Claiming their second-straight Bathurst 12 Hour win last weekend, Audi Sport remains "King of the Mountain” at Australia's most challenging race and track. Taking the first place win was Christer Jöns, Christopher Mies and Darryl O’Young in the #1 Audi Sport Team Phoenix "Kangaroo" Audi R8 LMS. Despite many weather-related challenges, safety car periods and lead changes, the #1 R8 LMS would prevail with 1 minute 13 second lead over the second place Mercedes. Full report after the jump.
Ingolstadt/Bathurst, February 26, 2012 – The Audi R8 LMS remains "King of the Mountain” at Bathurst. On Australia’s most challenging race track the successful GT3 sports car from Audi Sport customer racing defended its title at the 12-hour race. Christer Jöns (D), Christopher Mies (D) and Darryl O’Young (HK) won the endurance classic at Mount Panorama in extremely difficult conditions. Rain, fog, several lead changes and numerous safety car periods repeatedly interrupted the young trio’s race rhythm. But in the end they won with a 1m 13s advantage.
Audi remains unbeaten at Bathurst: For the second time in succession, the R8 LMS prevailed in the most important GT endurance race on the fifth continent. Conditions were far more difficult than they had been a year ago. Varying intensities of rain and dense fog at times caused a number of spins, excursions and yellow periods. The first four hours of the race alone saw the three different vehicles take turns in leading the race. From the fourth hour onward, Phoenix Racing prevailed at the front. Both R8 LMS cars of the squad from Meuspath (Germany) fought a thrilling battle for the top position. Even a spin and an excursion into the gravel trap that temporarily relegated the black number "1” R8 LMS to third place could not prevent Jöns/Mies/O’Young from taking victory. On Saturday, the trio had already been the measure of all things by setting the fastest time in qualifying and capturing position one on the grid. Victory on Sunday completed a perfect weekend. The triumph at Bathurst marked as much as the 119th win in the three-year career of Audi’s successful customer race car.
The second Audi R8 LMS from Phoenix Racing was less fortunate. The Australian trio Warren Luff/Craig Lowndes/Mark Eddy had initially shown a strong performance, advancing to the front of the field after having started from fifth place. In the fourth and fifth hour of the race the number "2” R8 LMS was even the leading car. A five-minute time penalty for a severed refueling hose though caused the white Audi to lose four laps at about the race’s mid-point. Afterward, on lap 157, Mark Eddy lost control of his car in dense fog and heavy rain. He crashed into a concrete wall with the left side of the car on "The Dipper” track section. He was forced to retire with front and rear suspension damage. As early as on lap 60 the Audi R8 LMS of Team United Autosports had become victim to the treacherous conditions as well. Frank Yu from Hong Kong spun and damaged the frame of the vehicle on hitting a wall. Neither of the two drivers sustained any injuries.
Audi has now won four major endurance races within twelve months, having recorded two successes at the Bathurst 12 Hours and one victory each at the 24-hour races on the Belgian circuits at Spa and Zolder, plus GT3 class victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. This year, the 24-hour classics in the Eifel and the Ardennes are again on the R8 LMS’ agenda. The coming weekend will also see the start of the first of numerous GT3 championships in the 2012 season in which Audi customer sport teams are represented. At Adelaide, Australia, Mark Eddy will be competing as the title defender on the first weekend in March. Together with his team-mate Warren Luff he is aiming to make up in the R8 LMS for what he unfortunately was unable to achieve at Bathurst – the leap onto the podium.
Quotes after the race:
Romolo Liebchen (Head of Customer Sport quattro GmbH)
"After this weekend we can be more than happy because we experienced a pretty rough day. We were fighting for twelve hours straight, from the beginning through to the end, and we did so in difficult overall conditions. We won but on the other hand two of the Audi cars did not finish due to accidents – including our strong Australian car. In the end, one R8 LMS made it, and our youngsters prevailed with a really cool showing. A tremendous performance! The cars were running without any problem from the first meter on. They’d been perfectly prepared at home and were perfectly fielded by Phoenix Racing. And it’s nice for us to be able to beat our core competitors and to finish ahead of Mercedes and Ferrari. That does fill us with a bit of pride. The two 24-hour races at the Nürburgring and at Spa are the next big aims for the R8 LMS. In parallel, we’ll soon be starting into about 20 championships worldwide where the R8 LMS will be fielded.”
