Audi R8 LMS ultra triumphs in Brazil
Successful weekend for brothers Fbio and Wagner Ebrahim in the Brazilian GT Championship: On the second race weekend at Curitiba, they celebrated a commanding victory in the second race at the wheel of their Audi R8 LMS ultra. In the first race the day before, they had achieved a podium result as well by finishing as the runners-up.
Title fight for Mortara and Albuquerque
Edoardo Mortara and Filipe Albuquerque are battling for a title in the United States. Together with two other drivers the Audi drivers had won the GT class at the Daytona 24 Hours in January. The Daytona 24 Hours is not only part of the GRAND-AM Series but also of the North American Endurance Championship. The series includes two other roundsa 6-hour race at Watkins Glen on June 30 and a 3-hour race at Indianapolis on July 26. Mortara and Albuquerque are sharing an Audi R8 GRAND-AM of Audi Sport customer racing at these events. As of the Watkins Glen race, an Audi customer will additionally be entering the GRAND-AM Series. At the wheel of Fall-Line Motorsports Audi R8 GRAND-AM will be Al Carter, Charles Espenlaub and Charlie Putman.
Double podium at Zolder
On the fourth race weekend of the GT Sprint International Series at Zolder, the Belgian Laurens Vanthoor on his first run at the wheel of the Audi R8 LMS of Team MTM clinched a two-fold success. In the first race on Saturday, he clinched second place together with the German Thomas Schffler at his home round. In the second race on Sunday, the duo repeated its podium success by taking second place again.
Audi R8 LMS ultra in front when race was stopped
The third round of the VLN Endurance Championship Nurburgring was overshadowed by the sudden death of private driver Wolf Silvester who died during his run presumably due to health reasons. As a result, the race was stopped after around three hours. When the race was stopped the Audi R8 LMS ultra of Phoenix Racing with Frank Stippler/Ferdinand Stuck/Johannes Stuck was leading, their Phoenix team colleagues Christopher Haase/Harold Primat were classified in third place.
Heat battle at Lausitz DTM test
In extremely difficult conditions the Audi squad prepared for the remaining six race weekends of the 2013 DTM season at the Lausitzring. Leader of the standings Mike Rockenfeller and the two-time Champions Mattias Ekstrm and Timo Scheider shared two test cars for three days on the Grand Prix circuit. The test schedule, which the Audi drivers checked off without any major interruptions, was mainly focused on various set-up versions. The biggest challenge at Lausitz was the enormous heat. While the air temperature rose to 35 degrees the tarmac heated up to more than 50 degrees. With that, the drivers and the Audi RS 5 DTM are set for the summer months.
Timo Scheider visits budding engineers
udi factory driver Timo Scheider was guest at the world premiere of the MFSix racecar. Students at Wrzburg-Schweinfurt University of Applied Sciences developed the car themselves and compete in the Formula Student competitions. Audi partner Schaeffler supports the students with technical know-how and components. The double DTM Champion and Schaeffler brand ambassador was impressed by the students: Its great to see just how ambitious the guys and girls are. They use a special opportunity to get to know motorsport from the technical side, praised the Audi DTM driver.
amie Green visits Audi family at Le Mans
Newcomer Jamie Green is gelling more and more with the Audi family. After having scored his first DTM points at the Lausitzring, the Briton traveled to Le Mans on Thursday to keep his fingers crossed for the Audi Sport squad on location. It is the first race week at Le Mans that Green experiences. Its fascinating to see Audis presence here at Le Mansboth in a sporting sense in the pits and in terms of the offering that is available to the guests and journalists. Green watched the crucial qualifying session for the pole position in the garage of Audi Sport Team Joest. Allan McNish showed him around the Audi R18 e-tron quattro.
Another plaque for posterity in pedestrian zone
Every year, the Le Mans winning drivers make their handprints of which a cast bronze plaque is placed in the pavement of the Le Mans pedestrian streets a year later. Andr Lotterer, Marcel Fssler and Benot Trluyer, who in 2012 won the 24-hour race for the second time, were guests at the unveiling ceremony of the plaque on Monday. In attendance as well were ACO President Pierre Fillon and Mayor Jean-Claude Boulard.
Honour for Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Ullrich
Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich received a gift at the traditional interview session following Technical Scrutineering at Le Mans. MC Bruno Vandestick presented a diorama with the signatures of all nine factory sports car drivers to the Head of Audi Motorsport on the occasion of his 20th anniversary of service this year.
Michelin rewards Le Mans winners
This year, Audis tire partner Michelin again generously rewarded the winners of the Le Mans 24 Hours from the previous year. Marcel Fssler and Benoit Treluyer each received a fully equipped mobile tool chest. Andr Lotterer will be off-roading on a Polaris RZR Quad.
