Audi Motorsport Blog

Audi ends BMW string of victories in the DTM

2013-05-19T10:08:00.000-07:00

Audi Press Release

Commanding triumph by Mike Rockenfeller at Brands Hatch
Audi driver new overall leader after two races
Mattias Ekström and Timo Scheider in the points too

Ingolstadt/Brands Hatch, May 19, 2013 – Two races, two pole positions – and now the first victory of the season plus the lead of the standings: The Audi RS 5 DTM was unbeatable at the second race of the 2013 DTM at Brands Hatch (Great Britain). Audi thus put an end to a four-race string of victories by BMW.

From the pole position, Mike Rockenfeller in the Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Phoenix celebrated a commanding victory in perfect external conditions. For 98 laps, the 2010 Le Mans winner controlled the pace and in the end crossed the finish line with a 7.641-second advantage as the clear winner. On clinching his second success at a DTM race after Zandvoort in 2011 ‘Rocky,’ with a one-point lead over title defender Bruno Spengler, took the top spot in the overall standings as well.

“That was a race of the kind you wish for as a race driver,” said Mike Rockenfeller after his triumph. “I won the start and was subsequently able to determine the pace. The option tires degraded a bit faster than at Hockenheim, which came as a surprise. But the others had the same problem and we responded correctly. My car functioned superbly and Team Phoenix performed two brilliant stops. Thank you for that! After Hockenheim, we put our heads together in the team – the result was seen today.”

“Not only the victory is a great confirmation of the hard work over the winter, but so is the commanding way in which Mike (Rockenfeller) achieved this success,” commented Dieter Gass, who has been Head of DTM at Audi Sport since April. “He was able to control the race for 98 laps and didn’t make any mistakes. His team did all the right things strategically and delivered two perfect pit stops. Well done! We already saw at Hockenheim that the performance of the Audi RS 5 DTM is right. It’s nice that we were able to convert that into a win today and managed to end the BMW string of victories.”

The spectators at Brands Hatch experienced a similarly thrilling DTM race as the crowd at the Hockenheim season opener. DRS and option tires again made for fierce duels and spectacular overtaking maneuvers. With Mattias Ekström (Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM) and Timo Scheider (AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM) in seventh and ninth place, two other Audi drivers (both Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline) scored points.

Following a less than optimal qualifying session, Ekström started on standard tires and in the race switched to the softer option tires right on lap four. With the help of this strategy, the Swede battled to make up ground from position twelve on the grid to seventh place.

Miguel Molina missed a point-finish by only 0.563 seconds. The Spaniard lost tenth place to Pascal Wehrlein just shortly before the end. Jamie Green finished his home round in 15th place. Filipe Albuquerque, after two time penalties, had to settle for position 17 as the best driver of Audi Sport Team Rosberg. Adrien Tambay finished the race, following a drive-through penalty due to a collision with Andy Priaulx, in 18th place. Edoardo Mortara was running in seventh place almost up until the end of the race before the Italian received a drive-through penalty as well and was forced to retire nine laps before the race ended.

The third race of the 2013 DTM will be held only two weeks from now at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg (Austria). There, Edoardo Mortara (Audi Sport Team Rosberg) won last year.

Photo credit: Audi Sport Communication / Media

Czech weekend of mixed fortunes for Audi Sport Italia

2013-05-19T09:53:00.002-07:00

Audi Sport Italia Press Release

Czech weekend of mixed fortunes for Audi Sport Italia: Gianni Morbidelli is Race 2 runner-up after DNF in Race 1; Ferdinando Geri posts his best Superstars finish as yet, also claiming Star Driver top spot in Race 1

BRNO RACE REPORT

Four races into the 2013 Superstars season and former champ Thomas Biagi and fellow AMG Mercedes drivers are definitely the men to beat claiming three successive wins. As yet only Brno Race 2 (courtesy of BMW's Giovanni Berton) escaped the C63s' stranglehold. Audi Sport Italia' s Gianni Morbidelli came home second in this round, a silver linining to an eventful weekend for the Audi tent. In theory, the Czech venue looked a good place to make up ground on the AMG Mercedeses that had sweeped Monza, but unfortunately this comeback strategy was quicklyundone as Morbidelli retired from P3 in Race 1 with 1-minute to go. Ferdinando Geri posted his best Superstars weekend as yet, also claiming Star Driver top spot in morning race, but he retired from Race 2 after an early-race tussle shattered a rear suspension.

Lingering understeer woes had the Audi Sport Italia camp forced to a lot of head-scratching on Saturday, and Sunday was not able to prove the treatment 100% effective. Therefore Race 1 proved a piece of cake for polesitter Thomas Biagi, who had taken his maiden 2013 pole position in spite of being levied 50 kilos for the successful Monza day--a fate shared by his team mate and pre-Brno points leader Liuzzi--. Nearly half of race 1 was consumed by a safety car period triggered by a first-corner melee that cleared most of the backmarkers from contention. When the green flag was waved the AMG Mercedes-trio of Biagi, Liuzzi and Gigi Ferrara staged a fast getaway from Berton's M3 but thenMorbidelli found a way by the BMW on lap 6 to claim P4. The 5-car leading pack ran on an almost even pace, however the Pesaro-born driver was toiling with the same massive understeer that had blighted his Saturday, which allowed Berton to make inroads into his 4th spot on lap 9. Morbidelli successfully fended off the challenge and even inherited P3 from fellow former F.1 driver Liuzzi, who was experiencing electrical troubles and relinquished three spots. Morbidelli did not have time to laid down further plans, as with 1 minute (and 1 lap) to go on the clock Morbidelli pulled over on a run off area, felled by a broken input shaft.

Race 2 saw Berton leapfrog nearly the whole field, then picking the lead on lap 2 to secure his maiden victory. Emilio Radaelli's squad--a dark horse pick for race 2 with Geri on Row 5 and Morbidelli on Row 6--had still some mark to make, though. Morbidelli sealed his best start in months climbing to P5 by the end of the openening lap. He then fought tooth-and-nail throughout the early stages to keep up with Gigi Ferrara's AMG Mercedes. A mid-race full caution bunched up the field, and Lap 7 proved full of excitment as the C63 dropped down the order with electronic woes and both Tonio Liuzzi and Francesco Sini's Chevrolet went off while dicing for the runner-up spot. Morbidelli may have tried to make a run on the leading BMW, but it soon turned out that he'd better squeeze his RS 5 Camozzi to fend off veteran Biagi blazing comeback. The latter moved on the inside of the Audi with three laps to go, but at the end of the day Biagi seemed to enjoy more the safe box score--especially with fellow AMG Mercedes drivers Liuzzi and Ferrara sidelined-- than the risky excitment of overtaking a former F.1 driver, who wound up second 2.3s adrift of the winning M3.

Audi Sport Italia's man of the morning Geri, in Race 1 had emerged unscathed from the opening lap trouble, then safely drove home for the first time throughout his Audi spell. The #46 Audi outings at Monza yielded only DNFs in his box score. The understeer-happy Czech layout may not have won over the Rome-based driver as his favorite circuit, but he managed to sneak into the Top 10 in Race 1, clinching the silverware aimed at the best Star Driver, i.e. the top gentleman in the Superstars entry field. Geri, who didn't get the running he hoped for on Saturday due to a misfire problem in free practice, could not enjoy as much the afternoon round: he was punted off in a beach trap by a rival Jaguar, which put an end in advance to his Sunday.

INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTARS SERIES 2013

Round 3 - Brno (CZ) :

1. Thomas Biagi (AMG Mercedes) 12 giri in 28'49"817, media 134.9 kph
2. Gigi Ferrara (AMG Mercedes) + 2.652s;

3. Giovanni Berton (BMW) + 4.336s;

4. Vitantonio Liuzzi (AMG Mercedes) +5.518s;
5. Fabrizio Giovanardi (Porsche) +7.945;

../..

10 FERDINANDO GERI (AUDI RS 5) +36.351s.

11GIANNI MORBIDELLI (AUDI RS 5) - 3 laps

INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTARS SERIES 2013

Round 4- Brno (CZ) :

1. Giovanni Berton (BMW) 12 giri in 27'55"360, media 149.1 kph
2. GIANNI MORBIDELLI (AUDI RS 5) +2.323s;

3. Thomas Biagi (AMG Mercedes) +3.089s;
4. Andrea Bacci (BMW) +16.864;

5. Edoardo Piscopo (BMW) +17.202s;

../..

NC FERDINANDO GERI (AUDI RS 5) - 10 laps

INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTARS SERIES 2013

Drivers points standings after 4 rounds:

1. Biagi 73 points;
2. Liuzzi 52 pts;

3. Berton 45 pts;
4. Ferrara 44 pts.;

5. MORBIDELLI 39.

Photo credit: Audi Sport Italia

Follow the Nürburgring 24 Hours LIVE

2013-05-19T07:00:00.002-07:00

By Johan Laubscher

The Nürburgring 24 Hours is taking place this weekend. Audi and Phoenix Racing are the reining champions with the Audi R8 LMS ultra. A total of eight Audi R8 LMS ultra cars are entered in this event, including a number of privately built Audi race cars. A total of seventeen cars wearing the four rings will be racing this weekend.

It should be another great race and we have included a list of links below with which you will be able to follow the race live.

Live Video Stream
Official Nürburgring 24 Hours Live Stream
Audi Live Racing Video Stream

Live Audio
Radio Le Mans Link

Live Timing
Live Timing Link

Live Timing Video Link

Link Lists
Radio Le Mans List of Links
20832.com List of Links

Entry List
Official Entry List

Spotters Guide
Sportscar-Info.de Spotters Guide

Websites

Official Nürburgring 24 Hours website
20832.com

Schedule
Time Schedule for the weekend

Facebook

Official Audi Sport on Facebook
Nürburgring 24 Hours on Facebook
Nürburgring on Facebook
20832.com on Facebook
Audi Motorsport Blog on Facebook

Twitter

Official Audi Sport on twitter
Audi Motorsport Blog on twitter

Audi Teams

Official Audi Sport on Facebook
Phoenix Racing on Facebook
G-Drive Racing on Facebook
Prosperia C Abt Racing on Facebook
Mamerow Racing on Facebook
Twin Busch Motorsport on Facebook
WRT on Facebook
Audi race experience / TKL Motorsport on Facebook
pro Handicap e.V. on Facebook
DUPRÉ Motorsport on Facebook
Brandl Motorsport on Facebook

Photo credit: Audi Sport Media

Audi customers at Nürburgring on grid positions one and three

2013-05-19T02:57:00.000-07:00

Audi Press Release

Frank Stippler posts best time in Audi R8 LMS ultra of Phoenix Racing
Christian Mamerow for Prosperia C. Abt Team Mamerow on second row
Three Audi R8 LMS ultra cars in top five

Ingolstadt/Nürburg, May 18, 2013 – The quickest Audi customers have completed their preparations for the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring with a very good qualifying result on the first three rows of the grid. The team of Ernst Moser is particularly happy: In the Eifel, the squad with the Audi R8 LMS ultra of Frank Stippler is at the very front, whereas Mike Rockenfeller in the Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM starts from the top spot of the grid at Brands Hatch in the DTM.

Frank Stippler starts the Nürburgring 24 Hours in 2013 where he finished the past race: in first place. In the final qualifying session, last year’s winner achieved the best time in the single timed laps of the top 40 teams. The local hero from Bad Münstereifel in the Audi R8 LMS ultra #4 of Phoenix Racing posted a time of 8m 17.212s.

The second-best Audi customer team in the Eifel was Prosperia C. Abt Team Mamerow. Christian Mamerow completed the lap around the circuit as the third-fastest driver in 8m 19.073s. On his second outing, the race driver from Waltrop was no longer able to improve his time when he was slowed by a car in front.

Team G-Drive Racing by Phoenix provided the third-best Audi in the field. Le Mans winner Marcel Fässler completed the lap around the Nordschleife including the Grand Prix circuit in 8m 20.320s. Another R8 team – the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT – qualified for one of the top ten grid positions. The Swede Edward Sandström drove the tenth-best time of 8m 22.055s. The other Audi customer teams achieved positions 18 (G-Drive Racing by Phoenix #3), 24 (Audi race experience #14), 27 (Audi R8 LMS ultra #16) and 29 (Audi race experience #15). The race will start on Sunday at 17:00.

Selected quotes

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “It’s nice to see that Audi’s customer sport concept that has been put into practice this year is working out well at the Nürburgring. With the support from Audi Sport customer racing, the teams have prepared in a way that put four Audi R8 LMS ultra cars on the first five rows of the grid. My congratulations go to Frank Stippler and his team Phoenix who achieved the best time.”

Romolo Liebchen (Head of Audi Sport customer racing): “Our customers were running superbly. They continued what we started with a factory-backed commitment. That makes us proud because it shows that our product is competitive in the customer’s hands as well. Qualifying, however, was just an initial, small step into the race and therefore shouldn’t be overestimated.”

Frank Stippler (Audi R8 LMS ultra #4/Phoenix Racing): “Catching a clear lap on the Nordschleife is really something special. With my 38 years, I’ve never experienced this on this track before – neither in racing nor in tourist driving. It was a great qualifying session and I’m pleased to accept this position but it’s nearly meaningless for a 24-hour race.”

Qualifying results

1 Frank Stippler (Audi R8 LMS ultra #4) 8m 17.212s
2 Pedro Lamy (Aston Martin #7) 8m 18.362s
3 Christian Mamerow (Audi R8 LMS ultra #2) 8m 19.073s
4 Richard Lietz (Porsche #50) 8m 19.838s
5 Marcel Fässler (Audi R8 LMS ultra #1) 8m 20.025s
6 Sean Edwards (Mercedes #9) 8m 20.320s
7 Maxime Martin (BMW #25) 8m 21.007s
8 Jens Klingmann (BMW #20) 8m 21.036s
9 Andreas Simonsen (Mercedes #10) 8m 21.373s
10 Edward Sandström (Audi R8 LMS ultra #29) 8m 22.055s
18 Frank Biela (Audi R8 LMS ultra #3) 8m 23.975s
24 Marco Werner (Audi R8 LMS ultra #14) 8m 27.257s
27 Dennis Busch (Audi R8 LMS ultra #16) 8m 31.788s
29 Alexander Yoong (Audi R8 LMS ultra #15) 8m 35.327s

Photo credit: Audi Sport Communication / Media

Mike Rockenfeller inherits pole position

2013-05-19T02:44:00.000-07:00

Audi Press Releases

Updated Audi Press Release:

Mike Rockenfeller inherits pole position

Ingolstadt/Brands Hatch, 18 May 2013 - Mike Rockenfeller in the Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Phoenix will start the second race of the 2013 DTM season from pole position at Brands Hatch (Great Britain).

