Solid debut by United Autosports Successful premiere for Sainteloc Christian Abt debuts as team principal
Solid debut by United AutosportsGT3 Great Britain: The American-British United Autosports team managed a solid debut with the Audi R8 LMS. In preparation for the FIA GT3 European Championship United Autosports contested the season opener of the British GT3 Championship at Oulton Park. Richard Dean and Zak Brown finished both rounds in fourth place. The second United-R8 finished the first race in eighth and the second race in fifth place. Successful premiere for Sainteloc GT3 France: In its first race with the Audi R8 LMS Team Sainteloc was immediately the best Audi squad. Christophe Bouchut and Wilfried Mérafina clinched fourth and fifth place at the season opener of the French GT Championship at Nogaro on Easter weekend for the team that receives technical support by Phoenix Racing. This year, the French GT Championship is exclusively open to GT3 vehicles for the first time. 29 sports cars, including five Audi R8 LMS, competed at Nogaro.
Christian Abt debuts as team principalADAC GT Masters: Five Audi R8 LMS cars will compete in the ADAC GT Masters opener at Oschersleben next weekend. Teams ABT Sportsline and Rosberg will each field two vehicles and another R8 LMS will be entered by the Pole Promotion team. Reigning champion Christian Abt will not be defending his title in the 2010 season – at least not as a driver: the former Audi "factory" driver is celebrating his debut as team principal of ABT Sportsline’s GT squad. Results and pointsNogaro (F), April 4, French GT Championship round 11 Canal/Tonelli (Corvette) 39 laps in 1h 01m 19.209s2 Derlot/Peyroles (Corvette) + 1.993s3 Groppi/Bornhauser (Porsche) + 16.714s4 Bouchut/Merafina (Audi R8 LMS) + 23.082s5 Dayraut/Campbell (Ferrari) + 30.029s6 Franchi/Lemeret (Audi R8 LMS) + 52.831s7 Ortelli/Halliday (Audi R8 LMS) + 57.436s... 12 Mollekens/Tuchbant (Audi R8 LMS) - 1 lapNogaro (F), April 5, French GT Championship round 21 Derlot/Peyroles (Corvette) 39 laps in 1h 00m 14.685s 2 Panis/Debard (Corvette) + 10.554s3 Cazenave/Police (Corvette) + 11.485s4 Groppi/Bornhauser (Porsche) + 21.677s5 Bouchut/Merafina (Audi R8 LMS) + 27.668s... 8 Ortelli/Halliday (Audi R8 LMS) + 50.965s11 Franchi/Lemeret (Audi R8 LMS) + 1m 21.400s 12 Mollekens/Tuchbant (Audi R8 LMS) + 1m 42.127sNext race: Lédenon (F), April 24Oulton Park (GB), April 5, British GT Championship round 11 Griffin/Cameron (Ferrari) 35 laps in 1h 00m 21.844s2 Simonsen/Lester (Ferrari) + 10.394s3 Bentwood/Whight (Aston Martin) + 28.891s4 Dean/Brown (Audi R8 LMS) + 35.866s5 Cunill/Ashburn (Porsche) + 36.777s... 8 Patterson/Guasch (Audi R8 LMS) + 1m 04.693sOulton Park (GB), April 5, British GT Championship round 21 Griffin/Cameron (Ferrari) 35 laps in 1h 00m 35.430s2 Simonsen/Lester (Ferrari) + 12.523s3 Cunill/Ashburn (Porsche) + 16.928s4 Dean/Brown (Audi R8 LMS) + 35.551s5 Patterson/Guasch (Audi R8 LMS) + 52.557sComing up next weekApril 10: VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring (D)April 10/11: ADAC GT Masters Oschersleben (D)April 10/11: Belgar Series Zolder (B)April 11: Le Mans Series Le Castellet (F)