Ernst Moser (Team Director Phoenix Racing)
"The balanced performance of the victorious driver trio was the secret of success. They were all very good because conditions at Bathurst were really difficult. The competition was lying in wait up to the final lap. A big ‘well done’ to the drivers and to my squad. In terms of strategy we didn’t have an advantage throughout, as some rivals repeatedly managed to make up ground in yellow periods. But we were always able to recover. We all love endurance races. After the victories at the Nürburgring and at Spa, our team’s track record now shows a success at Bathurst as well. Our second car was in contention for victory too. Craig and Warren consistently remained without mistakes. Unfortunately, Mark reached the limit in rain. Heavily touching the wall after a small mistake is a really tough experience. Otherwise, the car would also have been at the very front in the end. They were leading the race some of the time. They are three tremendous guys. I’d really love to see them travel to Germany and drive an endurance race at the Nürburgring with us some day.”
Christer Jöns (Audi Top Service R8 LMS #1)
"I can hardly believe it! I truly enjoyed watching the scenes at the end of the race on TV once more. This is my first victory in the Audi R8 LMS, and on my Bathurst debut of all times. Darryl (O’Young) safely drove the car to the finish line in the end. That was really a rough, challenging race with a lot of unknown quantities. The weather was unpredictable and the track conditions kept changing. And it was a true battle all the way up to the end.”
Christopher Mies (Audi Top Service R8 LMS #1)
"This victory is fantastic because my race wasn’t exactly easy. A Ferrari overtook us early on. Christer (Jöns) took over the car later and then I was driving in rain again. We were running far in front when my rear wheels locked when I was braking into the last turn. So I slipped into the gravel trap. We truly experienced some highs and lows. In the end, we won with a lead of a little over a minute. In rain we were five seconds faster some of the time than our sister car and the Mercedes that ultimately finished as the runner-up. We also made the quickest pit stops. At the end, I had tears in my eyes because this victory was the result of an ultra-tough battle in incredibly bad weather against strong rivals.”
Darryl O’Young (Audi Top Service R8 LMS #1)
"The team was tremendous. The cooperation between quattro GmbH and Phoenix Racing was fantastic. As well as for Phoenix, Australia was new territory for Christer Jöns, who did a first-class job of driving. For me, it’s been one of my toughest races due to the constantly changing conditions. There was a lot of hydroplaning and at times we had to drive on slicks in the rain. A fantastic showing by all. Many thanks from me to the whole squad.”
Mark Eddy (Audi Finance R8 LMS #2)
"Working with Phoenix Racing was great fun. We were competitive throughout the weekend and the team did a really good job. In the race both Audi cars were running at the front some of the time but as the race progressed conditions became more difficult due to rain and fog. Unfortunately, I then had the accident on the mountain and we retired. I let a warning message on the cockpit display briefly distract me. Now I’m hoping for better luck next weekend when the Australian GT Championship opens at which I’m competing with my own R8 LMS.”
Craig Lowndes (Audi Finance R8 LMS #2)
"It was great having contested a race again in the Audi R8 LMS. Phoenix Racing is top-notch and gave us a very warm welcome. And the R8 LMS is simply a sensational car that is very pleasant to drive and that you don’t mind trusting. Up to the accident we had an outstanding weekend. The conditions were pretty difficult and it’s not easy anyway to be quick at Mount Panorama. Mark Eddy was simply struck by misfortune in the fog. I enjoyed driving again for Audi Sport customer racing. I hope this wasn’t the last run.”
Warren Luff (Audi Finance R8 LMS #2)
"Even though the weekend didn’t end the way we’d been hoping it would it was great driving with Phoenix Racing. Our speed during the first half of the race was good and we were already faster than at our lap record last year. The car was very quick and consistent. When the weather changed Mark (Eddy) unfortunately had an accident on the mountain. But that’s part of racing too. Mark and I are now looking forward to the next weekend. That’s when his title defense in the Australian GT Championship starts and I’ll be running together with him. Hopefully, we’ll be at the very front then in the Audi R8 LMS.”
