debutant Hedda Hosås putting forward consistent performances throughout the day’s racing action.

A DNF for Veloce Racing, who only managed to crawl off the start line due to damage sustained in Qualifying, puts the British squad out of contention for the Season 3 title having entered the weekend in third.

Winners of the Redemption Race were Lia Block and Timo Scheider, as Carl Cox Motorsport ended the day on a high having narrowly missed out on the Grand Final.

Find out where to watch tomorrow’s action here as Extreme E heads into Round 8 at the Island X Prix in Sardinia.

Grand Final

Tensions were high as the teams lined up on the start line, with four of them still in contention for the Extreme E Season 3 title.

ASXE launched into the lead, while behind RXR’s Kristoffersson hung back to surge through the middle of the pack in the first corner to take second. X44’s Fraser McConnell slotted into third with NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team’s Foust behind in fourth.

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As the dust settled, Veloce Racing could be seen still on the start line, before Kevin Hansen was able to start his ODYSSEY 21, avoiding a DNS to gain 10 points for the team. The damage sustained in Qualifying not only put Veloce Racing out of the race, but also out of the running for a maiden Extreme E title.

As the front two entered the Switch Zone, RXR’s Kristoffersson was able to pull up alongside ASXE’s Mattias Ekström. This proved crucial when ASXE struggled to leave their bay in the Switch Zone and dropped into second.

Åhlin-Kottulinsky absorbed the pressure from ASXE’s Laia Sanz throughout their two-lap stint to take victory for RXR. The win, alongside their Heat win in Qualifying and leading time in the Continental Traction Challenge, sees Nico Rosberg’s outfit at the top of the standings by six points as the championship fight goes down to the wire.

Laia Sanz, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, said: “It’s a bitter sweet feeling after the Grand Final because the victory was really close and we were unlucky in the driver switch because all of a sudden there was a sand storm. That’s where I lost first place.

“The good thing is that both me and Mattias know that we had pace for more. We can be really happy that we are trailing by only six points because in the morning everything appeared to be much worse after the technical issue we encountered in the first Qualifying. We will give it our all tomorrow. We must go all in for the victory.”

X44 Vida Carbon Racing retained their position in third, ahead of NEOM McLaren XE, to make it onto the podium. The top-two finish for RXR and ASXE, however, means that the British team are out of the mix for the championship win.

Fraser McConnell, X44 Vida Carbon Racing, said: “It was a really awesome day. We won the first Heat, and came second our next Heat. Unfortuantely our GridPlay didn’t help us out and we got the last pick, but we made the best of what we had. I came out of the first corner in third, and we kept it clean in a realy tough Final with lots of fast guys and girls out there. We managed to stay in the fight for as long as we could and brought it home in P3 to repay the team with another podium.”

Redemption Race

With Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E and ABT CUPRA XE unable to start the race due to incidents in Qualifying, three cars lined up on the start line of the Redemption Race.

Carl Cox Motorsport’s Scheider used his ENOWA Hypderdrive off the line to take the lead ahead of JBXE’s Andreas Bakkerud, with No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing’s RJ Anderson in third.

Untroubled runs for both Scheider and Block saw Carl Cox Motorsport cross the line in first place, making the most of the situation having narrowly missed out on a place in the Grand Final.

A puncture for JBXE saw the team drop back into third place with a DNF, while No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing took second having both rolled and suffered at the hands of a 30-second penalty in Qualifying.

RESULTS

Grand Final

  1. Rosberg X Racing 8:26.992mins
  2. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team +0.356s
  3. X44 Vida Carbon Racing +3.748s
  4. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team +8.754s
  5. Veloce Racing DNF

Redemption Race

  1. Carl Cox Motorsport 8:36.520mins
  2. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing +15.012s
  3. JBXE DNF
  4. ABT CUPRA XE DNS
  5. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E DNS

Championship Standings

  1. Rosberg X Racing: 164 points
  2. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team: 158 points
  3. Veloce Racing: 129 points
  4. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing: 105 points
  5. X44 Vida Carbon Racing: 103 points
  6. ABT CUPRA XE: 75 points
  7. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E: 71 points
  8. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team: 57 points
  9. Carl Cox Motorsport: 48 points
  10. JBXE: 46 points

To learn more about Extreme E, visit – www.Extreme-E.com

Hoosier Tire Introduces New ST Tire Line

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Official Release
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Lakeville, Ind. – December 1, 2023. Hoosier Racing Tire, the world’s largest manufacturer of racing tires, proudly unveiled the new ST tire line at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola Florida ahead of the Snowball Derby competition.

