Automobiles Review

Tag: LMS

  • Audi R8 LMS ultra Gets Ready For Nurburgring

    Audi-R8-LMS-ultra-THUMBAudi R8 LMS ultra participated in the 42nd running of the Nürburgring 24 Hours. It is the first time, when several teams challenged each other in a qualification race this weekend. All of them: Le Mans winners, GT World Champions, a stratosphere jumper and strong customer teams have relied on the Audi R8 LMS ultra. The 24-hour race has 190 participants from around the world. The so called ‘Green Hell’ of the Nürburgring Nordschleife begins on June 21 and 22.

    Just like in 2013, five Audi teams, will be putting a total of eight Audi R8 LMS ultra cars on the grid of the classic ‘marathon’ in the Eifel. The qualification race for the official racing was happening this weekend. The track was long 25.378-kilometres, where the teams did some testing.

    They have used this opportunity for testing without the pressure of a championship. As a matter of fact, many of the teams that ware going to be running in the 24-hour race were using this event with its free practice and two qualifying sessions plus the six-hour race to prepare for the main event.

    Audi line-up for the 24-hour race consists of high-caliber drivers. To be more precise, in the competition we will see four former Le Mans winners – Frank Biela, Marcel Fässler, Stéphane Ortelli and Marco Werner. They have a total of eleven victories in the classic French ‘marathon’ and are to drive the Audi R8 LMS ultra.

    Marc Basseng and Markus Winkelhock, who are former GT1 World Champions, plus the current FIA GT Champion Laurens Vanthoor and the three-time Porsche Supercup Champion René Rast complete the line-up. At the race we will also see the current Audi DTM driver Nico Müller and the former DTM driver Rahel Frey.

    An extreme athlete will be also present – his name is Felix Baumgartner and he is famous for his stratosphere jump. He has found his new challenge, opting for the Audi R8 LMS ultra of the Audi race experience and will be making his debut on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

    Audi R8 LMS ultra
    Audi R8 LMS ultra
    Audi R8 LMS ultra

    Source: Audi

  • Audi R8 LMS at Nurburgring

    Audi R8 LMS was tested at the Nurburgring these day by ABT Sportsline and Phoenix Racing, who had a lot of experience over the last two years at the 24-hour race around the race track with the quattro GmbH GT3 sports car.

    “The Audi R8 LMS was developed specifically for customer sport,” said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich.

    “With the two factory supported events at the Nürburgring and at Spa-Francorchamps we aim to underline the positive image that the R8 LMS has built up following its first two years of competition. I think we are well positioned for this from the driver and team side.”, he added.

    2011 Audi R8 LMS includes a modified engine control for the 5.2 litre V10 power unit, revised suspension and a light-weight motorsport clutch specifically developed for endurance races.

    “The 2011 season started perfectly for the Audi R8 LMS with the one-two finish at Bathurst,” comented Werner Frowein, Managing Director of the quattro GmbH.

    “We want to continue this. In the shape of Phoenix Racing we send a team to compete that has accompanied the development of the R8 LMS for endurance races since the very beginning and which has gathered the most experience in this area. ABT Sportsline is the perfect choice for the Nürburgring, and WRT for Spa. As far as the drivers are concerned you could hardly wish for better.”, added Mr. Frowein.

    ABT Sportsline and Phoenix Racing contest rounds of the VLN endurance championship in preparation for the 24-hour race at the Nurburgring. WRT contests the Blancpain Endurance Series in 2011 which also includes the 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps.
    Audi R8 LMS

    Audi R8 LMS
    Audi R8 LMS
    Audi R8 LMS

    Source: Audi

  • Ultimate endurance test for new Audi R8 LMS

    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. (more…)