Race results:
1 Jöns/Mies/O’Young (Audi R8 LMS), 270 laps in 12h 03m 31.375s
2 Slade/Bleekemolen/Hackett/Curtis (Mercedes) + 1m 13.284s
3 Sun/Baird/Griffin (Ferrari) - 2 laps
4 Tinkler/Johnson/Richards (Porsche) - 16 laps
5 O’Donnell/Niall/McLennon (Porsche) - 26 laps
6 Alford/Leemhuis/Beechey (Porsche) - 33 laps
7 Pye/Barbour/Pither (Holden) - 39 laps
8 Thomlinson/Dippie/Maddren (Porsche) - 42 laps
9 Thomson/Klien/Harley (Lotus) - 43 laps
10 Newman/Lillie/Atkinson (Holden) - 48 laps
Source: Audi Motorsport
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Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Audi wins second straight Bathurst 12 Hour race
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Audi R8 LMS features pair of exotic liveries for 2012 Bathurst 12 Hour
Sporting an exotic pair of Australian wildlife-themed liveries for 2012, the Audi R8 LMS will again compete in the famous Bathurst 12 Hour race in Australia later this month. Emblazoned with the unmistakable "Kangaroo crossing" sign, the black R8 LMS will be piloted by Christer Jöns, Christopher Mies and Darryl O’Young. In the Australian Redback spider themed white R8 LMS, will be Mark Eddy, Craig Lowndes and Warren Luff. Both cars will be entered by Phoenix Racing. Full report and photo gallery after the jump.
Ingolstadt, January 29, 2012 – The two Phoenix Racing Audi R8 LMS will be two visually striking highlights in the field at the Bathurst 12 hours at the end of February.
Black and white: The two Audi R8 LMS which compete in the 12 hours Bathurst between February 24 and 26 are unique with their visual references to the animal kingdom. Christer Jöns/Christopher Mies/Darryl O’Young share a black R8 LMS. An oversized version of the world-famous yellow traffic sign symbolizing the kangaroo is reproduced on the bodywork. A spider’s web covers the entire surface of the white sister car driven by Mark Eddy/Craig Lowndes/Warren Luff. A typical Australian Redback spider sits in the web.
Source: Audi Motorsport
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Audi R8 GRAND-AM makes race debut at 50th Rolex 24
Despite being plagued by mechanical problems throughout the race, both Audi R8 GRAND-AM teams would persevere to see the checkered flag Sunday at the 50th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Finishing in 31st place was Team APR Motorsport and drivers Ian Baas, Nelson Canache, Dion von Moltke, Dr. Jim Norman and Emanuele Pirro. In 32nd place was the Oryx Racing team and drivers Humaid Al Masaood, Saeed Al Mehairi and Steven Kane. Press release and photo gallery after the jump.
Ingolstadt, January 29, 2012 – Further boost for an attractive scene: the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series has a new member – the Audi R8 GRAND-AM. Two examples of the powerful 480 hp GT sportscar celebrated their premiere in tough conditions at Daytona. The customer teams APR Motorsport and Oryx Racing were classified at the finish.
Audi Sport customer racing’s attractive program is a valuable element richer: the Audi R8 GRAND-AM vitalizes the hard fought North American market in GT racing since January. No less than 44 GT race cars contested the season opener in Florida. The 50th running and anniversary event of the ‘Rolex 24 at Daytona’ provided a worthy venue for the debut of the Audi R8 GRAND-AM car. Team APR Motorsport finished in 31st place with its drivers Ian Baas (USA)/Nelson Canache (YV)/Dion von Moltke (ZA)/Dr. Jim Norman (USA)/Emanuele Pirro (I). Oryx Racing came home in 32nd place with Humaid Al Masaood (UAE)/Saeed Al Mehairi (UAE)/Steven Kane (GB).
At all other GRAND-AM races up to the end of September the race car, newly developed by quattro GmbH, will compete in the United States and Canada in the hands of private customer teams. The customer racing car is distributed through Audi of America. Brad Kettler, who has been integrated for many years as engineer in Audi’s Le Mans program, has built up a service and logistic structure. As a result, the Audi customers are provided with expert support during race preparation and also during the events.
In addition to the bases in Japan, Australia and China a fourth base is now also created in the USA in order to provide optimum support for the private teams with their cars. Under these conditions the Audi R8 GRAND-Am has the opportunity of continuing the blossoming success story in the hands of customer teams. The US version was developed using the Audi R8 LMS as basis. This GT3 sportscar has won no less than 118 races and 13 championship titles worldwide since 2009. Its successor – the Audi R8 LMS ultra available from March – will make its debut in a few weeks.