The fastest in qualifying, Martin Tomczyk (BMW), was moved to the last position on the grid after qualifying due to insufficient weight. “Of course I prefer beating my rivals on track but it’s nice to start from the pole position,” said Mike Rockenfeller, who is starting a race at Brands Hatch from the top spot on the grid for the second time after 2011. “After we had a very good race performance at Hockenheim I’m confident for tomorrow.”

Original Audi Press Release:

Audi RS 5 DTM on front row again

Mike Rockenfeller takes grid position two at Brands Hatch
Four Audi RS 5 DTM cars on the first five rows
Jamie Green with misfortune in qualifying at home round

Ingolstadt/Brands Hatch, May 18, 2013 – Just like in the season opener at Hockenheim, an Audi RS 5 DTM will again be starting from the front row at the second race of the 2013 DTM season at Brands Hatch (Great Britain).

Mike Rockenfeller in the Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Phoenix missed the pole position on the short, 1.929-kilometer race track on the outskirts of London by only 0.035 seconds. After his pole position in the 2011 season and grid position four last year, the 2010 Le Mans winner is thus entering the British DTM round as the best Audi driver for the third time in succession.

“In view of the narrow time gaps, this morning I was still saying that anything’s possible: the front or the last row on the grid,” commented Mike Rockenfeller. “Fortunately, it turned out to be the front row – that’s good. Naturally, I’d have liked to be on pole but I’m going to try and turn this around tomorrow, to win the start and to finish the race in first place as well.”

In the morning’s free practice, in which the entire field had been running within less than six tenths of a second, the German had been the second-quickest. In each of the four qualifying segments, he posted fastest times right in the beginning and was one of the few drivers to make it into Q2 on just one set of tires. In the crucial fourth section, ‘Rocky’ was only bumped to position two by BMW driver Martin Tomczyk at the very end.

In total, four Audi RS 5 DTM cars will be on the first five rows on Sunday. Timo Scheider (AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM/Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline) missed the leap into Q4 in sixth place by a razor-thin margin of 15 thousandths of a second. Edoardo Mortara (Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM/Audi Sport Team Rosberg) in Q3, after two strong first sectors, made a mistake in the finish turn and had to settle for grid position nine. On his favorite track, Miguel Molina, in Q2, set the day’s best time of 41.085 seconds, which he subsequently did not achieve again himself though. On Sunday, the Spaniard will be starting the race alongside Mortara from the fifth row of the grid.

Mattias Ekström took 13th place after having lost valuable time in the pits during the morning’s free practice session on account of damage to the front splitter of his Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM and was no longer able to find a clean lap in Q2. Adrien Tambay damaged his Audi RS 5 DTM, which had been completely rebuilt after the fire at Hockenheim, by slipping in Q1. The Frenchman will start from position 16.

Extreme misfortune was suffered by Jamie Green (Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM). At his home race, the Briton was eliminated in 18th place right in Q1, after having been obstructed twice by rivals and being able to tackle his last lap, that would have moved him forward to sixth place, only a tenth of a second after the checkered flag was dropped. Filipe Albuquerque in the Audi Financial Services RS 5 DTM will start from position 19.

“That was a typical Brands Hatch qualifying session with extremely narrow time gaps,” said Dieter Gass, Head of DTM at Audi Sport. “Mike (Rockenfeller) was very strong today right from the beginning and only missed the pole position by 35 thousandths. Obviously, we’d be happier if we’d have taken pole as we did at Hockenheim. But on the whole, we’re not unhappy with four of our cars being on the five front rows of the grid. Tomorrow, we’ll be in for a long race with 98 laps in which anything’s possible.”

The race at Brands Hatch starts at 12:30 local time (13:30 CEST). ARD starts to broadast live on “Das Erste” at 13:15.

Photo credit: Audi Sport Communication / Media

Pirelli World Challenge: Strong second for GMG Racing Audi in Austin race 1

2013-05-18T12:45:00.000-07:00

By Tarek Ramchani

The Circuit of the Americas is hosting the third round of the Pirelli World Challenge this weekend. The series is supporting the V8 Supercars in Texas. A full field of Audi R8 race cars have entered the demanding GT class with positive performances.

The 50-minute sprint race saw a great battle for the win, which went right down to the checkered flag. James Sofronas, the series points leader with his #14 Audi R8 LMS, finished in a close second place. The GMG Racing team owner and driver crossed the finish line right behind the winner, Johnny O'Connel, in the factory Cadillac CTS-V. The Austin track produced a great race and battles with a good quality field in both the GT and GTS classes. The other Audi R8 cars finished in seventh place with Duncan Ende and ninth with Alex Welch, both driving for GMG Racing. The only Audi R8 GRAND-AM in the field was driven by Jeff Courtney and ended in tenth place. Unfortunately Bret Curtis and Mike Hedlund faced troubles during the race.

The second race is set for tomorrow. We wish the best of luck for all six Audi R8 drivers.

Photo credit : Pirelli World Challenge

Superstars Series: Fifth place for Audi Sport Italia and Gianni Morbidelli in Brno qualifying

2013-05-18T12:07:00.000-07:00

By Tarek Ramchani

Brno is hosting the second round of the International Series this weekend. Audi Sport Italia is again fielding two Audi RS 5 quattro cars for Gianni Morbidelli and Ferdinando Geri.

The qualifying session was held this afternoon, an extremely close session. The factory supported Mercedes-Benz C63 AMGs totally dominated the entire weekend at Monza, round one of the series. Today at Brno it was another story, the Czech track produced a very balanced field. Gianni Morbidelli, driving the #45 RS 5 quattro, qualified in fifth place with a time of 2:08.895. He was only 0.180 from the pole sitting C63 AMG of Thomas Biagi. His teammate Ferdinando Geri, driving the #46 Audi, faced a harder session. He will start from sixteenth on the grid for race 1 tomorrow. The qualifying session results can be seen HERE.

Two races are set for Sunday tomorrow. As seen in the qualifying session, we are expecting very close battles on track for the top spots. Gianni Morbidelli will clearly have to battle hard against a great quality field from Mercedes-Benz, BMW and even the Porsche Panamera, of the returning Fabrizio Giovanardi.

Photo credit: Superstars Series

DTM: Second and third for Audi in Brands Hatch free practice session

2013-05-18T03:27:00.001-07:00

By Tarek Ramchani

A very positive free practice session for Audi at Brands Hatch this morning. Second and third places for the Audi RS 5 DTM in a very close session with narrow gaps between the drivers.

Mike Rockenfeller set the second quickest time, driving the #19 Audi RS 5 DTM. The Audi Sport Team Phoenix driver set a time of 41.472, and was only 0.094 behind BMW's Marco Wittmann. Rocky completed 56 laps in this single free practice session of the day.

Timo Scheider from Audi Sport Team Abt was third fastest with his #23 Audi RS 5 DTM. The two-time DTM champion with a best time of 41.498.

Two other Audi drivers entered the top ten. Miguel Molina from Audi Sport Team Phoenix was fifth, whilst Mattias Ekström from Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline was tenth. The free practice session results can be seen HERE.

Qualifying is next at Brands Hatch. Fingers crossed for all three factory Audi teams and the eight drivers.

Photo credit: Audi Media

MTM Audi R8 LMS - chased in the GT sprint series‏

2013-05-17T09:57:00.001-07:00

MTM Press Release

The MTM team was obliged to contest the first race of this series, run at the beginning of April in Monza, with all its talent for improvisation and a thick wadge of experience garnered on the world's fastest tracks, since the decision to take part in this competition having been made at very short notice. "Top performance is best demonstrated in sports. That is part of our company philosophy" was how MTM boss Roland Mayer explained his recent involvement in an international competition. Olivier Mayer, an old stager of the Ingolstadt "pedal to the metal" guild and no relation of the MTM founder, whether by blood or marriage, fought his corner creditably, impressively demonstrating the potential performance of an MTM Audi R8 LMS in the face of the overmighty Ferrari 458 and Porsche 997.

