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18 youngsters from 13 nations and three continents Average age of 20 years underscores Audi’s support of young talent Rolf Michl: “International and attractive field” The first decision in the 2015 Audi Sport TT Cup has been made. The 18 permanent slots for the season have been awarded. A high-caliber jury that included Audi Sport TT Cup coach Markus Winkelhock, Le Mans winner Marco Werner and the former rally driver Sepp Haider selected 15 young international male and three female drivers. The field of the 2015 Audi Sport TT Cup is made up of entrants from 13 nations and three continents. With three drivers, Germany has the largest representation. In addition, drivers from ten other European countries, as well as the USA and Hong Kong, will be on the grid. At the mere age of 16, the Fin Joonas Lappalainen is the youngest, while 25-year-old Josh Caygill, from Great Britain, is the oldest driver in the field. The average age of 20 years is correspondingly low. This underscores Audi’s ambitions of affording young international talent an opportunity to enter the company’s successful motorsport world. “We had 165 applications from 30 nations,” says Project Leader Rolf Michl. “We intensively reviewed every single application and in a multi-stage selection process chose the 18 drivers who are now given the chance to prove themselves in the Audi Sport TT Cup. Our aim was to have a very international and attractive field – and we’ve achieved this. Now, we’re looking forward to getting to know the 18 selected drivers better at the fitness camp and during the initial track tests at the beginning of March.” In 2015, two races of the Audi Sport TT Cup will be held at each of six DTM events. In addition to the permanent entrants, six “seats” are reserved for changing guest drivers. quattro GmbH centrally prepares and fields the 24 cars.

Rookies Nielsen and van der Linde win in Audi one-make cup Prince Bernhard van Oranje celebrates two podium places Dennis Marschall defends lead in overall standings The Audi Sport TT Cup celebrated a tremendous premiere at Zandvoort. In the Audi one-make cup’s first visit to the Dutch North Sea coast, the Dane Nicklas Nielsen and Sheldon van der Linde from South Africa triumphed. The Dutch Prince Bernhard van Oranje contested the races in the guest entrants’ classification and finished on podium twice – ahead of ski stars Adrien Théaux (F) and Peter Fill (I). In the dunes of Zandvoort, the young drivers delivered two thrilling races with many door-to-door duels to the large number of fans. In round two on Sunday, Sheldon van der Linde proved his talent once more. From pole position, the 17-year-old clinched an uncontested lights-to-flag victory – his fourth success this season. Nicklas Nielsen and Max Hofer (A) perfected an all-rookie podium. “Three newcomers on podium is something we haven’t seen yet this year,” said Project Leader Philipp Mondelaers. “The results underscore the solid pre-season evaluation work and tremendous development of our young talents.” The first race on Saturday had been won by a rookie – Nicklas Nielsen – as well. Like van der Linde on Sunday the 19-year-old drove to victory from pole position – scoring his first ever win in the Audi one-make cup. Following his triumph, Nielsen’s compatriot Tom Kristensen was among those extending their congratulations. Kristensen had kept his fingers crossed for Nielsen alongside the track and expressed great praise for all the young talents in the Audi one-make cup as well. Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing, confirmed these sentiments: “Zandvoort was another highlight for the Audi Sport TT Cup, not only due to the fantastic quality of racing delivered there but also thanks to the high-caliber guest entrants who inspired a lot of interest among the fans and media.”

Young Finn claims overall victory in Audi one-make cup Nicklas Nielsen in third place overall wins rookies’ classification Application stage for 2017 Audi Sport TT Cup is in full swing Joonas Lappalainen secured the title in the Audi Sport TT Cup season finale at the Hockenheimring. In the last race, the Finn, who is only 18 years old, came in third place, trailing Dennis Marschall and Nicklas Nielsen, and relegated the German Marschall and Nielsen from Denmark to positions two and three in the overall classification. Still, Nielsen had good reason to celebrate, too. The newcomer in the Audi one-make cup, on achieving two second places, claimed victory in the rookies’ classification. Joonas Lappalainen celebrated the greatest success in his still young career with Finnish composure. Mellow Lappalainen drove to win the title. The Finn, who in 2015 claimed fourth place overall, was one of only three drivers this season to see the checkered flag in each event, mounting the podium eleven times in 14 races and deciding four of them in his favor. As the overall winner, the 18-year-old will receive a promotion and support in the customer sport program of Audi Sport customer racing worth 150,000 euros. “In Joonas Lappalainen, the 2016 Audi Sport TT Cup has a deserving champion,” says Project Leader Philipp Mondelaers. “He showed consistently strong performances throughout the season and made no mistakes. Still, it was a balanced battle through to the last race, as we had an even stronger field of drivers this year than in our inaugural season of 2015.” This is underlined by the fact that four drivers still had title chances before the season finale – even including two rookies, Nicklas Nielsen and Sheldon van der Linde. So, it was between Nielsen and van der Linde that the thrilling duel for the title in the juniors’ classification ensued at the Hockenheimring. In the end, the Dane Nielsen had the stronger nerves.