Source: Audi Motorsport
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Video: Emanuele Pirro tests the APR Motorsport Audi R8 GRAND-AM at Daytona
Just two days ago, we posted the first look at the APR Motorsport Audi R8 GRAND-AM in its full race livery; along with news of Emanuele Pirro's addition to the APR squad for 2012 Rolex 24 at Daytona. While pictures and press releases are all well and good, we've been dying to see (and hear) what this car is like on the track. And what better way to experience that thrill than with this awesome on-board video from APR of Mr. Pirro doing what he does best. Video after the jump.
Source: APR Motorsport (YouTube)
Thursday, January 5, 2012
APR Motorsport reveals Audi R8 GRAND-AM in full race livery; Emanuele Pirro joins squad for Rolex 24
Following a few early sketches and many a tease on their Facebook page, APR Motorsport has officially revealed their brand-new Audi R8 GRAND-AM; in full race livery and ready for Daytona. In addition to showing off the completed race car for the first time, APR has also announced that Audi Sport veteran and five-time Le Mans winner Emanuele Pirro will join Ian Baas, Dion von Moltke, Dr. Jim Norman and Nelson Canache to round out the APR R8 squad for the 2012 Rolex 24 At Daytona. Full report and more photos after the jump.
OPELIKA, Ala. January 4, 2012 – Bolstering its first effort on the Rolex 24 at Daytona, APR Motorsport is proud to announce Emanuele Pirro – a man synonymous with Audi and success in endurance racing – will be behind the wheel of the no. 51 APR Motorsport Audi R8 Grand-Am for this year’s 24-hour classic.
“I would like to thank APR for giving me this opportunity to drive in one of the classic 24-hour races,” said Pirro. “I have a lot to learn, and I hope to be able, together with the rest of the APR Motorsport team, to finish the race in a good position to make the best possible introduction of the Audi R8 Grand-Am in the American market. I know the race will be super competitive. I am ready for it; I am well trained; I am in very good shape and very motivated. I will have a very open-minded approach, as I have very limited experience in the GT class, although I have overtaken tons of them in 10 years of prototype racing!”
Pirro’s success with Audi dates back to 1994 when he took the Italian Touring Car Championship at the wheel of an Audi 80 sedan. Sports car fans in America will undoubtedly link him to Audi’s legendary R8 and R10 LMP racers, which Pirro drove to five wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as two championships in the American Le Mans Series. After retiring from active competition with Audi, Pirro drove in select ALMS races in the Drayson Lola – earning himself a spot on SpeedHunters.com’s Greatest 20 Overtakes with a daring move to take the lead at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2010.
However, despite his many successes with Audi at LeMans, Daytona holds a special place in Pirro’s heart as he scored a class win in the 1981 race at the tender age of 19.
“The Rolex 24 at Daytona has a very special meaning for me,” said Pirro. “It was my very first car race outside of Italy, driving the Lancia Montecarlo Turbo in the World Endurance Championship opening round. My racing experience was very limited, and the longest race I had done was 25 minutes. I remember the first time I saw the track. I was almost shocked! After this fantastic experience, when I came back to Italy I was celebrated as a hero. I never went back and now, after 31 years, I am really excited about it.”
Rounding out the driver lineup for APR Motorsport will be Venezuelan Nelson Canache. A two-time champion in the Venezuelan Super Touring GT class, Canache spent his 2011 season competing in the Seat Leon Super Cup in Mexico as well as the NASCAR Whelen All American Series Championship. This will be the first Rolex 24 at Daytona for the Caracas native.
“I am extremely excited for my first attempt at the Rolex 24 at Daytona,” said Canache. “Daytona is one of the most famous racetracks in the world, and the 24 Hours is well-known in Venezuela. APR Motorsport is a great team, and I think we are going to have a great run in the 24 Hours later this month.”
With the driving lineup of the no. 51 APR Motorsport Audi R8 Grand-Am solidified, Stephen Hooks, president and CEO of APR, is anxiously awaiting the green flag at the Rolex 24 at Daytona at the end of the month.
“To have the chance to bring Emanuele on board for the Rolex 24 at Daytona is a dream come true,” said Hooks. “He’s one of the most successful endurance racers of our time and a hero to Audi fans all over the world. For us, he will be a tremendous wealth of knowledge and experience that we, as a team, can draw from. We aren’t underestimating the challenge of finishing the Rolex 24 at Daytona, but having Emanuele join APR gives everyone a big boost of confidence.
“Nelson tested with us recently, and he showed outstanding pace and gave great feedback in an unfamiliar car, setting a track record in his second on-track session. He will be a great addition to the team of Dion, Dr. Jim, Ian and of course, Emanuele.”