The Wettstetten team has hit its competitive stride before the second race of the series, to be held next weekend in Brünn in the Czech Republic, and will be taking on its competitors with fresh drivers, new livery and a large racing car transporter. Thomas Schöffler, last year the stand-out rookie of the Superstar Series, and old hand Johan Kristofferson will each be driving an R8 LMS fielded by MTM. The phalanx of competitors should take the two Audi racing cars with their 10 cylinder naturally aspirated engines seriously. They have demonstrated their enormous performance in numerous races in every corner of the globe. With Schöffler's and Kristofferson's intervention in the GT Sprint Series action we have two drivers who are always in contention for podium places.

After the second race in Brünn there are another six races in the programme before the title is awarded. Slovakiaring, Zolder, Portimao, Donington, Imola and Vallelunga.

Photo credit: MTM

The Belgian Audi Club Team WRT ready for the “Green Hell” challenge

2013-05-17T06:16:00.001-07:00

Belgian Audi Club Press Release

The Belgian Audi Club Team WRT heads to the Nürburgring this coming weekend for its first 24-hour race of the season. The journey may be a short one for the Belgian squad, but the challenge is definitely one of its kind: the 24 hours of the Nürburgring, held on the legendary Nordschleife, the historic 22-km long track in the Eifel, also known as the “Green Hell”, and arguably the toughest motor racing race in the world. This is only the second time that Team WRT takes part to the iconic race, which will again attract around 200 entries. Last year, for its debut, the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT managed to finish the race, learning a lot about this unique competition. This year, it will contribute to Audi’s efforts to retain the title conquered in 2012 with one Audi R8 LMS ultra, entrusted to Laurens Vanthoor-Christopher Mies-Christopher Haase-Edward Sandström.

“Anything we can say about the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring falls short from reality”, admits Team Principal Vincent Vosse. “I have done it a number of times as a driver, and I am now discovering it in a different capacity. It’s really a special event and a very difficult one, because it is almost impossible to master all parameters.”

The track itself, in the first place, is unique: a fast, narrow and dangerous string of asphalt with over 170 corners up and down the Eifel hills, where weather conditions may change from one point to the other. In the 24 Hours race, endurance, weather conditions, darkness, traffic and the disparity of performance level among cars and drivers, which range from top professionals to perfect amateurs, are added issues.

Vosse looks at this 41st edition of the race with all the necessary humility: “We came here for the first time as Team WRT last year and we learnt a lot, but we are conscious that you can never have everything under control in such a race. Last year, we were among the top contenders, then a contact with another car put us in a final position (32nd) that did not reflect our potential. We’ll see how things go this time, but I fully trust the reliability of the R8 LMS ultra and of our drivers, and I think the Balance of Performance is correct. The first objective is to help Audi winning again.”

The driver line-up of the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT is among the strongest and is a perfect combination of experience and performance. Christopher Haase, Christopher Mies and Edward Sandström are all familiar with the 24 Hours, while Laurens Vanthoor will take part to the race for the first time.

As a matter of fact, one of the WRT boys has already tasted the sweetness of victory in this legendary race: Christopher Haase was part of the quartet that gave Audi its first win twelve months ago. “Winning here, especially for a German, really means something. It is the biggest GT race in the world and a real challenge. For me, it was a dream come true and certainly one of the major achievements of my career. Still, after winning it once, what you really want is to win it twice!” The 24-year-old Bavarian, though, knows that nothing is granted: “It is not necessarily the fastest car that wins here. What you need is a fantastic endurance car, like the Audi R8, a great team, like WRT, and excellent co-drivers, like my team mates. The most crucial thing is to avoid mistakes, stay focused, go through the night, and then adopt the right strategy for the final hours. You can never anticipate anything, but one thing is sure: it’s good to be driving an Audi!”

At the other end of the spectrum is Laurens Vanthoor. The young Belgian will be making his debut in the 24 Hours and, as any rookie, had to pass a sort of aptitude test. Any driver wishing to race the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring, regardless of his status or CV, first has to enter two events of the VLN, the special championship that takes place exclusively on the Nordschleife. In his case, he could only do one race, a few weeks ago, as the other race he was scheduled to enter was cancelled. “This is why I had to come back for a test last week and I will have to pass a sort of theoretical exam as soon as I get to the ‘Ring’ later this week”, he explains. The young Belgian is taking all these duties with great diligence. “I think I couldn’t have prepared better for this race. I can say I start to feel comfortable about the track, but I approach the Nordschleife with great respect. This is really the kind of circuit and race you can never say you know everything about! The track, of course, is exciting, although a little bit dangerous. I like it a lot, it is so special, so different from anything else. But I still have to experience driving at night, on the wet or with so many cars around me. I’ll try to do my best and avoid mistakes…”

Such a special race justifies a special livery. The Belgian Audi Club Team WRT car will sport a full black livery and a very … topical sponsor: Battlefield-4! The race itself runs this year on a special format. While free practice will take place on Friday, the Top-40 Qualifying that will determine the pole position on Saturday, the start of the race will be on Sunday at 17:00 hours, with the chequered flag falling at 17:00 hours on Whit Monday, which is a festive day in most European countries.

Photo credit: Belgian Audi Club / Christopher Mies

JCR Motorsports Ready for Double-Header in Pirelli World Challenge Championships at Circuit of The Americas

2013-05-17T06:09:00.001-07:00

JCR Motorsports Press Release

JCR Motorsports driver Jeff Courtney will pilot the Kenda/RecStuff.com Audi R8 LMS at Circuit of The Americas for Rounds 4 & 5 of the Pirelli World Challenge championship schedule.

Coming back from an exciting two days of testing in Austin, JCR Motorsports heads into the Circuit of The Americas weekend optimistically, looking to establish two solid finishes at the world renowned circuit. Courtney will race the Kenda/RecStuff Audi R8 LMS in two 50-minute double-header sprint races, May 18th and 19th, alongside a total of 19 GT class cars entered into the event.
“I was really happy with the testing we had earlier this month,” stated Courtney. “We were able to get a lot of laps in the car and finally work on setup changes along with getting some needed seat time. The course is a lot of fun and super busy, which I like. The facility is awesome and the team is very excited about the two races coming up this weekend.”

Adding to the anticipation of strong finishes for the weekend, Courtney will be joined by family and friends, “It’s exciting to have relatives and close friends here with us,” said Courtney. “We want to put on a strong show for everyone and hopefully they bring us some good luck.”
The Pirelli World Challenge races at Circuit of The Americas will be using the two-mile "short course" configuration which routes drivers through the middle of the "S" corners to the back straight.

Tune into the Live Stream on WCTV at www.world-challengetv.com for full coverage of the Pirelli World Challenge Cadillac Sports Car Challenge at the Circuit of The Americas. The full weekend event schedule is available online, click here.

Photo credit: Pirelli World Challenge

N24: Preview of the Audi Competitors at the Nürburgring 24 Hours

2013-05-17T02:52:00.000-07:00

By Johan Laubscher

The 2013 Nürburgring 24 Hours is taking place this weekend. The race itself will be running from Sunday until Monday, over the Whitsun long-weekend in Germany. Phoenix Racing returns as the reigning champions with the Audi R8 LMS ultra. 2012 was the first Audi victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, and no less than eight Audi R8 LMS ultra cars are entered this year from, five different teams.