Launching the new consolidated tire provides oval asphalt competitors with a versatile line that can be used at most tracks or series. Enabling teams to carry less inventory and eliminating the need for constant adjustments for different tracks was the core focus for Hoosier engineers.

“Technology has significantly changed for late model racing in recent years, and with that comes more pressure on the tire’s performance and durability than ever before,” stated VP of Sales Paul Menting. “What has worked in the past at different places for many years, may not be the best option anymore, especially with the type of chassis construction and aggressive set-ups used by the race teams today. I am confident that
our customers are going to be pleased with these changes that we are leading the industry with.”

  • 27/10 ST1 – left side – 2 sizes
  • 27/10 ST2 – right side – 2 sizes – CARS Tour all 4 corners.
  • 27/10 ST3 – right side – 1 size – high wear and high heat tracks.

Features include new approaches and attributes that make ST more consistent and durable, making it a better option for racers and crew chiefs. Incorporating a combination of stagger, will allow teams to use their pre-existing baseline setups at most tracks, with minimal adjustments.

Support for the new Hoosier ST line has garnered praise, with tracks, series and racers all applauding a new common ground and confidence in the seamless adaptation for on-track performance.

“The Cars Tour is excited to begin the 2024 season on the new Hoosier ST2 tire. Hoosier has been a great supporter of the Cars Tour for years,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr., co-owner of the Cars Tour. “We are confident the ST2 will be a solid product for our teams. It’s very similar to the tire we’ve ran in the past years, and I expect the drivers and setups to adapt quickly.

“There is always a lot of conversation around tires, and we know that will never change,” said Tim Bryant, owner of Five Flags Speedway. “But the most common request that we’ve had from race teams is to get on a common tire for any and all tracks. I think this was a far more difficult task than one might think, and we applaud Hoosier’s efforts to make this happen.”

“We at ASA are very proud to be a part of the new ST1, ST2, and ST3 Hoosier Tire program,” said Bob Sargent, President of ASA. “We have been working very hard on a universal tire for our Asphalt Pavement Series and we are excited to work with our tire partner to try and improve our racing and offer the racers a better choice.”

For more information on Hoosier racing tires, contact your nearest Hoosier Racing Tire Distributor. A complete list of locations can be found at www.hoosiertire.com. Follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Hoosier Racing Tire, the largest race tire manufacturer in the world, has continually promoted passion, pride, and success in the racing industry since 1957. Based in Plymouth, Ind. their state-of-the-art facility, including a fully integrated technology and R&D center, is solely dedicated to engineering, designing, supporting, and manufacturing the over 1,000 different types of racing and high-performance tires currently produced. Instilled with the heritage of champions, Hoosier utilizes a model sales and distribution network to deliver winning results globally. Hoosier Racing Tire is a 100% subsidiary of Continental AG.

Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2022, Continental generated sales of €39.4 billion and currently employs around 200,000 people in 57 countries and markets.

BLONDE BREAKS TRACK RECORD, WILLISON SNAGS POLE FOR LUCRATIVE RISKON360! OPEN WHEEL SHOWDOWN

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Official Release
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (December 1, 2023) – The high-speed thrills of the inaugural Riskon360! Open Wheel Showdown continued Friday night with Winged Sprint Car time trials, heat races, and the fast dash. Litchfield, Michigan’s Jason Blonde stormed to a new track record at 11.629 seconds / 116.089 miles per hour before Langley, British Columbia, Canada’s Aaron Willison snagged the dash win and the pole for Saturday’s $50,000 to win feature.

“Well it’s really an honor. Look at the field of cars we have here today. So many incredible cars and incredible drivers. I’m honored to be out front and lead this historic race to green,” Willison said. “Going to have to get through the first 50 laps nice and clean without beating our stuff up. I think you’re going to really start to see people get after it in the second half of the hundred laps.”