The APR drivers will get behind the wheel of the no. 51 APR Motorsport Audi R8 Grand-Am for the first time at this weekend’s Roar Before the 24, Friday January 6 through Sunday January 8, at Daytona International Speedway.
Click here to view the full photo gallery at GOAPR.com
Source: APR Motorsports
Monday, December 12, 2011
Audi R8 GRAND-AM completes successful test at Daytona
Complete with Captain America-esque stars-n'-stripes livery, the all-new Audi R8 GRAND-AM successfully completed its final testing last week at Daytona International Speedway. As part of the two-day event, Frank Stippler racked up over 600 miles at the track (following numerous tests in Europe), earning the R8 GRAND-AM an official green light for the 2012 season. Look for the new R8 GRAND-AM to make its race debut - fielded by APR Motorsport - at the 50th Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 28-29, 2012. Full report and photo gallery after the jump.
Ingolstadt, December 11, 2011 – The Audi R8 GRAND-AM successfully passed its baptism by fire. The new model was fine-tuned at the Daytona race track (U.S. state of Florida) during its final test on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Ready for the North American market: The development of the next customer sport race car from Audi Sport customer racing has been completed. The car will be delivered to the first customers by January. The new Audi R8 GRAND-AM is based on the extremely successful Audi R8 LMS that has scored more than 110 victories and 13 titles. From this GT3 race car quattro GmbH developed a vehicle for the Grand Touring class of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series in the USA and subjected it to final testing at Daytona.
After track tests in Europe the R8 GRAND-AM that features significant modifications compared to the GT3 race car underwent its final test in the heart of the region where it will be fielded in the future. On the two test days, Frank Stippler completed about 1000 kilometers (600 miles) in the visually conspicuous test car from quattro GmbH that sports a stars-and-stripes design. The famous Daytona International Speedway in the U.S. state of Florida with its banked turns served to prepare for the Daytona 24 Hours at which private racing customers will compete with the R8 GRAND AM on January 28th and 29th.
The Audi R8 GRAND-AM clearly differs from the GT3 "sister model” and required a fundamentally new set-up. Downforce, for instance, is drastically lower. About 70 to 80 percent of aerodynamic grip is lost because the GRAND-AM regulations prescribe modified body components. The new front splitter may only protrude from the front contours by 38 millimeters, for example. The front underbody must have a flat design. The rear diffusor corresponds to the production car component, while the standardized rear wing is only 152 centimeters wide and thus 260 millimeters slimmer than the rear wing of the R8 LMS. "The lower aerodynamic forces also require modified damper characteristics and softer spring rates,” explains Armin Plietsch, Head of Engineering Customer Sport at quattro GmbH. In addition, the regulations prescribe a ride height of 65 millimeters – which is about 10 millimeters more than the minimum in the FIA series.
At Daytona, Audi also familiarized itself with the tires from the series’ exclusive tire supplier, Continental. The GTR (for road courses) and GTO (for oval tracks) tire models influence suspension set-ups as well. ABS and traction control, which are standard equipment on the Audi R8 LMS, had to be deactivated for the R8 GRAND-AM. The optimized radiator package that Audi developed for the R8 LMS ultra is also used in the R8 GRAND-AM.
"We successfully tested all the modifications at Daytona,” says Romolo Liebchen, Head of Customer Sport at quattro GmbH. "With Frank Stippler we developed a sound and solid set-up for our customers and also gathered valuable findings in the endurance tests. The durability of wearing parts and runs at high outside temperatures meet challenging demands. We can now provide our racing customers with concrete advice and reference values for fielding the car.”
The rating of the Audi R8 GRAND AM is still an open issue. By January, a balance of performance is to be achieved between the various vehicles in the GT class. Audi has made one of the 5.2-liter V10 FSI engines used in the Audi R8 GRAND-AM available to the series’ engineers for a precise performance analysis. The engine’s power output and homologation weight will only be defined once this rating is available.
One of the customer teams for the 2012 season has already been determined. APR Motorsport from Opelika in the U.S. state of Alabama will be the first team to field the Audi R8 GRAND-AM. The squad is planning to contest the Daytona 24 Hours and the remainder of the races with its own driver combinations. Negotiations with three other teams are currently in the closing stage. A maximum of four Audi R8 GRAND-AM cars will be delivered for the 2012 season to ensure individual support and coordinated logistics. Audi of America is responsible for sales and support to customers in North America.
Source: Audi Motorsport