A total of seventeen Audi cars have been entered, including a number of Audi Sport customer racing cars (Audi R8 LMS ultra & Audi TT RS), as well as a variety of privately developed Audi race cars. The Nürburgring 24 Hours always provides a tremendous spectacle and this year, with the projected difficult weather conditions, should provide another great race. Good luck to all of the Audi teams, and we cross our fingers for a repeat of the success achieved in 2012.

1. Preview of the Audi Competitors:

1.1. Audi Sport customer racing teams:

1.1.1. Audi R8 LMS ultra Teams:

G-Drive Racing by Phoenix

#1 Audi R8 LMS ultra

Mike Rockenfeller

Marcel Fässler

Frank Stippler

Markus Winkelhock

G-Drive Racing by Phoenix

#3 Audi R8 LMS ultra

Frank Biela

Christer Jöns

Luca Ludwig

Roman Rusinov

Phoenix Racing

#4 Audi R8 LMS ultra
Michael Ammermüller

Frank Stippler

Ferdinand Stuck

Johannes Stuck

Prosperia C.ABT Team Mamerow

#2 Audi R8 LMS ultra

Christian Mamerow

Thomas Mutsch

René Rast

Marc Basseng

Audi race experience (TKL Motorsport)

#14 Audi R8 LMS ultra

Marco Werner

Christian Bollrath

Pierre Ehret

Ronnie Saurenmann

Audi race experience (TKL Motorsport)

#15 Audi R8 LMS ultra

Rahel Frey

Dominique Bastien

Peter Venn

Alexander Yoong

Twin Busch Motorsport

#16 Audi R8 LMS ultra

Marc Busch

Dennis Busch

Manuel Lauck

Belgian Audi Club Team WRT

#29 Audi R8 LMS ultra

Laurens Vanthoor

Edward Sandström

Christopher Mies

Christopher Haase

1.1.2. Audi TT RS Teams:

Besaplast Racing Team

#105 TT RS – SP4T

Franjo Kovac

Martin Tschornia

Frederik Lestrup

Raeder Motorsport

#111 TT RS – SP3T

Elmar Deegener

Jürgen Wohlfahrt

1.2. Privately built/developed Audi teams:

Dupré Motorsport

#74 Audi RS 5

Christoph Dupré

Gunther Ofenmacher

Claus Dupré

Hömberg Motorsport

#101 Audi TTS
Bernd Hömberg

Alexander Streit

Torsten Platz

Bernhard Henzel

Brandl Motorsport

#106 Audi TT RS

Christian Kranenberg

Stefan Michels

Benjamin Weidner

Jochen Hudelmaier

pro Handicap e.V.

#112 Audi TTS
Wolfgang Müller

Oliver Rudolph

Partel Aditya

MSC Sinzig e.V. im ADAC

#118 Audi TT
Professor Jörg Wellnitz

Manfred Krammer Junior

Steffen Höber

#119 Audi TT

Prof. Jörg Wellnitz,

Manfred Krammer

Steffen Höber

#160 Audi A4 B7
Thomas Hanisch

Bastian Goercke

Stefan Gies

We wish the best of luck to all of the Audi competitors this weekend as they prepare for 24 Hours of racing at the Green Hell.

Photo credit:
Stuck³ website
Audi Sport Communication / Media
DUPRÉ Motorsport

Video: Audi 200 Trans Am almost destroyed in crash during 1992

2013-05-17T01:53:00.001-07:00

By Johan Laubscher

The Audi 200 Trans Am was developed for the 1988 SCCA Trans Am Champiosnhip in America. Audi won the championship that year and then moved onto the 1989 IMSA GTO series. 1988 may have been the end of the 200 Trans Am in America, but it was not the end of the road for these cars.

One Audi 200 Trans Am arrived in South Africa in 1989 for the Wesbank Modifieds Championship, driven by Sarel van der Merwe. A second car arrived in 1990, both being run by the factory Audi Sport South Africa (Voldi) team. These cars competed with the factory team in South Africa from 1989 until 1992, and two more years (93-94) with private teams.

During 1992 one of the Audis was almost lost in a high speed crash. The incident took place at the Goldfields race track (old version of Phakisa) in Welkom, South Africa. Terry Moss was driving the Rothmans Audi 200 Trans Am and Sarel van der Merwe was driving the Ford. The two tangled on the very long back straight, and the resulting accident almost destroyed both cars. The Audi survived the incident, but unfortunately the Ford was a write-off after its roll-over. The video below features the controversial 1992 van der Merwe and Moss crash.

Photo credit: Audi Sport Communication / Media

Video: Onboard the Audi R8 LMS ultra at the Nürburgring

2013-05-17T01:29:00.001-07:00

By Johan Laubscher

The 2013 Nürburgring 24 Hours weekend has arrived. To kick off the weekend let us have a look at the track in one of the Audi Sport sport customer race cars which will be competing: An Audi R8 LMS ultra. This onboard video features the WRT Audi R8 LMS ultra during the 2012 N24 qualifying session.

Phoenix Racing and Audi are the reining champions with the Audi R8 LMS ultra. This year eight Audi R8 LMS ultra are taking part in the event fielded by five different teams. A number of other Audis are also entered in the event which is set to be another great 24 Hours at the Green Hell.

Note: This onboard video is from 2012.

Photo credit: Audi Sport Communication / Media

Video: Onboard the Audi TT RS at the Nürburgring

2013-05-17T01:27:00.001-07:00

By Johan Laubscher

The 2013 Nürburgring 24 Hours weekend has arrived. To kick off the weekend let us have a look at the track in one of the Audi Sport sport customer race cars which will be competing: An Audi TT RS (SP4T class).

Phoenix Racing and Audi are the reining champions with the Audi R8 LMS ultra. This year eight Audi R8 LMS ultra are taking part in the event fielded by five different teams. A number of other Audis are also entered in the event which is set to be another great 24 Hours at the Green Hell.

Note: This onboard video is from a 2012 VLN event.

Photo credit: Audi Sport Communication / Media

Video: Onboard at NIGHT in the Audi R8 LMS at the Nürburgring

2013-05-17T01:26:00.000-07:00

By Johan Laubscher

The 2013 Nürburgring 24 Hours weekend has arrived. To kick off the weekend let us have a look at this legendary track during the darkness of the night. The video below features an Audi R8 LMS competing during the night in the 2009 Nürburgring 24 Hours. The video gives one a taste of the challenges of racing on this track in the dark.

Phoenix Racing and Audi are the reining champions with the Audi R8 LMS ultra. This year eight Audi R8 LMS ultra are taking part in the event fielded by five different teams. A number of other Audis are also entered in the event which is set to be another great 24 Hours at the Green Hell.

Note: This onboard video is from 2009.

Photo credit: Stuck³ website

Audi R13 enters GT Championship in Norway

2013-05-15T07:28:00.000-07:00

By Johan Laubscher

The Norwegian NBF GT Championship got underway at Våler this past weekend. This series has seen a number of very interesting Audi cars in recent years, all of which were privately entered. This season opener had another new and very special Audi car competing.

Three Audis were present at the event. The first two Audis also competed in the series last year. An Audi 80 driven by Eivind Nernes and the Audi A5 3.0 TDI driven by Per Støldal. The Audi A5 has also previously been test driven by Tom Kristensen at a Shell promotional event.

The third Audi at the event was an Audi R13. Jan Hroar Bjørklund drove the R13 and it is a great addition to the Norwegian series. This is the second Audi R13 to appear in competition this year, following the R13 which was acquired by Jose Antonio Lopez-Fombona for the Spanish Hillclimb Championship. More can be read about the Spanish R13 HERE.