Blonde’s qualifying effort opened official competition for the three-division Open Wheel spectacular, paying a record $250,000 in prize money for Winged Sprint Cars, Midgets, and Speed Tour Super Modifieds. The fast-time itself paid $1000 courtesy of Dave Parrie.

“It feels pretty awesome (to set the track record). Hats off to the Dick Meyers 50m Ram Engineering team,” Blonde said. “Man I tell you, it’s a fast car. Proud to be in it.”

Six Winged Sprint Car heat races followed for 12-laps each, advancing the top-three of each directly into Saturday’s championship feature. Blonde paced the field from the pole in the opening race. Aaron Pierce reeled him in before spinning into a smokey slide on the exit of turn two. Blonde paced the final laps for the victory while Pierce recovered to finish fourth for a B-Main appearance on Saturday night.

Bobby Santos of Franklin, Mass. won the second heat race from the pole over London, Ontario, Canada’s Ryan Litt. Langley, British Columbia’s Jeff Montgomery rode over the front wheels of Idaho’s Mike Murgoitio at the start of the third heat race. The race was completely restarted with Montgomery outfoxing Murgoitio for the victory.

Willison and Davey Hamilton, Jr. of Tampa, Florida staged a thrilling display of battling in their heat race. Willison fended off a three-wide maneuver from Hamilton in traffic to win the race from the outside pole position.

Eric Humphries of Fresno and Tacoma, Wash.’s Evan Margeson rounded out the heat race victors. A redraw of the heat race winners set the dash lineup, with Willison drawing pole alongside Montgomery.

Willison paced all 10-laps of the non-stop dash which will place him on the pole for Saturday’s championship finale.

In other action, brothers Tanner and Kody Swanson traded spots at the top of the practice leaderboard in the Midgets while Davey Hamilton, Sr., Bryan Warf, and Dave Danzer continued to be the top drivers in the Speed Tour Super Modified practices.

All three divisions will stage main events on Saturday night along with C- and B-Mains for the Winged Sprint Cars and qualifying for the Midgets and Sprint Cars. Grandstands open at 12:30pm for on track action. Opening ceremonies are set for 3:30pm with feature racing to follow. Tickets are available at the gate as well as all-access pit passes. Speed Sport TV provides live pay-per-view streaming coverage as well.

Race fans can learn more about the Open Wheel Showdown at www.OpenWheelShowdown.com or on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

BRADEN CHIARAMONTE FINISHED HIS 2023 OUTDOOR SEASON AT MERCED AND VENTURA

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Official Release
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Braden Chiaramonte. Photo by Lance Jennings

(El Cajon, CA, November 29, 2023) Teenage racing star Braden Chiaramonte closed out the USAC Midget racing season last week with two races at the Merced Speedway and at the 82nd Running of the Turkey Night Grand Prix at the Ventura Raceway. The three races were his 41st, 42nd, and 43rd of the 2023 campaign. They were his last speed contests until the 39th Annual Tulsa Shootout that runs from December 26th through the 31st.

For the final three races of the USAC Midget season, Chiaramonte was back behind the wheel of the Graunstadt Enterprises – Streeter Racing/Gary Silva Ranches/T&T Trucking/Spike/Stanton/SR 11X #14J. He came into the Merced races after placing 22nd in the main the previous Friday at the Placerville Speedway

Merced Speedway, November 21st

The El Cajon, California-based teen headed to Doug Lockwood’s always well-prepared Merced Speedway for the two nights of racing on November 21st and 22nd. Twenty-nine other cars showed up for the third to last USAC Midget race of the 2023 campaign. When time trials concluded, Chiaramonte had turned in the 15th fastest lap at 11.809. The goal in the heat races was to finish in the top five and go directly to the A main without having to run the B. That is just what the driver known as “Spare Change” did in the third 10 lapper. He placed fifth to make his second USAC National Midget main in three starts in 2023.

Chiaramonte lined up 15th in the talent-laden 23-car main event field that included World of Outlaw and USAC Sprint, Silver Crown, and Midget heroes. After 30 intense, high-speed laps, he brought the black and gold #14J home in 18th.