Inauguration of Place Dr Wolfgang Ullrich
A great honour for Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich: A square has been named after the Head of Audi Motorsport in the center of Saint Saturnin. The small suburb of Le Mans has traditionally been the hub for fans traveling to the event from Great Britain. Mayor Bruno Jannin and Stphane Auvrignon, President of the Classic British Welcome, unveiled the Place Dr Wolfgang Ullrich on Friday in the presence of the Head of Audi Sport, who was visibly moved. Im totally surprised to receive such an honor, said the native Austrian. Although Ive been to Le Mans so many times I didnt know Saturnin and this impressive event. This is another place where you can really feel how much the region lives the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Audi welcomes fans with an array of attractions
Audi extended a particularly warm welcome to its fan community at this years Le Mans 24 Hours. At the Audi Fan Area alongside the first chicane after the start and finish, the brands followers could enjoy a view of a spectacular track section. And those who have always been eager to discover the secrets of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro could satisfy their curiosity by taking a close look at the cross-section of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro. Xbox racing simulators gave the most avid fans the opportunity to qualify for a race against an Audi Le Mans legend on Sunday morning by setting fast lap times. Other successful names in motorsport kept dropping by the Fan Area for meet-and-greet sessions. Furthermore, Audi posters and T-shirts were available at the Fan Counter. A live DJ provided musical entertainment.
30 years of service to healthcare
Almost exactly 30 years ago, Dr. Christian John was deployed as Audi Sports team doctor for the first timefrom June 25 to 28 at the New Zealand Rally. Back then and today Audi battles for world championship titles around the globe, back then and today the squad from Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm relies on the skills of the trained surgeon, trauma surgeon and expert for naturopathy. The race drivers are not the only ones benefiting from the physicians wealth of experience. At the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours, the 67-year-old doctor headed a five-member team that takes care of the health of all employees and provides nutritional tips to the mechanics as well. The main focus has always been placed on the fitness of our drivers, emphasizes Dr. Christian John. But now were offering comprehensive healthcare to our pit crews too, which includes thorough prevention with nutritional advice because at the pit stops seconds are crucial as well.
Danish fans give Loic Duval an enthusiastic welcome
It has become a cherished tradition: On the Friday before the race at Le Mans, Tom Kristensen together with his team-mates visits the biggest camp with Danish fans along the track. More than 3,000 of his compatriots camp at Le Mans for the whole race week and back the record winner with resounding rounds of cheer. Whereas Allan McNish has been familiar with the spectacle for years, Kristensens new team-mate Loc Duval now experienced his Danish premiereand was visibly impressed with the enthusiasm of the Scandinavians.
Audi R18 e-tron quattro for the museum at Le Mans
On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Le Mans 24 Hours, Audi handed the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship winning Audi R18 e-tron quattro over to the Automobile Club de lOuest (ACO). The car will be exhibited in the museum located alongside the Le Mans race track. During the traditional Audi press conference, Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich symbolically presented ACO President Pierre Fillon with the steering wheel of the hybrid race car.
A word from Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich
Why were the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours and the battle with Toyota so outstanding?For me personally, this was the most demanding 24-hour race Ive experienced with Audi since 1999. And it was also very emotional because at the beginning of the race there was an accident, which sadly had a fatal ending for the young Danish race driver Allan Simonsen. Obviously, this put a strain on the entire squad. The race itself posed an absolute challenge to us for 24 hours straight. The weather kept changing and was a major concern to all of us. The concentration of the drivers and the good job done by the squad were two keys to successand of course so was the Audi R18 e-tron quattro.Not only the battle with the opponent shaped the race, but yet again so did the rain that kept setting in. The drivers continually had to adjust to changes in the track conditions. And the team was challenged to always put the new decisions into action shortly. We all tried to make the right judgments. There wasnt a moment of rest because there were constantly new demands. 2014 will mark the beginning of a new chapter at Le Mans. What is it that Audi is most looking forward to?Next year, a new set of regulations will come into effect and well be pleased to return to Le Mans, as these new ideas fit very well with our forward-thinking technical ideas at Audi. The regulations are based on efficiency, which for Audi is equally important on the road and in racing. Plus, in Porsche, a cousin from the Group is returning to Le Mans. This makes the competition more challenging yet again. Thats why were in for a year that will be marked by even greater diversity than before.
Coming up next week
29/06 Goteborg (S), round 3, Swedish GT Championship
30/06 Paul Ricard (F), round 3, Blancpain Endurance Series
30/06 Okayama (J), round 2, GT Asia
30/06 Porto (P), round 3, Portuguese GT Championship
30/06 Watkins Glen (USA), round 7, GRAND-AM
30/06 Dijon (F), round 4, VdeV Endurance Series
30/06 Sepang (Malaysia) round 3, Malaysian Super Series