The Norwegian season opener saw good results from Per Støldal in the Audi A5. He achieved second place (GT4 class) in race one followed by two more top five results. Jan Hroar Bjørklund, driving the R13, retired from the first race after sustaining damage and finished eighth in races two and three. The Audi 80 was not classified as a finisher in any of the three races on the day. The results can be seen HERE.

It is great to see these older and retired Audi race cars still competing outside of the DTM. The Audi R13 is the 2007 Audi A4 DTM (B7) car, the same version which took Mattias Ekström to the 2007 DTM driver’s title. These cars were seen in the DTM from 2007 until 2009, when they were last officially run by the Kolles DTM team. In recent years a number of older Audi A4 DTM cars have been run by private teams in many European series. These included the R11, R12 and R12 plus models, but the R13 was only seen again in 2012, when the Czech BRT team competed with a R13 in the Czech MMČR series. The two cars in Spain and Norway now add to the list of private R13 appearances. The Audi R14 and R14 plus (2008 & 2009 A4 DTM cars) are now the only modern Audi DTM cars which have not yet been acquired and raced privately.

More information:

GT Racing - NBF GT Championship wesbite
GT Racing - NBF GT Championship Facebook page

Photo credit: RaceFoto.se / GT Racing - NBF GT Championship wesbite [Images linked]

Audi A1 ready for French Rallycross

2013-05-14T09:36:00.000-07:00

By Johan Laubscher

Racing Team Jagu is a French rallycross team who have been loyal to Audi for many years. The team competed in the French Rallycross Championship with a first generation Audi A3 until 2011. They sold their A3 to another competitor during 2012 as they were preparing a new machine for 2013.

Towards the end of 2012 Racing Team Jagu announced that they had acquired an Audi A1 which would be prepared for the 2013 French Rallycross Championship. The car’s development looked promising, as this smallest of Audi road cars was turned into a rallycross machine. More about the development can be read HERE.

The car looks great and has undergone a lot of testing ahead of the 2013 season. It will be driven by Yvonnick Jagu.

The French Rallycross Championship gets underway this coming weekend, with the “Rallycross des Ducs” event. Two Audis will be present at the season opener. It will be the debut for the Jagu Audi A1, which will compete in the Super 1600 class. The second Audi will be the ex-Jagu Audi A3 which is driven by Jimmy Terpereau in the Division 4 class.

Photo credit: Racing Team Jagu website

Audi Sport Italia looks ahead at Brno weekend with confidence

2013-05-14T07:16:00.000-07:00

Audi Sport Italia Press Release

Audi Sport Italia drivers' Gianni Morbidelli and Ferdinando Geri look ahead at Brno weekend with confidence

BRNO RACE PREVIEW

Sunday the International Superstars Series will be making its maiden visit to one of the most iconic circuit in touring cars history: Brno, which has built a decade-long tradition as a hotbed for tin-tops. Audi Sport Italia shares with the Czech venue a rich background in touring cars, since the outfit was contracted as an Audi team way back in the Super Touring heydays.

The Italian squad is keen to take on the opposition at the scenic circuit: although the season kick-off at Monza was a clean-sweep for AMG Mercedeses, the rolling hills of Brno seem to offer a better backdrop for the assets of the Audi camp.

Former Formula 1 driver Gianni Morbidelli and sportscar driver Ferdinando Geri can’t
wait to try their hands on a layout that seems well suited to the four-wheel-driven RS 5s.

They’re set to meet a field reinforced by new additions, as the arrival of Italians Fabrizio Giovanardi and Emanuele Piscopo will add spice to the Superstars menu, the former back in the cockpit of the Panamera Porsche three years removed from his last win, the latter on his way to discover the taste of tin-tops in a BMW M3. Moreover the BMW camp will host another former single-seater driver: Austria’s Christian Klien, who has been the last driver able to break the domination that RS 5s and C63s have enjoyed in the SRW-run series since July 1st 2012. In statistical terms, throughout the past 8 races no driver who failed to seat either in an Audi or in a AMG Mercedes was able to post a win. Klien, who did so in a Maserati at Hungaroring last year, will try to repeat himself in a Scuderia Giudici’s BMW M3 this week, but in order to give it a go he will have to make his way through a bevy of Romeo Ferraris’ C63s and our own Audis, whose drivers aim to make up ground on Vitantonio Liuzzi and Thomas Biagi, who are topping the points standings after sharing the top spots at ultra-quick Monza.

Audi Sport Italia engineers are confident of having completed the troubleshooting ensuing from the 2013 technical blueprint that encompasses raised ride height, skimpy cavalry following the new air restrictor sizes and different tyre wear. Therefore Morbidelli is poised to tighten the current gap from Three-Pointed Star drivers adding a fair haul of points in Czech Republic to the twin fourth places that he chalked up at Monza, whilst team mate Geri looks with anticipation to improving his pace in the Audi, something that he was able to do on Sunday at Monza, when he posted quickest laps than on Saturday.

INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTARS SERIES 2013

Drivers points standings after 2 rounds:

1. Liuzzi 39 points;
2. Biagi 36 pts.;
3. Ferrara 25 pts.;
4. MORBIDELLI 21 pts.;
5. Sini 15 pts.;
6. Bacci 13 pts.;
7. Berton 10 pts.;
8. "Diabolik" 5 pts.;
9. Larini 4 pts.;

10. Ascani 3 pts.

Photo credit: Audi Sport Italia

Video: 1998 Zolder 24 Hours - The first 24 Hours for the Audi A4 STW

2013-05-12T12:16:00.002-07:00

By Johan Laubscher

The Audi A4 STW, the Super Touring car version of the B5 Audi A4, was a brilliant race car. Its quattro system and superior traction made it one of the best cars of its time, highlighted by an international championship sweep in 1996, when Audi claimed the title in seven countries: Germany, Britain, Italy, Australia, Belgium, South Africa and Spain.

The 1998 Zolder 24 Hours was the scene for the first 24 Hour race for one of these A4 STW cars. It was however not the first 24 Hour race for an Audi Super Touring car, that was back in 1994 with an Audi 80 Competition entered in the Spa 24 Hours, run by the Belgian Audi Club (Dubois Racing).

The 1998 Zolder 24 Hours entry was also entered by the Belgian Audi Club. The driver line-up included the team’s regular two Belcar drivers: Jean-Francois Hemroulle and Timo Verbergt. The team needed a third driver for the 24 hour race, and they called upon the services of South African Terry Moss. Terry was the 1996 South African Super Touring champion and had also competed for the Belgian Audi Club twice before, at the 1995 Spa 24 Hours and a Belcar event at Spa in 1997, where the South African won the second race of the day.

The Audi A4 STW performed very well in the event, aided greatly by the wet weather. The team lead most of the race but technical issues resulted in sixth place overall, but with race victory in their class. A year later the Belgian Audi Club was able to win the 1999 Zolder 24 Hours overall with their A4 STW, which added another achievement for this great Super Touring Car.

Below we have embedded a video which features highlights from the 1998 Zolder 24 Hour race, the first time the A4 STW competed for 24 Hours. This rare short highlights video aired in South Africa during 1998 and was produced from a Belgian Audi Club perspective with Terry Moss.