Sheldon van der Linde travels to the Norisring as overall leader Bundesliga coach to run as guest entrant in Audi one-make cup Applications for the 2017 season now being accepted Following its visit to the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, the Audi Sport TT Cup is back on familiar ground. As part of the DTM’s supporting program one race each on Saturday, June 25 and on Sunday, June 26, will be held in the Audi one-make cup at the Norisring. The race weekend at the challenging city street circuit in Nuremberg has special significance for the organizational team of the Audi Sport TT Cup. It is the home round for the brand with the four rings and promises to deliver gripping motorsport again. “Last year, the spectators saw two thrilling races with many fantastic duels,” says Project Leader Philipp Mondelaers. “Only the rain on Saturday put a slight damper on the mood. Hopefully, the whole weekend will be dry this year.” With three victories in four races the South African Sheldon van der Linde is the dominant campaigner at the moment. Two drivers are lurking behind the 17-year-old overall leader: Dennis Marschall, who finished last season in third place, and Joonas Lappalainen from Finland. Having clinched podium places at Hocken­heim and at the Nürburgring, both drivers have demonstrated their ambitions for the title. Now, they are set on taking advantage of their experience from the Audi Sport TT Cup’s inaugural season on the 2.3-kilometer high-speed track. “The Norisring is a great circuit requiring a lot of discipline. As there are practically no run-off areas the track commands high concentration of the field,” says Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. In the guest entrants’ classification, Bundesliga coach Michael Henke will be battling for victory. The 59-year-old’s career includes stints as assistant coach of Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern München. Since 2013, Henke has been active in this role at FC Ingolstadt.

Audi one-make cup visits Zandvoort for the first time Dennis Marschall comes to the Netherlands as overall leader Dutch prince Bernhard van Oranje starts as guest driver For the first time in its short history, the Audi Sport TT Cup appears in the Netherlands. As part of the DTM support program, the Audi one-make cup stages two races – one on Saturday, July 16 and one on Sunday, July 17 – around the legendary Zandvoort track. Summer, sun and sand is the name of the game during the fourth of seven Audi Sport TT Cup race weekends – and obviously a healthy dose of thrilling motorsport will be delivered as well. As well as high-speed sections, Circuit Park Zandvoort offers plenty of challenging sectors. “The circuit at Zandvoort is something very special, as it’s only a stone’s throw away from the North Sea,” says Project Leader Philipp Mondelaers. “From time to time, the wind blows sand from the dunes across the track and provides our talented young drivers with challenging conditions due to the ever changing grip levels.” The Audi Sport TT Cup organization team has pulled off a coup in the guest starter classification. The Dutch prince Bernhard van Oranje (NL) is on parade in his home race. The 46-year old royal is the second son of Pieter van Vollenhoven and Margriet van Oranje-Nassau, the Princess of the Netherlands. Two top-class athletes will challenge him: Adrien Théaux (F) and Peter Fill (I) from the Audi FIS Ski World Cup bring a breath of winter sport to the beach at Zandvoort. The 31-year old Théaux won the bronze medal in the Super G at the Alpine World Ski Championships 2015 in Vail and Beaver Creek, and also celebrated three victories in the Downhill World Cup. The 33-year old Fill was World Championship runner-up in Super G in 2009, and became the first Italian to win the Downhill World Cup in the 2015/16 season. Following his strong performance at the Norisring, Dennis Marschall has now taken the overall championship lead in the Audi Sport TT Cup.

