NEWS: Sébastien Loeb To Race McLaren 12C GT3 in 2013 FIA GT Series

So, this is what the incredible nine-time World Rally Champion, Sébastien Loeb is up to instead of demolishing WRC rivals this season. Yup, as rumoured, the most successful rally driver of all time is now turning his hand to contesting the FIA GT Series this season – having come third in the French GT Championships in 2012. He will be driving one of two examples of the monstrously beautiful MP4 12C GT3 being run by his team, Sébastien Loeb Racing. Loeb will be joined in the cockpit by McLaren GT factory driver Alvaro Parente from Portugal for the six-date season. Find out more about the new series – which features six events, each with two races of one hour – here.

Is the world of GT racing ready? We very much doubt it... good luck Seb! 

VIDEO: Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

See just why we at Road Magazine are so excited to hear our friends and the infamous Manthey Racing GT3 RSR will be racing across Europe at eight perfect circuits in the GT Open this year (see post below). This external and in-car footage from the 2008 ADAC Nurburgring 24-Hour shows just what an absolute circuit devouring weapon it is... just listen to that engine and transmission working in perfect harmony: 911 Heaven! No wonder they have won this most gruelling of endurance races five times... and we'll have big money on them winning in the rest of Europe too. Anyone care to disagree?

NEWS: Manthey 911 GT3 RSR Aiming To Dominate GT Open

The all-conquering Nürburgring 24-Hour-and-VLN-winning Manthey Racing GT3 RSR is heading off into Europe – aiming to dominate the International GT Open series. Porsche works driver, Marco Holzer and 2011 German Carrera Cup champion, Nick Tandy will pilot the Nürburgring legend in eight races, on eight classic circuits across mainland Europe. The famous yellow and green 911 was collected from Weissach last week and left the workshop (pictured) for the first time today, on it's way to Barcelona for the first track test. The Manthey monster will race at:
Portugal at Portimao 28.04.2012
Germany at Nurburgring 26.05.2012
Belgium at Spa-Francorchamps 23.06.2012
England at Brands Hatch 14.07.2012
France at Paul Ricard 21.07.2012
Hungary at Hungaroring 08.09.2012
Italy at Monza 28.09.2012
Spain at Barcelona 03.11.2012

Watch out GT Open drivers and teams...! And the very best of luck to Olaf and all at Manthey Racing, for their venture into European GT racing. We are sure you will dominate... as you have on the Green Hell. Thanks to our pal Jochen for the images. Find him at:
Website: http://www.frozenspeed.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/frozenspeed

NEWS: 2012 ALMS Falken Porsche RSR Breaks Cover

Falken Tyres have just unveiled their all-new for 2012 America Le Mans Porsche 997 RSR in its striking blue and green fresh livery – just ahead of its second Sebring test on the 28th and 29th February. Bryan Sellers will share the new for 2012 car with Wolf Henzler in the ALMS season opener at the Florida venue on March 17th. The 2012 event marks both the 60th running of the 12-Hour race at Sebring as well as opening the new FIA World Endurance Championship. Porsche’s 2012 911 GT3 RSR has both a wider front and rear track width along improved suspension geometry and aerodynamics and Falken’s is one of only four new race-designated Porsches in the U.S. "Clearly, expectations run high throughout the team, based on our strong showing last year and fourth place finish in the GT points standings," says Nick Fousekis, Falken’s Director of Motorsports and Consumer Events. "Team Falken was successful in 2011 as a result of brilliant race strategy by Derrick and the tremendous driving efforts of Wolf and Brian, and we fully intend to leverage that teamwork with this new race car as we commence our third full season of race competition." Looks good and you will be able to see and hear it go in testing and races here on the Road Magazine blog.