Immaculate first qualifying session for Audi

The teams of Audi Sport customer racing completed a smooth run during the first qualifying session of the Nürburgring 24 Hours. “We used the time during qualifying to optimize the setup of our race cars, collect mileage and to prepare the drivers thoroughly,” said Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. “The drivers were very disciplined and everything went according to plan.” After a second qualifying session on Friday, the Top 30 qualifying shootout will determine the grid order for the race.

Audi Sport Team WRT is already qualified for the top 30, thanks to results achieved on the Nordschleife earlier this year, as is also the case with the no. 28 car from Audi Sport Team Land. The sister car, the no. 29 entry, ended Thursday as the best Audi in fourth place within the field of 157 cars. Only 2.294 seconds separated them from the fastest time over the 25-kilometer-long circuit. It was also the first day of competitive conditions for the two new Audi R8 LMS GT4 cars. Audi Sport Team Phoenix ended the day with the new cars in positions 44 and 45. “At this stage, every kilometer counts,” says Chris Reinke. “During the debut of the car, we have already noticed a big step in its development.”