Numerous overtaking maneuvers in race 2 at the Hockenheimring Dennis Marschall takes top spot in the drivers’ standings Tanner Foust wins rallycross superstars challenge Race two of the Audi Sport TT Cup at the Hockenheimring was a humdinger. On a wet track, the crowd got to see plenty of overtaking maneuvers, two caution periods, plus a thrilling five-way battle for victory. Dennis Marschall (D) prevailed in a closely fought finale and celebrated his first victory in the cup race car. In difficult conditions, the race of the new Audi one-make cup was initially marked by position battles and a few spins – resulting in the safety car being deployed twice. Seven laps into the race, a gripping battle ensued in which Marschall with a bold maneuver in the hairpin pushed past Nicolaj Møller Madsen (DK) and went on to defend his top spot to the checkered flag. “The whole weekend went perfectly,” said Marschall. “Third place yesterday and victory today. That’s something you can build on for the season.” Møller Madsen had to defend himself against fierce attacks by Alexis van de Poele (B), Marc Coleselli (A) and Joonas Lappalainen (FIN) on the remaining laps. But the Dane kept the upper hand and, as in the Audi Sport TT Cup’s premiere on Saturday, finished as the runner-up. Van de Poele completed the podium in third. Marschall is now leading the drivers’ standings after two races with 43 points, closely trailed by Møller Madsen (42) and Coleselli (41). The race weekend was the baptism of fire in a cup race car for the 18-year-old Marschall. Last year, the driver from Germany’s Baden region clinched three race victories in the ADAC Formel Masters and at the end of the year switched from single-seater racing to the Audi Sport TT Cup. His family has a successful tradition of success in one-make cup racing. His father, Thomas Marschall, won the SEAT Leon Supercopa an amazing three times and is nicknamed ‘Mr. One-Make-Cup.’

Three noblemen to compete in Audi’s one-make cup as guest drivers Dennis Marschall travels to the Norisring as overall leader Application stage for 2016 season has started The second race weekend of the Audi Sport TT Cup will see members of nobility on the grid. Albert von Thurn und Taxis, Pierre Casiraghi and Marcus Graf von Oeynhausen-Sierstorpff will be competing in both races on the Norisring on June 27 and 28 as guest drivers, contesting their very own challenge. For the organizational team of quattro GmbH the duel between the blue-blooded racers in Audi’s home round at the Norisring is a special coup. “We started planning the event several months ago,” says Project Leader Rolf Michl. “Now we’re delighted that we’ve managed to have three noblemen on the grid as guest entrants, which adds further value to the Audi Sport TT Cup as part of the DTM race weekend.” 31-year-old Albert von Thurn und Taxis is the youngest child of Johannes and Gloria von Thurn und Taxis. The passionate race driver has already clinched nine race victories in the ADAC GT Masters and won the drivers’ classification in 2010. 27-year-old Pierre Casiraghi is the youngest child of Caroline, Princess of Hanover and Stefano Casiraghi, and the nephew of Albert II, Prince of Monaco. In addition to starts in rally races, he contested the Scirocco R-Cup as a guest driver in 2014. 53-year-old Marcus Count of Oeynhausen-Sierstorpff is from the noble family of Oeynhausen and managing shareholder of the Graf von Oeynhausen-Sierstorpff group of companies, as well as CEO of the Bilster Berg Drive Resort, a race track near Paderborn. The field of guest entrants at the Norisring also includes Doreen Seidel (German Playmate of the year 2008). The 29-year-old started racing in 2011 and has participated in various Cup competitions ever since. Suspense is guaranteed in the field of the 18 permanent entrants as well. Dennis Marschall is traveling to the Norisring as the leader of the drivers’ standings.

Opening round of Audi’s one-make cup as part of 2015 DTM Festival Famous guest drivers start at Hockenheim Project Leader Rolf Michl: “The final tests went smoothly” The officials of the Audi Sport TT Cup will be looking back on twelve months of preparation when the new Audi one-make cup debuts at the Hockenheimring on May 2 and 3, 2015. A cup race will be held on both Saturday and Sunday as part of the 2015 DTM Festival. In addition to the 18 permanent entrants, six guest drivers will be on the grid. In contrast to the setup work for the race weekend being in full swing at Hockenheim, the drivers of the Audi Sport TT Cup have already completed their preparations. Last Saturday, they simulated a race day on the short configuration of the Hockenheimring with free practice, qualifying and race simulation. “Our participants from 13 nations again proved their professionalism that day,” says Rolf Michl, Project Leader Audi Sport TT Cup. “The final tests went smoothly and now we are even more excited about starting to race.” Sven Hannawald (D), Tanner Foust (USA) and three journalists with racing experience, who are going to climb into the cockpit as guest entrants at Hockenheim, participated in the final test as well. The sixth guest entry, rallycross driver Toomas Heikkinen, was absent due to his participation at the season opener of FIA World Rallycross Championship in Portugal. The Audi Sport TT Cup race weekend will start on Thursday, April 30, at 13.50 with free practice. In qualifying on Friday, the participants are going to battle for the grid positions in both races, starting at 9.35. The fastest lap will be classified for round one and the second-fast lap for round two. The first race will be started on Saturday at 10.10. On Sunday, at 9.40, the 24 participants are going to contest the second race. Both rounds will be broadcast by live streaming on www.audi-motorsport.com. – End –