Weekend Round Up - Audi Motorsport Blog (19-20/05/2012)
This weekend included a variety of Audi racing with DTM and many Audi R8 LMS participation in Europe. The stand alone highlight of the weekend was the fortieth running of the Nürburgring 24 Hour race where Audi finally claimed their first overall victory in the unique endurance classic.
1. The Weekend
Focussing this week on the weekend of 19-20 May 2012
2. The Events
- Nürburgring 24 Hours
- DTM
- Superstars
- British GT
- French GT
- Spanish GT
- BRCC
- VdeV
- STCC
- Midas Clubmans
- RCN
- NASA
- DTCC
The fortieth running of the Nürburgring 24 Hours had seventeen Audis on the entry list. Among these Audi entries were seven Audi R8 LMS ultra cars from Phoenix Racing, Mamerow Racing, Raeder Motorsport, WRT and Audi race experience. Qualifying went well for the Audi teams with Mamerow starting on the front row. The race was hard and run at a very fast pace with countless lead changes. The Audis held their own at the start and survived the night. The #2 Phoenix Audi R8 LMS ultra was unlucky to lose its controlling lead in an accident but the #3 Phoenix car took control of the race shortly after the incident on Sunday morning. The other R8 LMS ultra teams had mixed fortunes but in the end the number #3 Phoenix car claimed the race victory followed by Mamerow Racing for a historical Audi 1-2. An Audi TT also won the SP 4T class.
2.2. DTM
Round three of the 2012 DTM season was held at the Brands Hatch Indy circuit. The short circuit provided extremely close times during practice and qualifying. At the end of qualifying four Audis finished in the top ten with Mike Rockenfeller placing best in fourth position. The race was close and fast pitstops with good racing ensured that five Audis would finish in the top ten of the results. Phoenix Racing competed a brilliant Sunday as Rockenfeller in his Audi A5 DTM finished the race in third place, mounting the podium which represented all three manufactures in the 2012 DTM.
2.3. Superstars
Donington Park in Britain hosted round three of the Superstars series with three Audi RS5 race cars on the grid. The weekend was dominated by Gianni Morbidelli in the RS5 who topped qualifying and took both race victories. The current series points leader Johan Kristoffersson had a double dose of racing this weekend. He missed qualifying on Saturday as he was competing in the STCC with VW and started from the back of the grid on Sunday at Donington. Despite starting at the back Johan stormed to the front to take his first of two second place finishes on the day and in doing do ensured two 1-2 Audi finishes at Donington. The third driver Thomas Schöffler also did well on the weekend, second in qualifying and sixth in race one.
2.4. British GT
The British GT was held at the Nürburgring as a support event on the weekend to the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The event was round two of the series and was held on the Grand Prix circuit. Two Audis were entered, the British GT regulars United Autosports and the Swedish JB Motorsport team. United battled competitively at the front all weekend. Race one ended in disappointment slowing at the end of race one, but the team did score a top six result in race two. JB Motorsport did well battling in the mid pack positions.
2.5. French GT
Five Audi R8 LMS and ultra cars were on the gird for round three of the French GT Tour series held at Dijon. The five cars were entered by Team Audi France (WRT), Saintéloc Racing and JWS Racing. The teams did well highlighted by Saintéloc Racing taking pole for race two. In the races the Audis showed strong performances with two placing in the top ten in race one and a fourth place for Team Audi France in race two.
2.6. Spanish GT
Round two of the 2012 Spanish Iber GT series was held at Jarama. Normally the Spanish GT events are comprised of two races but at Jarama only one race would be held in an endurance format of a hundred and thirty minutes. Team Novadriver once again entered two cars but this was the first time they had entered two Audi R8 LMS ultra specification cars. The team dominated qualifying locking out the front row with an Audi 1-2. The #21 Audi R8 LMS ultra lead from pole and took the race victory with Cesar Campanico and Mikko Eskelinen behind the wheel. Unfortuantly the #1 R8 LMS ultra retired from the event.
2.7. BRCC
The first event of the new Belgian Racing Car Championship (BRCC) was held at Zolder this weekend. The championship is split into long and short races. WRT/Delahaye Racing entered one Audi R8 LMS for the weekend driven by Yves Weerts and Kurt Mollekens. Weerts did well during the short races but the highlight was the longer endurance race. Yves Weerts and Kurt Mollekens completed a successful weekend by winning the closely contested endurance race by just over a second at the finish. A Solution F race car with a silhouette style Audi A3 body was also in the event.
2.8. VdeV
The French VdeV series was hosted at Mortoland Aragon in Spain for the third round of the 2012 season. The event was a six hour race with one Audi R8 LMS in the field from AB Sport Auto. The team did well taking the GTV2 class victory and placing seventh overall.
2.9 STCC
Round two of the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship was held at the Ring Knutstorp circuit. Two Audi A4 S2000 race cars from BMS Racing are taking part in the Semcon Cup category for privateers. The two Ahlberg brother, Joakim and Andreas finished well this weekend and hold second and third in the Semcon Cup points standings.
2.10. Midas Clubmans
The South African Midas Clubmans series held the fifth round of the season at Killarney as part of the Pro-Tour race day. Two Audi A4 cars were in the field, one ex-national Class A car and one turbocharged car. The day was dominated by Nieyaaz Modack who won both races in his ex-Johan Fourie Racing Class A Audi A4. The turbocharged A4 was driven by Andre Johnson.
2.11. RCN
The third round of RCN was also a support event for the Nürburgring 24 Hours this weekend. Four Audis were on the grid, a smaller count than usual as some of the RCN Audi competitors were entered in the 24 Hour race.
2.12. NASA
GMG Racing took part in a NASA (National Auto Sport Association) race event at Thunderhill in America. The team has two Audi R8 LMS race cars of which one took part in this event. The second car that arrived in America has already had its race debut in SCCA World Challenge in the hands of Anders Hainer with the red and white livery. This weekend at Thunderhill was the race debut of the team's first R8 LMS that arrived in America at the end of 2011. It was driven to victory in the NASA Class C sprint race and the four hour endurance race by Alex Welch and James Sofronas still in its bare carbon fiber bodywork.
GMG Racing FB page
Results
2.13. DTCC
The third round of the Brazilian Driver Touring Car Cup (DTCC) was held at Tarumã. The DTCC is a one make series held in Brazil with a field of Audi A3 race cars.
DTCC website
Results
2.14. Other Audi news
The Truth in 24 II film is scheduled to be launched to the world via an international iTunes download release on Tuesday 22 May 2012. The fans are eagerly awating the launch of the film.
3. Next Weekend’s events (16-27/05/2012)
- South African Bridgestone Production Cars
- Australian GT
- FIA GT3
- FIA GT1
- International GT Open
- Dutch Supercar Challenge
- STT
- Australian Kerrick Sports Sedans
- Malaysian Super Series
- Asian GT series
- Brazil GT
- GT Asia
- Caribbean Motor Racing Championship
The weekend was one of much success for Audi. The Nürburgring 24 Hours triumph marked the long awaited victory. The various other Audi R8 LMS teams around Europe did very well along with the Superstars domination and DTM podium. Next weekend promises another action packed motorsport weekend for Audi.
All photos are hosted at their respective website which are listed within the Weekend Round Up
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