Audi Motorsport Newsletter 23/2016

Lee/Thong win in Japan

Marchy Lee and Shaun Thong celebrated a victory on the third GT Asia race weekend in Japan. In the second race, the two Hong Kong Chinese in their Audi R8 LMS of Team Phoenix Racing Asia took the lead after starting from position two and had a three-second advantage over their closest rivals on crossing the finish line that saw them celebrate their second success this season. In race one at Okayama International Circuit, the duo had taken fifth place. In the drivers’ standings, the two Audi drivers are ranked in a second place that’s tied on points.

Greg Taylor dominates at Sydney

Having clinched two victories at Sydney Motorsport Park, Audi driver Greg Taylor extended his lead in the Australian GT Trophy Series. The Australian in his Audi R8 LMS had previously shown a strong performance in qualifying by securing pole position. In race one, he dominated the action, seeing the checkered flag with a near-13-second advantage. In race two, Taylor fought a nail-biting duel with his Audi brand colleague Rob Smith. In the end, Taylor brought home victory with a half-second-advantage to celebrate his fifth win in the sixth race of the season.

Three podium places for Audi at the Nürburgring

Successful race weekend for Belgian Audi Club Team WRT in the Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup at the Nürburgring: Christopher Mies and Enzo Ide in the Audi R8 LMS decided the qualification race for round three of the season in their favor by a narrow margin. In third place, Will Stevens and René Rast in another R8 LMS perfected WRT’s good team result. In the main race, Stevens/Rast as the best Audi team took second place.

Third victory this season for Tockwith Motorsports

Tockwith Motorsports celebrated its third victory on the fourth race weekend of the Dunlop Endurance Championship. Phil Hanson and Nigel Moore at the wheel of an Audi R8 LMS ultra qualified for position three on the grid and went on to battle for the top spot during the 2-hour race at Thruxton Circuit. On seeing the checkered flag after 90 laps, the duo had a 15-second advantage.

Kelvin van der Linde supports young drivers

At the fifth edition of the Young Drivers Days, young adults between 18 and 24 years of age had the opportunity to improve their driving style in 12 different workshops. In Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, for example, the 120 participants learned about first aid, tires and brakes. A ride as a passenger of a professional race driver was the highlight of the day at the event organized by the Young Drivers a.s.b.l non-profit organization. South African Kelvin van der Linde, the 2014 ADAC GT Masters Champion in an Audi R8 LMS, taught the young drivers in an Audi R8 how to safely operate a car in road traffic.

Oliver Jarvis successfully tackles Ironman Frankfurt

“Well done” to Audi factory driver Oliver Jarvis. The Briton successfully finished the Ironman Frankfurt. For the long-distance triathlon covering a total distance of 226 kilometers, divided into 3.8 kilometers of swimming in the Langener Waldsee lake, 180 kilometers of cycling between Frankfurt and Friedberg, plus the classic marathon running distance of 42.195 kilometers along the Main river, Jarvis required a total of 10h 52m20s.

Tom Kristensen takes part in historic event

Tom Kristensen was pleased about competing in the Schloss Bensberg Classics. At the historic rally, the nine-time Le Mans winner and Audi Sport Ambassador shared a 38-hp DKW F93 built in 1956 with former Chairman of Audi’s Board of Management Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen. The participants covered a total distance of 185 kilometers through the Bergisches Land region with start and finish at Althoff Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg and completed regularity tests.

Ready for new tasks

The next round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) will see Audi in a new line-up of responsibilities. Stefan Dreyer, who previously served as Head of Operations LMP Engines, has assumed the role of Head of LMP at Audi Sport effective July 1. He will appear in public in this role for the first time at the Nürburgring from July 22 to 24 when Erik Schuivens will start as the new race engineer for Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer as well.

Lucas di Grassi is vice champion in Formula E

Lucas di Grassi claimed the vice championship in Formula E in London. The Audi factory driver who competes for Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport in the electric racing series had to admit defeat to the Swiss Sébastien Buemi in the last of a total of ten races only due to the two points awarded for the fastest race lap. The Brazilian mounted the podium seven times this season, clinching three victories in the process. His teammate Daniel Abt on taking second place in the finale celebrated his third podium finish this season. The new season will kick off in Hong Kong on October 9.

A word from … Edoardo Mortara

The Italian from Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline after eight in 18 races ranks in second place of the DTM drivers’ standing with a deficit of only two points.

You gave Audi its first Norisring victory in 14 years last weekend. What kind of a feeling was that?

Obviously, that was a very special moment. Everyone at Audi and I, personally, was really happy to have ended this negative string. But the 25 points I received in the drivers’ and Audi in the manufacturers’ standings were even more important. In that respect, the race track doesn’t matter. You have to fight hard for any success in the DTM and being rewarded is a good feeling.

After four of nine DTM race weekends, you are in second place overall as the best Audi driver. So, in 2016, your only aim can be the title win…

By all means, but not just this year. After all, I had chances of becoming champion up to the season’s finale in 2015 as well. At the moment, things are looking pretty good again. But we’re still at a relatively early stage of the season to make any really reliable predictions. I’m thinking in small steps. There’s so much that can happen in the DTM. The lead of the standings changes after nearly every race.

The series will continue in two weeks at Zandvoort where you celebrated your second DTM victory in 2012. What are your expectations this year?

I’m not traveling there with specific aims. I’d simply like to give my best and achieve the maximum. If that means a sixth place I’ll be just as happy as with a second place. I’m expecting BMW, like last year, to be very strong again. I generally like the track a lot. There are many fluid, fast corners that suit me. I also like the coastal surroundings.

Germany beat Italy in the UEFA Euro 2016 quarter-final. Did you watch the game?

Yes, even though Germany is the reigning world champion the result came as a surprise for me, at least from a statistical perspective. Germany has never beaten Italy before in a major tournament. Losing on penalties is always unfortunate but generally speaking, I’m happy with the performance of my compatriots. Nobody had expected them to be playing such a strong tournament.

Coming up next week
07–10/07 Buriram (THA), rounds 3 and 4, Thailand Super Series
08–09/07 Spa (B), round 6, British GT Championship
08–09/07 Hockenheim (D), rounds 9 and 10, DMV GTC
08–10/07 Mosport (CDN), round 6, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
08–10/07 Townsville (AUS), round 5, Australian GT Championship

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