Event calendar: Seven events, 14 races

BasicInfo Sub Page
05/04/2016
Back to overview

A double dose of action for the fans of the Audi Sport TT Cup: two classification rounds are scheduled on each of the seven race weekends. Five events will be held in Germany, plus there will be visits to the Netherlands and Hungary. The search is on for the driver to succeed Jan Kisiel. The Pole is the first title winner in the Audi Sport TT Cup.

1) Hockenheimring (D)
Date: May 6–8
Race: rounds 1 and 2
Track length: 4.574 km
Average speed: approx. 149 km/h
Top speed: approx. 236 km/h
Qualifying record on this track: Joonas Lappalainen, 1m 48.919s (2015)
Race record on this track: Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, 1m 49.830s (2015)
Winners 2015: Marc Coleselli, Dennis Marschall

Track description by Markus Winkelhock, coach in the Audi Sport TT Cup:
“The season opener is a very special event for the drivers – this is the first time they get an idea of where they stand on track, in front of a great crowd. For me, personally, Hockenheim is my home round. I live only 120 kilometers away from the circuit. I’ve always liked the track layout. There are some really fast sections such as the Parabolika. In front of the hairpin, the racers reach top speed and need to exactly hit their braking point. When they start braking – not least thanks to push-to-pass – we’re going to see gripping slipstream duels and most of the overtaking maneuvers.”

2) Nürburgring (D)
Date: May 26–29
Race: rounds 3 and 4
Track length: 4.638 km
Average speed: N/A (first event on this track)
Top speed: N/A (first event on this track)
Qualifying record on this track: N/A (first event on this track)
Race record on this track: N/A (first event on this track)
Winners 2015: N/A (first event on this track)

Track description by Markus Winkelhock:
“Participating in the supporting program of the 24-hour race is really special. I’ll be taking part in the event as a driver of the Audi R8 LMS and as an instructor in the Audi Sport TT Cup – this means I’ll be available to the talents in spite of my racing commitment. We’re racing on the Grand Prix circuit without the Mercedes-Arena. That’s exactly the circuit on which we fight our tradition-steeped battle twice around the clock. However, the drivers in the TT Cup will not be turning onto the notorious Nordschleife. New for all entrants is the section through the Dunlop-Kehre. There, you need to do a good job of finding your braking point and accelerate early in order not to lose any time on the uphill section.”

3) Norisring (D)
Date: June 24–26
Race: rounds 5 and 6
Track length: 2.300 km
Average speed: approx. 149 km/h
Top speed: approx. 229 km/h
Qualifying record on this track: Shaun Thong, 58.080s (2015)
Race record on this track: Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, 55.360s (2015)
Winners 2015: Shaun Thong, Nicolaj Møller Madsen

Track description by Markus Winkelhock:
“The Norisring is Audi’s home round. I personally like the track and am eager to see how the participants will be handling it. In 2015, we saw highly disciplined entrants. That’s extremely important on this city street circuit because there are hardly any run-off areas there. The Norisring is mainly about braking and accelerating. The slow turns suit the agile Audi TT cup well. On the long straight, I’m expecting a few thrilling position battles again. For the racers, efficiently managing their hardware will be crucial. On this track, the brakes are permanently stressed to the max.”

4) Zandvoort (NL)
Date: July 15–17
Race: rounds 7 and 8
Track length: 4.307 km
Average speed: N/A (first event on this track)
Top speed: N/A (first event on this track)
Qualifying record on this track: N/A (first event on this track)
Race record on this track: N/A (first event on this track)
Winners 2015: N/A (first event on this track)

Track description by Markus Winkelhock:
“The track at Zandvoort can be slippery because the heavy wind often blows the fine sand onto the track. Tire wear is high there and the total of 15 turns make high demands on the racers’ driving skills. The young talents are hardly going to have any time to appreciate the beauty of the North Sea that weekend because the track is too challenging for that and the field too balanced.”

5) Nürburgring (D)
Date: September 9–11
Race: rounds 9 and 10
Track length: 3.629 km
Average speed: approx. 136 km/h
Top speed: approx. 222 km/h
Qualifying record on this track: Emil Lindholm, 1m 35.228s (2015)
Race record on this track: Jan Kisiel, 1m 35.726s (2015)
Winner 2015: Jan Kisiel (both races)

Track description by Markus Winkelhock:
“The second visit to the Nürburgring may turn out to be the greatest challenge of the season. The track is shorter than the one on the race weekend in May and, at first glance, appears pretty simple. But’s that’s misleading. The difficulty is finding that last tenth in the strong field of the Audi Sport TT Cup and to outperform your rivals that way. A key section is the right left-right chicane in front of the finish turn. Here, you need to perfectly start braking and do a good job of getting across the curbs or else you’ll lose a lot of time and turn onto the start-finish straight with insufficient speed.”

6) Budapest (H)
Date: September 23–25
Race: rounds 11 and 12
Track length: 4.381 km
Average speed: N/A (first event on this track)
Top speed: N/A (first event on this track)
Qualifying record on this track: N/A (first event on this track)
Race record on this track: N/A (first event on this track)
Winners 2015: N/A (first event on this track)

Track description by Markus Winkelhock:
“The Hungaroring with its many corners poses a special challenge to the driver and the car. The circuit is embedded in a landscape of rolling hills. As a result, the spectators have a tremendous view, but can follow the race really well, too. The drivers particularly have to cope with the narrow track that hardly permits any overtaking maneuvers. They should already be careful in the practice and qualifying sessions when the bumpy track is still very dusty and slippery.”

7) Hockenheimring (D)
Date: October 14–16
Race: rounds 13 and 14
Track length: 4.574 km
Average speed: approx. 149 km/h
Top speed: approx. 236 km/h
Qualifying record on this track: Joonas Lappalainen, 1m 48.919s (2015)
Race record on this track: Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, 1m 49.830s. (2015)
Winner 2015: Joonas Lappalainen (both races)

Track description by Markus Winkelhock:
“The finale – a highlight at the end of the Audi Sport TT Cup season. In front of a full house, the entrants are going to give their all once more and will be highly motivated. Following the first two rounds at the season opener, the TT Cup rookies are now returning to the track with experience as well and can tip the scales a bit more. That will particularly show in the tricky places, such as braking on entering the hairpin. This is where the drivers need a sure feel for the car and the brakes. If they go beyond the limits, that’ll cost speed, which means a lot of time at the Hockenheimring.”