• Drivers’ and manufacturers’ classifications in Intercontinental GT Challenge still undecided before season finale in California
  • Currently two teams with three Audi R8 LMS cars and nine drivers on the grid
California 8 Hours 2017
Audi R8 LMS #29 (Audi Sport Team Land)

Before the finale of the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) in California from October 26 to 28, Audi Sport customer racing has determined driver and team lineups: Two of the three Audi R8 LMS cars entered so far will be fielded by Vincent Vosse’s Team WRT. Wolfgang Land’s squad will compete in the California 8 Hours with another GT3 sports car of the brand.

Audi Sport Team WRT will be on the grid with Dutch Audi factory driver Robin Frijns from the DTM, title defender Markus Winkelhock and his Belgian fellow Audi Sport driver Dries Vanthoor. A second Audi R8 LMS of the Belgian team will be shared by the Briton Stuart Leonard, the up-and-coming South African driver Sheldon van der Linde and the Spaniard Alex Riberas. The Audi R8 LMS of Audi Sport Team Land will be driven by the two German Audi Sport drivers Christopher Haase and Christopher Mies. Audi Sport driver Kelvin van der Linde will complete this lineup. The South African won last year’s race together with Winkelhock. 

After Audi with its drivers in 2016 and 2017 won the manufacturers’ and drivers’ classifications in the only worldwide GT3 racing series, the teams are now facing a major task: Markus Winkelhock and Christopher Haase as the best Audi Sport drivers are separated from the top of the standings by 18 points before the finale, trailed by Robin Frijns and Dries Vanthoor who need 21 points to close the gap to the leaders. 25 points are awarded for a victory at Laguna Seca. 

The situation in the manufacturers’ classification is different. Here Audi is currently in position two of the standings and able to close a merely 9-point gap to front runner Mercedes-AMG. A brand that scores a one-two result achieves a maximum of 43 points. “Five prestigious manufacturers have submitted entries for the series. Our aim is to defend the title in the manufacturers’ classification,” says Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. “The situation in the drivers’ classification is particularly challenging, but we’re going to leave no stone unturned there either.” The two Audi drivers with the best point scores will not be driving together for the first time in this IGTC season. In this way, Audi Sport customer racing is dividing opportunities and risks between two cars and Markus Winkelhock as well as Christopher Haase will maintain a theoretical chance of winning the drivers’ title. In the rounds at Bathurst (Australia) and Spa (Belgium) Audi won the IGTC classification. Following a race in Japan, the California 8 Hours will mark the end of the season for the last time. Next year, a round in South Africa will complement the calendar as the season’s finale. 

The Audi Sport customer racing teams in the California 8 Hours

Audi Sport Team Land

Christopher Haase/Kelvin van der Linde/Christopher Mies (D/ZA/D)

Audi Sport Team WRT

Robin Frijns/Dries Vanthoor/Markus Winkelhock (NL/B/D)

Audi Sport Team WRT

Stuart Leonard/Sheldon van der Linde/Alex Riberas (GB/ZA/E)

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