Merced Speedway, November 22nd

Night two at Merced saw 31 cars go to battle on the well-manicured 1/3 mile clay oval. Qualifying again kicked off the night and Chiaramonte cut .152 off his first night time with a lap of 11.657. Thursday’s heats only put the top four drivers straight into the main. Unfortunately, the talented teen ended up sixth in the second heat and unlike 24 hours earlier, he had to take on the B main for a chance to get into the A.

Except momentarily slipping back to seventh, Chiaramonte virtually held the sixth spot the entire distance to earn his passage into the 30-lap finale.

For the 30-lap main on the second night of “Midget Madness,” Chiaramonte started 17th. Despite slipping back to 20th early on, he came back to finish in the same spot as he started. That gave him three straight A main appearances in the toughest midget series on the planet.

Ventura Raceway, November 25

Chiaramonte’s outdoor season ended in Ventura at the 82nd running of the Turkey Night Grand Prix. The prestigious race is the third oldest in the USA behind only the Indianapolis 500 and the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. An enthusiastic sellout crowd was cheering from the grandstands and the race was streamed live on Flo Racing making it available to thousands of other fans around the world.

A strong 48-car field signed into the pits for the final race of the 2023 campaign. Chiaramonte’s time of 12.831 was the 39th best on the track that is located next to the beach on the Ventura County Fairgrounds. A ninth-place result in the first qualifying race meant that the 16-year-old driver would have to head to the B main in an effort to get one of the last four positions into the 98-lap finale.

The personable teen started 14th in the B. Getting entangled in someone else’s faux pas early on meant he had to go to the back for the restart. On a small track like Ventura, that is anything but good in a short (12-lap) race. Chiaramonte did the best he could in the limited time he had but the laps ticked off too fast. He got up to 13th by the time the checkered waved. That was not enough to get to the A main and his night was over.

The schedule slows down for the next few weeks before Chiaramonte heads to Oklahoma for the 39th Tulsa Shootout from December 26th through the 31st. While the driver and his crew will be away from the track, they will stay busy as they are working on marketing partnerships for the 2024 season. If you are interested in becoming a partner with one of the most talented and personable young drivers in motorsports please feel free to e-mail or call Daniel Chiaramonte at mailto:dchiaramonte@rtltraffic.com or (619) 988 7563.

Chiaramonte would like to thank all his sponsors who have made his racing efforts possible. RTL Traffic Control, AM Ortega, Hyper Racing, Chop Design, Adams Motors, Hacienda Casa Blanca Fine Mexican Dining, Evil Plus Injection, King Racing Products, Tiner-Hirst Enterprises, and Keizer Wheels.

B.R.M. Chronographes Endurance Challenge and Sasco Sports International/American Challenge Seasons Come to a Competitive Conclusion Friday at the HSR Sebring Historics at Sebring International Raceway

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Official Release
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Eighth Edition of Classic Sebring 12 Hour Tribute Event for Sebring’s Rich Motorsports and Aviation History Saturday and Sunday at Sebring International Raceway Features New and Returning Historic Sports Cars and Classic Airplanes

SEBRING, Florida (December 1, 2023) – The season-ending Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) B.R.M. Chronographes Endurance Challenge, Sasco Sports International/American Challenge and Classic RS Cup races came to a competitive conclusion Friday at the HSR Sebring Historics at Sebring International Raceway.

The Sebring Historics wrap up HSR’s season-long racing series and championships while setting the stage for this weekend’s eighth running of HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour, Pistons and Props, presented by the Alan Jay Automotive Network.

Friday’s big winners included a trio of victorious teams across three classes in the B.R.M. Endurance Challenge race for the Prototype, GT Modern (GTM) and Historic classes.

The overall and Prototype B.R.M. Endurance Challenge win went to the Matador Motorsports 2017 No. 02 Cadillac DPi of Pierce Marshall and Eric Foss. The team shook off both Marshall’s lap one slide through Sebring’s tricky Turn 17 and a late deflating tire with Foss at the wheel to top a competitive 36-car field.

Second overall and in Prototype went to the Olthoff Racing 2007 No. 25 Oreca FLM09 driven by veteran HSR competitor Larry Huang.

