Ingolstadt, 27 April, 2009
In the course of the further development of the Audi R8 LMS, an
ultimate endurance test is on the agenda for the new GT3 sports car of
AUDI AG at the end of May: On May 23/24, Teams ABT Sportsline and
Phoenix Racing, with "factory” support by Audi, will field a total of four
vehicles in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.
"The 24 Hours is not only one of the biggest motorsport events in
Germany,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "The
Nürburgring-Nordschleife is considered one of the world’s toughest and
most demanding race tracks. Similar to Sebring for the sports prototypes,
it is superbly suited for revealing the final improvement potential of any
new race car. This is exactly what we’re planning to do at the 24-hour race
before delivering the R8 LMS to customers, starting this fall.”
The Audi R8 LMS delivering some 500 hp has so far completed two "test”
races as part of the BFGoodrich Endurance Championship on the
Nürburgring-Nordschleife and already clinched a podium result in the
process. Another "test” race is planned for May 2. On that day, the 14
drivers scheduled to contest the 24-hour race will be at the wheel of the
four vehicles.
Teams ABT Sportsline and Phoenix Racing managed to form high-caliber
driver squads consisting of five current Audi "factory” drivers, four DTM
Champions, four Le Mans winners and five drivers who have won the
24-hour race at the Nürburgring at least once. All 14 drivers are regarded
as outstanding endurance racers who are intimately familiar with the
Nürburgring-Nordschleife.
They include the reigning DTM Champion Timo Scheider, who – together
with his DTM teammate Mattias Ekström and three-time Le Mans winner
Marco Werner – will compete for Team ABT Sportsline. On the occasion
of the Audi brand’s 100th anniversary, their Audi R8 LMS will contest the
event as car number 100. The second ABT Sportsline R8 will be driven by
Christian Abt, Jean-François Hemroulle, Pierre Kaffer and Lucas Luhr.
Marc Basseng, Mike Rockenfeller and Frank Stippler will drive one of the
two cars of Team Phoenix Racing. With the multiple Le Mans winners
Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Hans-Joachim Stuck as well as Marcel
Fässler at the wheel, the second R8 LMS fielded by Phoenix Racing has
a particularly prominent cockpit crew.
With three overall victories under his belt so far, Hans-Joachim Stuck,
who has been the Motorsport Representative of the Volkswagen Group
since January 2008, is one of most successful drivers of the 24-hour
race. Lucas Luhr, Emanuele Pirro, Timo Scheider and Mike Rockenfeller
have entered their names on the winners’ list of the endurance classic as
well.
Also Team Phoenix Racing has already won the Nürburgring 24 hours. It
triumphed at its home race in the Eifel region in 2003. The best result
(second place) achieved by ABT Sportsline so far dates back to 2003 as
well.
The 37th edition of the ADAC Zurich 24-Hour Race will start on Saturday,
May 23, at 4 p.m. (local time). Practice sessions will be held on Thursday
and Friday. The sports channel DSF will air extensive live coverage from
the Nürburgring.
The Audi teams at the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring:
Audi R8 LMS #97 (ABT Sportsline)
Christian Abt (D)
Jean-François Hemroulle (B)
Pierre Kaffer (D)
Lucas Luhr (D)
Audi R8 LMS #98 (Phoenix Racing)
Marc Basseng (D)
Frank Stippler (D)
Mike Rockenfeller (D)
Audi R8 LMS #99 (Phoenix Racing)
Frank Biela (D)
Marcel Fässler (CH)
Emanuele Pirro (I)
Hans-Joachim Stuck (A)
Audi R8 LMS #100 (ABT Sportsline)
Mattias Ekström (S)
Timo Scheider (D)
Marco Werner (D)
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