Ice Challenge 2024-2025: again impressive results!
2025: also this year interesting running excellent results in the International Championship Ice Challenge, where we are racing with the impressive Gianninin 350 SP, 4 WD, 3.5 liters race engine and hybrid electric energy harvester powered motor
Sergio Durante won the Pragelato race and got excellent results in Livigno. Next race in Vallee d’Aoste close to Mont Blanche
Sergio Durante in action: photo by Alberto Caldani
This year marked a thrilling shift in our racing experience as we navigated the vibrant streets of Dubai and the all the 7 Emirates for the iconic Mille Miglia event. Departing from tradition, we opted for a powerhouse of performance, the awe-inspiring Porsche Turbo S, meticulously prepared by the skilled hands of D4S Motorsport and driven by Sergio Durante and Veronika Statauskiene.
Dubai Skyline
Dubai, with its dazzling skyline and cutting-edge architecture, provided a stunning backdrop for this exclusive race. The city’s blend of modernity and luxury set the stage for a unique twist on the classic Mille Miglia format.
The Porsche Turbo S, a true beast of power and handling, effortlessly conquered the urban landscape. Its 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged engine unleashed an impressive 770 horsepower, propelling us through the streets with unrivaled speed. The streets of Dubai, known for their opulence and grandeur, became the racetrack for this extraordinary event.
As we maneuvered through the city’s twists and turns, the Turbo S showcased its prowess, seamlessly blending raw power with precision handling. The aerodynamic design and advanced engineering of the car ensured a thrilling performance at every corner.
In the midst of the race, the city’s unique charm added an extra layer of excitement. The juxtaposition of traditional souks and futuristic skyscrapers created a dynamic course, demanding both speed and finesse.
The exclusivity of the Mille Miglia of Dubai mirrored the sophistication of the landscape itself. With a carefully curated lineup of participants and the roaring Turbo S leading the pack, the event exemplified the epitome of automotive excellence.
In conclusion, the Mille Miglia of Dubai, set against the stunning backdrop of this cosmopolitan oasis and the desertic and mountain landscapes, proved to be an exhilarating fusion of tradition and modernity. The D4S Motorsport Porsche Turbo S, driven by Sergio Durante and co-driven by Veronika Statauskiene, showed to be a true marvel of engineering, left an indelible mark on the streets of Dubai, making this exclusive race an unforgettable experience for participants and spectators alike.
Race Car and Co-Driver
A Symphony of Elegance: Unveiling the Masterpieces of the Mille Miglia Middle East
The Most Beautiful Race in the Middle East set to grace the roads of the UAE once again in December 2023, promising a spectacle of automotive magnificence like never before. The air will resonate with the purr of engines and the timeless beauty of classic cars as they embark on an exhilarating journey through an exciting new route.
At the start in the Meydan
This year, the event has expanded its horizons, welcoming an impressive lineup of 120 cars that embody the essence of automotive artistry. Each vehicle, a masterpiece on wheels, tells a story of passion, craftsmanship, and the timeless allure of classic motoring. From sleek curves to roaring engines, the Mille Miglia Middle East brings together a collection of automotive gems that span the ages.
In response to the overwhelming demand from collectors and enthusiasts, the event organizers have curated an exceptional fleet, offering participants the chance to revel in the unparalleled experience of a regularity rally that transcends the ordinary. The diverse array of cars, ranging from iconic vintage models to contemporary classics, showcases the rich tapestry of automotive history.
As a special treat for the adventurous drivers, this year’s route extends to the Sultanate of Oman, embracing the breathtaking driving roads of the Musandam Peninsula. With its sinuous ribbons of tarmac cutting through majestic mountains, the journey promises an adrenaline-fueled experience like no other. The Mille Miglia Middle East continues to be a celebration of not only the beauty of the cars but also the spirit of exploration and camaraderie among enthusiasts.
Get ready to witness a symphony of elegance as the Mille Miglia Middle East unfolds, bringing together the most remarkable classics against the picturesque backdrop of the UAE and the rugged landscapes of Oman. This is more than a race; it’s a timeless ode to the allure of automotive excellence.
Ice Challenge 2023: D4S impressive results both in technology and sport!
2023: after years that we decided to support the fast growing International Championship Ice Challenge, we got excellent results, both from technology and sport point of view
Sergio Durante win for the third time and for the second consecutive year with a hybrid rally racing car.
The 2023 Ice Challenge season – International Ice Speed Championship is coming to an end. A really difficult season from the weather point of view, with alternating very cold and very hot temperatures with humidity, the maximum stress for the innovative technologies brought into the field by Durante Space Tech.
With three rounds held, the season is therefore preparing to formalize in its Hall of Fame the verdicts of an exciting and captivating challenge with equally spectacular challenges. Ivan Carmellino boasts of a new overall victory like Sergio Durante, Jean Claude Vallino and Simone Firenze respectively in the hybrid, SSV and 2WD car category.
“Thanks to the teams, the riders, the track managers – concluded BMG Motor Events and D4S Motorsport – to our staff, collaborators, sponsors and partners, to the accommodation facilities that have or should have hosted us. It’s hard to finish like this, but let’s go ahead and think about 2024 from today”.
5 races in Italy and France, new program to annex Austria and Finland in the next year, beautiful cars, famous drivers, television and internet covering.
These are just some of the motivation to push us to be involved in first person. Apart passion, of course…
Sergio Durante in action: photo by Alberto Caldani
We like to change every now and then. This year, as usual, we took part in the famous HillClimb Race Cesana Sestriere, but instead of using a real racing car, we opted for a pure sports car, the fantastic Porsche Gt3.