The overall podium was completed by GTM-class winner Juan Lopez-Santini in his 901 Shop 2016 No. 8 Audi R8 LMS Ultra. In addition to finishing a stout third overall, Lopez-Santini continued the recent trend of swapping top-two race finishes with his teammate Jeronimo Guzman. Guzman led the one-two team finish in Thursday’s Stoner Car Care Global GT race only to see Lopez-Santini return the favor today.

Guzman’s GTM runner-up finish saw him cross the finish line fifth overall, just one spot behind the third-place Prototype finishers. Francesco Melandri and Nigel Greensall co-drove the 2017 No. 24 Fransco Racing Ligier JS/P3 to the class podium finish and a fourth place overall showing.

Melandri and Greensall once again pulled double duty in the one-hour B.R.M. race, trading off driving duties in both the Ligier and the Fransco Racing 1996 No. 96 Porsche 993 GT2 in the Historic class.

The Historic division victory went to the similar Air Power Racing 1996 No. 836 Porsche 993 RSR driven by Kenneth Greenberg. Greenberg battled with Melandri and Greensall in a 993 RSR shootout for part of the race but the Porsches ended up being spilt on the Historic podium by second-place finisher Andrew Myers in his Wolf Motorsports 2001 No. 51 Carbir CS2 Sports 2000. Melandri and Greensall, meanwhile, scored third-place showings in both Prototype and Historic in the same race.

The B.R.M. races final podium player was Bob Neapole who pulled off a last lap pass for third in GTM at the wheel of his 2016 RBN Motorsports with Cosmo-Sport No. 167 Porsche 991 GT3R prepared by Hudson Historics.

Three more race winners were crowned in the final Sasco Sports race of the season that includes classes for American, International and Porsche competitors. The Sasco Sports race was run at the same time as the season-ending Classic RS Cup race that saw frequent HSR winner Todd Treffert rebound from a disappointing day on track Thursday to take the RS Cup win in his Speedconcepts 1974 No. 141 Porsche 911 IROC prepared by the 901 Shop.

The overall winner in the Sasco Sports/Classic RS Cup race was Colin Watson who went two-for-two in HSR feature race victories in his quick Boss Racing 2000 No. 91 Caterham C400. Watson and co-driver Jeremy Adams were also victorious in Thursday’s B.R.M. Endurance Challenge Vintage and GT Classic (GTC) race. Friday’s Sasco Sports victory saw Watson top a 37-car field and take International class honors as well.

The Sasco Sports American division victory went to none other than NASCAR legend and Motorsports Hall of Fame of America inductee Bill Elliott in the Vintage Race Car Restorations 1970 No. 9 Ford Mustang Boss 302.

The Sasco Sports Porsche class victory was secured by Colin Dougherty in his 1988 No. 77 Porsche 944 Turbo Cup series car prepared by DAS Sport.

Saturday’s on-track HSR schedule at Sebring features the start of the eighth annual Classic Sebring 12 Hour at 12 p.m. EST. The opening rounds for all four competing Run Groups will take place in succession in a non-stop rotation until the day’s final checkered flag at 9 p.m. EST.

Detailed event information for the Classic Sebring 12 Hour and Sebring Historics is available at www.HSRRace.com.

Spectator tickets for the HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour are available exclusively at the Sebring International Raceway ticket office through the weekend. For more information visit www.HSRRace.com. Please note listed prices are for advance purchases and at-event prices may be slightly higher.

About HSR: An International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) property, Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) was formed in the mid-1970s with an event at Road Atlanta. There was one goal then and it remains true today: to celebrate the race cars from the past. As a “time machine” of sights and sounds, HSR provides a venue for competitors and spectators alike to share in the wonderful history and excitement created by the cars that competed at race tracks around the world. HSR currently sanctions eight vintage and historic racing events at some of the world’s most renowned race tracks, including Road Atlanta, Sebring International Raceway, Daytona International Speedway and more. The complete schedule and full event information can be found on HSR’s website at www.HSRRace.com. Look for the HSR Channel on YouTube and follow HSR on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HSRrace/ and on Twitter and Instagram at @HSR_race. A dedicated website for the Classic 24 Hour at Daytona presented by IMSA is available at www.Classic24hour.com.

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