Photo credit: Jean-François Hemroulle old website

Weekend Round Up - Audi Motorsport Blog (11-12/05/2013)

2013-05-12T07:24:00.001-07:00

By Johan Laubscher

1. The Weekend

Focussing this week on the weekend of 11 - 12 May 2013

2. The Events

ADAC GT Masters
BRCC
GT Asia
GT Open / Spanish GT
Race Trophy Austria
FIA Hillclimb
Kyalami Extreme Festival
Cup und Tourenwagen
Norsk GT

2.1. ADAC GT Masters

Round two of the ADAC GT Masters took place at Spa in Belgium this weekend. The six regular Audi R8 LMS ultra entries took part in the event, entered by MS RACING, Prosperia C.ABT Racing and YACO Racing. Qualifying again proved to be difficult as only one R8 LMS ultra placed within the top ten in both sessions. Race one saw two Audis finish in fifth and sixth, both from Prosperia C.ABT Racing. Race two had a similar result with only one Audi in the top ten, achieving seventh place. The second race also had a very bad crash for Rene Rast, we wish Rene a speedy recovery and best wishes.

Christopher Mies FB page

Results

2.2. BRCC

The Belgian Racing Car Championship (BRCC) held round two in France this weekend. One Audi team was entered for the event at Dijon, that of PK Carsport. The team was victorious in the endurance event at Zolder, round one of the championship. The team performed very well this weekend.

Anthony Kumpen FB page

Results

2.3. GT Asia

The GT Asia series got underway at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan this weekend. A total of five Audi R8 LMS ultra cars took part. Three 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra cars were entered by Absolute Racing, as well as one 2013 car from Dilango Racing and one older R8 LMS from Hitotsuyama Racing. The Audis showed good pace during the sessions. The top placed and only Audi within the top ten in race one was in fifth. The second race saw three Audis enter the top ten, with the highest position again being fifth place. Hitotsuyama Racing finished second in the GTM class in race two.

J-Fly Racing FB page

Results

2.4. GT Open / Spanish GT

Team Novadriver competed in the Spanish IBER GT Championship this weekend. Round one of the Spanish GT was run together with round two of the International GT Open at Portimao. The team was fast in the sessions and qualified on the GTS (GT3 class) pole for race one. Novadriver took victory in the GTS class for both the Spanish GT and GT Open in race one, also achieving third place overall. The team unfortunately suffered a difficult race two with a DNF and a twenty-third place finish.

Team Novadriver FB page

Results

2.5. Race Trophy Austria

The Race Trophy Austria series held round two at the Red Bull Ring this weekend. Lechner Racing competed at the event with an older Audi R8 LMS. The car was driven to victory in the one-hour endurance race by drivers Philip König and Niki Mayr-Melnhof. The team has previously won the 2010 Hungary 12 Hours with their R8 LMS.

Audi Sport Communication / Media

Results

2.6. FIA Hillclimb

The Rampa da Falperra Hillclimb took place in Portugal. The event was part of a number of European and national Hillclimb Championships, most notably the FIA European Hillclimb and the Spanish series. A number of Audi competitors take part in these championships and this weekend saw two DTM machines take part: The Audi A4 DTM R13 of Jose Antonio Lopez-Fombona and the ABT-Audi TT-R of Vláďa Vitver.

Race-Action.com FB page

Results

2.7. Kyalami Extreme Festival

The Extreme Festivals are motorsport events held in the northern region (Gauteng) of South Africa. The events are organised by Zwartkops and an event was held at Kyalami this weekend. Audi cars competed in two of the categories: Audi A3 cars were in the SuperHatch category and the ex-Terry Moss Racing Audi A4 B7, driven by Jonathan Du Toit, was in the Extreme Supercars.

RacePics.co.za

Results

2.8. Cup und Tourenwagen

The Cup und Tourenwagen series held round two at Spa this weekend, as a support event for the ADAC GT Masters. A number of Audis took part in this series during 2013, but as was the case at round one, there was only one Audi entry this weekend. The Mk1 Audi TT driven by Franz-Josef Fischer.

Cup und Tourenwagen Cup FB page

Results

2.9. Norsk GT

The Norwegian GT Championship got underway at Våler this weekend. A number of Audi cars have taken part in this series, including a very interesting Audi A5 TDI race car. Three Audis were present at the event his weekend, an Audi 80, Audi A5 TDI and an Audi A4 DTM R13 (B7).

Norsk GT website

Results

2.10. Other Audi News

A special test day was offered at the Nürburgring on Wednesday. The test day was aimed at the GT teams to provide more track time for testing ahead of the Nürburgring 24 Hours next weekend. Most of the entered Audi R8 LMS ultra teams were at the test.

Nürburgring FB page

A special Iron Man 3 livery was seen on the Audi RS 5 DTM of Adrien Tambay at Hockenheim, and now a second special livery will be seen at the next DTM round at Brands Hatch. The red Audi RS 5 DTM of Miguel Molina will be racing with a red Audi Cup livery at round two.

Audi Sport Communication / Media

Audi Sport had been testing at Paul Ricard recently, as part of their Le Mans preparations. A press video was released this week featuring footage from the test, with one all-black carbon fiber Audi R18 e-tron quattro “long-tail”. The video can be seen HERE.

Audi Sport Communication / Media

A video featuring Allan McNish introducing the new Audi R18 e-tron quattro was also released this week. The video shows McNish taking the viewers for a brief tour around and inside the new car. The video can be seen HERE.

Audi Sport Communication / Media

An Audi R13 has been entered in the 2013 Spanish Hillclimb Championship. Jose Antonio Lopez-Fombona, a multiple Hillclimb champion and long-time Audi A4 STW driver, has purchased the vehicle for the Spanish series. He successfully debuted his new car at the end of April. The Audi R13 is the 2007 Audi A4 DTM (B7) car, the same type of version which took Mattias Ekström to the 2007 DTM driver’s title. More can be read HERE.

Vidmantas Nastajus on YouTube

The liveries and driver line-ups for the eight Nürburgring 24 Hours Audi R8 LMS ultra teams were confirmed this week. Audi Sport released an official pre-event press release which detailed the eight teams and their liveries. The press release can be read HERE.

Audi Sport Communication / Media

The new Audi TT ultra quattro is a concept car which was revealed at Wörthersee. A video featuring the TT ultra and two-time Le Mans winner, Andre Lotterer, was released this week.

Audi TT ultra quattro video link

The Istook Motorsport livery was revealed this weekend. The team have worked hard to prepare their two Audi TT RS race cars for this season's SCCA World Challenge. The next round of the series takes place at the Circuit of The Americas next weekend.

Istook TT RS FB page

The Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) gets underway at the end of May. Two Audis are competing this year, one part of Team Barbados and the second part of Team Jamaica. Doug Gore will be competing for the Jamaican team with his modified ATL Automotive ABT-Audi TT-R. Long-time CMRC competitor, Doug Maloney, will again be using his extensively modified and turbocharged Audi A4 STW for Team Barbados.

Jamaican Tuner / D_MONTii Motography

Another new Audi R8 LMS ultra team competed for the first this weekend. Dilango Racing, who normally competed with Lamborghini, have acquired an Audi R8 LMS ultra. The car was entered in round one of the GT Asia this weekend, driven by Dilantha Malagamuwa. The team was originally listed as Nova Engineering on the entry list, but it was later updated to Dilango Racing. Another great additional to the growing Audi Sport customer racing family in Asia.

AFOS FB page

3. Next Weekend’s events (18-19/05/2013)

DTM
Nürburgring 24 Hours
ELMS
Superstars
Superstars GT Sprint
French GT-Tour
Super GT
SCCA World Challenge
SVRA
DMV TCC
RCN

All photos are hosted at their respective website which are listed within the Weekend Round Up

ADAC GT Masters: A very hard race 2 for Audi at Spa

2013-05-12T05:46:00.000-07:00

By Tarek Ramchani

The second race at Spa-Francorchamps in ADAC GT Masters was very hard for the Audi squad in very difficult weather conditions.