The Porsche 911 GT3 is a high-performance homologation model of the Porsche 911 sports car. It is a line of high-performance models, which began with the 1973 911 Carrera RS. The GT3 has had a successful racing career in the one-make national and regional Porsche Carrera Cup and GT3 Cup Challenge series, as well as the international Porsche Supercup supporting the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. The car used in the climb has a 4.0 liter engine, 510 hp at 9000 rpm, an incredible sound and a racing car setup.
Driving impression
The first thing that you appreciate in the GT3 is the perfect seat position and alignment with the driving wheel. The driver position is comfortable and permit to concentrate on the driving.
Being a ‘almost’ racing test, first thing to appreciate is the launch control, that permit to leave the start line in a very effective way despite the still cold tyres. The rear tyres are kept by the electronic at the adherence limit to the ground and some skids happens but easy to control. At the first U-turn you understand that the brakes must be pressed with a lot of energy, but they are very effective, and the ABS intervention is very rare on the clean asphalt. The suspensions are very effective and the car does not show any disturbing roll and pitch.
The steering is direct and precise, very effective both on the slow and fast turn. Personally I would have keep a bit more distance, ergonomically speaking, between the gear pads and the other commands (turn lights and wipers). In fact, if you have big hands or wearing gloves the space is not enough.
The suspensions are excellent, in particular on this type of roads, used everyday by the normal traffic, so a bit bumpy and irregular.
The engine is powerful and very effective, specifically at high revs, over 5000 rpm. Personally I prefer to change manually the gears with the paddles shift, and i prefer to do it earlier than the 9000 rpm limit, to preserve a bit the stress on the mechanic. But this is the typical engineers paranoia :-). Sound is beautiful, metallic, very aggressive. And you can reach high speed very quickly.
Despite the test was carried out at high altitude, between 1000 and 2050 m over the sea level, the engine, atmospheric, was still pushing quite good. Of course the turbo version like the Porsche GT2 or Turbo are practically not affected by the altitude.
In conclusion a fantastic car, fast, very fast and pleasant to drive. Very similar to a race car, and very effective. In a timed test I think that can leave behind a lot of race cars.
Ice Challenge 2019: D4S main sponsor of the International Championship
2019: we decided to support the fast growing International Championship Ice Challenge.
5 races in Italy and France, new program to annex Austria and Finland in the next year, beautiful cars, famous drivers, television and internet covering.
These are just some of the motivation to push us to be involved in first person. Apart passion, of course…
First race in Livigno:
Starting with the right foot the White Series valid for the Italian championship. Show and competitiion on the track are not disturbed, rather they are exalted, from the snow that begins to fall in the night before the race, continuing to fall throughout the day. A success in the Time Attack race for the young driver Alessio Bormolini, thanks to the best time in two of the three heats on Ivan Carmellino, with his young brother Michele, with whom he shared the Škoda Fabia R5, to complete the podium. To Christian Tiramani the ranking of the Kart Cross. The spectacular Master King is conquered by Sergio Durante. Next meeting January 26-27 in Pragelato.
Sergio Durante in action: photo by Alberto Caldani
Ice Racing 2020: D4S main sponsor of the International Championship in France
2020: Dr. Eng. Sergio Durante and the D4S Motorsport main protagonist in the Ice racing events in France.
This year the development of the new racecar for ice racing, designed by dr. Eng. Sergio Durante is the center of the tactic of the company D4S Motorsport. This activity is carried out through extensive testing in the races with the prototype.
This year we had the best result at the international Championship Ice Challenge 2018, bringing two cars at the highest place in the podium.
The Citroen DS3 Proto by D4S gained the overall championship, driven by our driver/engineer Sergio Durante.
The D4S HybridSport gained the championship dedicated to the alternative/innovative energy cars, the series 10.
So, following the company philosophy we decided to push ahead with the development of the Hybrid Technology for extreme race applications.
The Porsche Proto represent a good base for development of high efficient and powerful hybrid solution. The idea is to use a small and light pack of battery to boost the power of the car in specific point of the race. The energy is recovered during the braking and released in the acceleration where the extra torque is necessary. A specific electronic manage the boost, avoiding useless skidding but pushing hard on the straight lines to gain maximum speed.
Moreover innovative materials, like Gamma Titanium, are used in the hot part of the engine, like exhaust and turbo components. This permit t reduce the weight and inertia of some components, with improvement in the efficiency and performances of the car.
Sergio Durante with Cristian Cedrino (left) and Luca Oggero (right) the two chief race mechanics of D4S team
This year we had the best result at the international Championship Ice Challenge 2018, bringing two cars at the highest place in the podium.
The Citroen DS3 Proto by D4S gained the overall championship, driven by our driver/engineer Sergio Durante.
The D4S HybridSport gained the championship dedicated to the alternative/innovative energy cars, the series 10.
Sergio Durante, at the end of the race said:
´A huge thanks is for our great Cristiano Cedrino and Luca Oggero, super race technicians, …. and to the fantastic work of all the engineers and technicians of D4S Motorsport that prepared two crazy cars, the winning ‘rocket´ DS3 and the unbelievable powerful HybridSport with Efesto and 3Y Technology.
A big thanks is for all the people of the organisation BMG: they organised a great international Championship with more than 50 drivers, where they perfectly merged professionalism and friendly environment…. which is very, very rare today… ´
D4S Group and Velox SGM karting are starting a collaboration to improve the performances of the next generation karts in the view of the World Championship 2018.
Sergio Durante will take one of the driving wheel in the important competition. He will be in charge of the tests of the new material and he will be joined by another professional driver.
D4S Motorsport will make available all of their F1 and Le Mans Series technologies for this project.
