Weekend Motorsports Preview: A Weekend of Firsts

We might be seeing the a big shift in motorsports this weekend. Historically, auto racing has had major hubs in Europe and North America. Outside of Japan, Asia has had relatively few motor races, despite its huge population. This weekend the first ever race in the Asian Le Mans Series will be held in Korea. In addition to that, the DTM will hold its inaugural race at Moscow Raceway. In less important races this weekend, the IndyCar Series has its race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Sunday, August 4.

Asian Le Mans Series

The ACO, the organizing body of prototype racing, has wanted to regionalize prototype racing for the last several years. Its plan is that there would be the American Le Mans Series in North America, the European Le Mans Series in Europe and the Asian Le Mans Series in Asia. The class winners in each of these series would be automatic invitees to attempt to qualify for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. And there would be the World Endurance Championship that would travel around the world with the best teams in the world. 

Unfortunately, this is not exactly how things have worked. The American Le Mans Series is in its final years and how next year's United States Sports Car series will work is still somewhat of a mystery. The European Le Mans Series have just five races, plus the 24 Hours of Le Mans, on its calendar. And the Asian Le Mans Series has struggled to get started. 

The Asian Le Mans Series will finally get its start this weekend at the Autopia circuit in South Korea. It will be a three-hour race around the 4.207km, 20-corner track. The race will be held from 3:30pm to 6:30pm local time on August 4. 

The entry list for the race is quite small. There are 11 cars entered - two Morgans in the LMP2 category, a Ferrari 458 GTEFerrari 458 Italia GTCItaly, 2011 > present5 photos
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in the GTE class and eight cars in the GTC class. 

While it is certainly small, hopefully the series will find its footing and grow large enough to send major competitors to Le Mans. 

DTM

The DTM has its own first this weekend by holding its first competitive race ever in Russia. It will begin at 3:30pm local on August 4 for 74 laps around the 2.555km, nine-corner circuit. 

The only other major races held at the Moscow Raceway so far have been a round of the World Superbike Championship and a World Touring Car Championship round. This DTM race will likely be the biggest race ever held there in terms of visitors. 

Mike Rockenfeller currently leads the series' championship with 69 points; Bruno Spengler is in second with 67 points, and Christian Vietoris is in third place with 55 points. 

BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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leads the constructors' championship with 192 points; Mercedes-BenzMercedes-BenzGermany, 1924 > present197 models
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has 177 points, and AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
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has 111 points. 

NASCAR

NASCAR heads to Pocono Raceway for the second time this season. This time it will hold a 160-lap, 400-mile race around the 2.5-mile, triangular track. The race will be held at 1pm local time on August 4. 

Jimmie Johnson retains his lead in the championship with 75 points ahead of Clint Bowyer. 

WRC

The Rally Finland began on August 2 and runs to the fourth. 

After the first full day of competition, Thierry Neuville leads by 5.2 seconds over Sebastien Ogier, and Mads Östberg is in third, 3.7 seconds behind Ogier.