The race started very badly for Audi. In the first lap René Rast, driving the #27 Prosperia C.Abt Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra, had a very nasty crash. The three-time Prosche Supercup champion was collected from behind by another competitor after a spin. The safety car was deployed and there were big fears for René Rast. Fortunately René was conscious and was sent to the medical center.

The race resumed after several laps under full course yellow. The wet track conditions remained, and as was the case yesterday, only one Audi R8 LMS ultra finished in the top 10. The #28 car from Prosperia C.Abt Racing driven by Christian Mamerow and Christer Jöns crossed the finish line in seventh place.

The #16 Audi from YACO Racing shared by Philip Geipel and Dino Lunardi was eleventh. The third car from Prosperia C.Abt racing finished in seventeenth with the #26 R8 LMS ultra of Rahel Frey and Markus Winkelhock. Whilst the 2012 series champions from MS Racing had another quite difficult race. The #100 Audi of Daniel Dobitsch and Aditya Patel was eighteenth and their teammates, Sebastian Asch and Florian Stoll with the sister #1 machine, were only twentieth.

Overall the Belgian round was a very difficult weekend for all three Audi teams. We wish the best of luck for René Rast, that he will get well soon and be ready for the Nürburgring 24 Hours next weekend.

Editor's note: As it is now, no one can deny that the Audi R8 LMS ultra is penalized in the ADAC GT Masters. The R16, within this specific Balance of Performance, is not able to fight at the front, and it can be assumed that this will be the same case for the proceeding rounds if things remain as they are now. It is really hard to understand how some of the best drivers are in the Audis, and that they are always far behind. Even with fast and experienced youngsters such as René Rast and Christopher Mies or Markus Winkelhock and Rahel Frey, who both have massive experience in the demanding DTM, the cars are still relegated to not being able to battle at the front. MS Racing are another good example, they are the reigning ADAC GT Masters champions with a rival brand in 2012, but since their switch to Audi in 2013 they have also clearly suffered with the performance disadvantage, despite the Audi R8 LMS ultra being one of the best cars in international GT3 competition. This specific performance deficiency with the the BOP was also the case last year, and unfortunately things have not changed for 2013 in the ADAC GT Masters.

(Editor’s note is stated by the Audi Motorsport Blog (an independent blog), this is NOT a statement made by the official Audi Sport / Audi Sport customer racing)

Photo credit: ADAC GT Masters

GT Asia: Top 5 finishes for the Audi R8 LMS ultra at Twin Ring Motegi

2013-05-12T02:27:00.000-07:00

By Johan Laubscher

The GT Asia series held its first round in Japan this weekend. Twin Ring Motegi hosted the event and a total of five Audi R8 LMS and ultra cars took part.

Absolute Racing were out in force with three 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra cars and a strong driver line-up. Two more Audis were entered by Dilango Racing and Hitotsuyama Racing, fielding one car each, an Audi R8 LMS ultra (2013) and an older R8 LMS respectively.

The Audis performed well during the sessions and achieved good qualifying positions. All five Audis qualified within the top ten for race one, being lead by the #7 R8 LMS ultra in third place. For race two three Audis were within the top ten grid, again being lead by the #7 in third.

Race one saw very wet and difficult conditions on Saturday afternoon. The Audis dropped back during the race, but an overall top five result was achieved by the #98 Absolute Racing entry driven by Philip Ma and Cong Fu Cheng. The other Audis finished outside of the top ten. Hitotsuyama Racing also finished within the top five of their class, finishing fifth in the GTM class. The first race was won by the #2 Asia Racing Team Porsche 911 GT3 R. The results from race one can be seen HERE.

A sunny day greeted the competitors for race two on Sunday. The race got underway on a dry track, a complete contrast to race one yesterday. The race saw an improvement as three Audis finished within the top ten. The highest placed Audi was again a fifth place finish overall, this time with the #7 Absolute Racing entry driven by Marchy Lee and Jeffrey Lee. The #888 of Francis Hideki Onda and Alex Yoong finished sixth followed by the #88 entry from Hitotsuyama Racing in ninth overall and second in the GTM class. Race two as won by the #007 Craft Racing Aston Martin Vantage V12 GT3. The results from race two can be seen HERE.

The second round of the GT Asia series will also take place in Japan, to be hosted at Okayama in June.

Photo credit and more information:

J-Fly Racing on Facebook

Hitotsuyama Racing on Facebook

IBER GT: Team Novadriver dominated the GT3 class of race 1 at Portimão

2013-05-12T01:32:00.000-07:00

By Johan Laubscher

The Spanish IBER GT Championship got underway at Portimao this weekend. The first round of the Spanish series was held alongside round two of the International GT Open. Team Novadriver entered their two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars at the event.

The Portuguese team were home soil and determined to do well. They showed promise during the practice sessions and performed very well in qualifying. The #81 entry of Cesar Campanico and Carlos Vieira took pole position in the GTS class (GT3 competitors), placing fourth overall as well. The sister #80 R8 LMS ultra driven by Manuel Gião and Lourenço Da Veiga qualified sixth in class, ninth overall.

The first race got underway with a confusing start but the racing was fierce on track. The #81 Audi R8 LMS ultra held its ground very well with a terrific performance. They finished the first race as the winners of the GTS class for both the GT Open and IBER GT, and finished third overall. Their teammates lost time after a spin and they ultimately finished in sixteenth place overall. The results from race one can be seen HERE.

The second race will take place today. The grid will see the two Audis line up close together in eighth and ninth overall. We wish the best of luck to the Portuguese team to repeat the great results achieved yesterday.

Photo credit and more information:
Team Novadriver on Facebook

ADAC GT Masters: Fifth and sixth for Audi cars in race 1 at Spa

2013-05-11T06:56:00.004-07:00

By Tarek Ramchani

Spa-Francorchamps hosted the first of two ADAC GT Masters races today. The Audi squad were able to improve after very hard qualifying sessions yesterday. Two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars from Prosperia C.Abt Racing performed well and made it into the top 10.

The #27 R8 LMS ultra shared by Audi regulars Christopher Mies and René Rast finished in a solid fifth at the end of the 1-hour sprint race. Mies and Rast started way back from eleventh place on the gird. The sister #26 Audi of Rahel Frey and Markus Winkelhock finished right behind them in sixth place. Not bad considering that the Audi cars are now a little bit penalized with the Balance of Performance. The drivers have to push to the limits to fight for the top spots.

The other Audi entries were outside of the top 10. Eleventh was the #1 car from MS Racing (Sebastian Asch/Florian Stoll), sixteenth the #28 Prosperia C. Abt Racing (Christer Jöns /Christian Mamerow), seventeenth the #16 YACO Racing (Philip Geipel/Dino Lunardi) and twentieth the #100 MS Racing (Daniel Dobitsch/Aditya Patel).

Race victory went the #14 Ford GT from Lambda Performance, driven by Frank Kechele and Nicolas Verdonck, the car started from pole position. #10 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 of Polarweiss Racing was second with drivers Maximilian Buhk and Maximilian Götz. In third the #12 BMW Z4 GT3 of DB Motorsport in the hands of Jeroen den Boer and Simon Knap. The race 1 results are here.

Race 2 is set for tomorrow, fingers crossed for all three Audi teams and their drivers.

Photos credit: ADAC GT Masters