Weekend Motorsports Review: Great Races in England and China

Last weekend had some fabulous racing action especially at the Chinese Grand Prix and Six Hours of Silverstone. 

FIA World Endurance Challenge

ToyotaToyotaJapan, 1937 > present155 models
4570 photos
10 videos
might have qualified first and second for the Six Hours of Silverstone, but it was unable to convert it into a win. AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
8213 photos
27 videos
finished first and second, and Allan McNish had the drive of a lifetime in the final half hour of the race. With 33 minutes left in the race, both McNIsh and Benoit Treluyer had completed their final pit stops. McNish was 30 seconds down on his teammate, but over the course of the next half hour McNish slowly reeled in Treluyer until he passed him with less than five minutes of the race. McNish finished two seconds ahead at the end of the race. 

Aston MartinAston MartinUnited Kingdom, 1914 > present62 models
1872 photos
24 videos
were the stars of the GT class. Its cars won both the GTE-Pro and GTE-Am classes. The new Porsche 911 RSRPorsche 911 RSRGermany, 2013 > present6 photos
finished fourth in the GTE-Pro class. 

The next WEC race will be the Six Hours of Spa on May 4. 

Formula 1

The Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai was the most exciting race of this Formula 1 season so far. Fernando Alonso started third and was mostly anonymous during the race. Because of good pit stop strategy and great driving, he circulated to the top of the pack to take the win. More credit should be placed on the second and third place drivers - Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton.

Raikkonen made contact with Sergio Perez around the middle of the race, but because of the constant pressure, he was never able to replace his car's nose. He raced the entire second half of the race with the front of the car visibly flapping in the wind. 

Lewis Hamilton withstood intense pressure from Sebastian Vettel in the final two laps of the race. On the final lap on nearly the last corner, Vettel was about to pass Hamilton, but his tires were too worn and the car understeered. It was just enough to push Vettel back and let Hamilton take the third rung of the podium.

The next race is Bahrain Grand Prix on April 21. 

WRC Rally Portugal

Sebastian Ogier scored his third consecutive race win and Power Stage win in the Rally Portugal. It gives him 102 points in the championship, which is a comfortable lead over the second place Mikko Hirvonen with 48 points.

Hirvonen came is second place in his second consecutive rally. 

VolkswagenVolkswagenGermany, 1938 > present98 models
9654 photos
31 videos
leads the manufacturers' standings with 121 points and lead the CitroënCitroënFrance, 1919 > present94 models
5346 photos
11 videos
Total Abu Dhabi team with 107 points. 

The next rally is the Rally Argentina from May 1-4.