Audi Motorsport Newsletter 35/2016

Audi R8 LMS Cup: Marchy Lee and Alex Yoong win in Korea

During the fourth race weekend of the Audi R8 LMS Cup in Korea, the spectators witnessed gripping duels. In race one, pole sitter Alessio Picariello collided with ex Formula 1 driver Alex Yoong, which ended the race early for Picariello. Victory went to Marchy Lee, who was trailed by Rahel Frey. Jan Kisiel, who had crossed the finish line in position three, dropped to fourth place due to a retroactive time penalty, trailing Kyong-Ouk You. In the second race, Alex Yoong struck back and secured victory, trailed by Martin Rump, Marchy Lee and Alessio Picariello. In the standings of the Audi one-make cup, Yoong extended his lead to eleven points, with Marchy Lee in second place trailed by Picariello in third with a deficit of another point.

Second place for Filipe Albuquerque and Marco Mapelli

A podium for Team Audi Sport Italia on the sixth race weekend of the Italian GT Championship at Imola: Filipe Albuquerque and Marco Mapelli in an Audi R8 LMS clinched second place in Sunday’s race. In the first heat on Saturday, in position four, they just barely missed a podium place. Before the final weekend at Mugello, Albuquerque and Mapelli are in third place of the standings, with a two-point deficit to the leader.

DMV GTC: Tommy Tulpe wins at Most

Successful weekend for Tommy Tulpe in the penultimate round of the DMV GTC at Most (Czech Republic): The German in the Audi R8 LMS of Team HCB-Rutronik Racing finished race one in second place overall. In the second heat, he clinched victory following the retirement of his fiercest rival. In the Dunlop 60 race concluding the event, Tommy Tulpe, together with Christoph Dupré, celebrated another victory in the Audi R8 LMS.

Marcel Fässler competes in bicycle race

Audi factory driver Marcel Fässler used the break between his WEC commitments in the United States and Japan to participate in the Iron Bike Race in Einsiedeln (Switzerland). Fässler mastered the challenging 77-kilometer route with a vertical difference of 2,300 meters in 4h 06m 37.1s, barely above his personal best time, and finished the race in 36th place in a field of 179 entrants.

Green and Müller drive high-powered Audi cars through Budapest

Before the DTM event at Budapest, Audi DTM drivers Jamie Green and Nico Müller presented themselves to the Hungarian motorsport fans. Green and Müller initially fulfilled wishes for autographs and pictures near Heroes’ Square. Afterwards, the two drove high-powered Audi cars through the streets of the Hungarian capital, giving the spectators a huge thrill. Green drove the Audi RS 5 DTM race taxi and Müller was at the wheel of the Audi R8 safety car.

Mike Rockenfeller visits Schaeffler in Hungary

For Audi factory driver Mike Rockenfeller the race weekend in Hungary began with a special event. The Schaeffler brand ambassador visited the FAG site in Debrecen where he was given a plant tour. In addition, the DTM driver was presented with a special souvenir: the 200 millionth bearing produced at the Hungarian plant in September. Some 100 Schaeffler employees from Debrecen and Szombathely were supporting Rockenfeller during the DTM event at the Hungaroring.

Gosia Rdest with her own fan club

For Audi Sport TT Cup driver Gosia Rdest the weekend at Budapest was a special one. During the two races at the challenging Hungaroring the Pole was able to rely on the resounding support by numerous fans from her circle of family and friends. “Driving in front of so many supporters obviously gave me an extra dose of motivation. It was a great feeling to see their banners while driving past the grandstands,” said the 23-year-old whose management had arranged for special t-shirts and bus travel specifically for the total of 63 supporters.

A word from… René Rast

The Audi factory driver about his stint in the Audi RS 5 DTM in the finale at Hockenheim where he will be standing in for Mattias Ekström who, at the same time, will be battling for the title in the World Rallycross Championship at the Estering with his privateer Team EKS.

Your second DTM race is coming up soon. When did you find out about it?

It was discussed following Mattias Ekström’s victory at Barcelona. Even before that, there was hope that “Eki” would do a great job there and I might slip into the cockpit as a result. Obviously, I’m happy about it! I previously had the opportunity to catch a whiff of a few kilometers of DTM air at Zandvoort, but it felt like there was even greater potential.

This time, your preparation and expectations are altogether different, aren’t they? You won’t have to jump into the DTM cockpit overnight…

My preparation is totally different. I’ll have two free practice sessions beforehand, can adjust my mind to it, talk to the engineers, plus look at data and watch videos. Consequently, things should be going a little better than at Zandvoort.

At Budapest, you listened to radio communications and watched the team. Was that beneficial in any way?

I knew how a day in the DTM goes, so that was nothing new for me. But I did gain additional insight. Listening in on Florian Modlinger’s radio, I found out how he works and tried to get a feel for it. That was interesting and a good way to prepare for Hockenheim.

There aren’t many tests in the DTM and now you’re allowed to do a tire test at the Hungaroring on Monday and Tuesday. That’s probably another good opportunity?

Every kilometer helps. An opportunity like this is very rare because there are almost no test days in the DTM. It’s great that I’m allowed to do this tire test.

You’ve been racing a lot in endurance events. Can you imagine a future in the DTM?

Why not? It’s a nice series. Driving the Audi RS 5 DTM is incredible fun. The field is very close and a thousandth of a second is crucial. You always have to do a perfect job. But it’s a fantastic challenge I’d like to accept.

Coming up next week
28/09–01/10 Road Atlanta (USA), round 11, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
30/09–02/10 Hockenheim (D), races 13 and 14, ADAC GT Masters
30/09–02/10 Hockenheim (D), races 11 and 12, Spezial Tourenwagen Trophy
01–02/10 Barcelona (E), round 5, Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup
01–02/10 Barcelona (E), round 5, Blancpain GT Sports Club
01–02/10 Monza (I), races 11 and 12, GT Open