Audi will enter the ADC Zurich 24h Race at the Nürburgring (25th/26th June) with outstanding drivers. The works team competing in the Audi R8 LMS will comprise DTM stars Mattias Ekström, Mike Rockenfeller and Timo Scheider. In preparation of this classical marathon race, the programme of the team includes races of the VLN endurance racing championship.
The teams of ABT Sportsline and of Phoenix Racing will start at the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife with two Audi R8 LMS each. They have already gained valuable experience with the GT3 sports car of the quattro GmbH at the 24 Hour Race Nürburgring in the last two years and will this year be fully works supported by the manufacturer from the Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm sites.
The drivers in all four race cars will be top-class: The crews of ABT Sportsline will be composed of Mattias Ekström, Timo Scheider and Marco Werner as well as of Christer Jöns, Luca Ludwig and Christopher Mies. Christian Abt has been entered to support the teams in both cars of the DTM champions of the years 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009. In the team of Phoenix Racing, Frank Stippler is the one entered in both cars. He will complete the teams of Marc Basseng, Marcel Fässler and Mike Rockenfeller as well as of Christopher Haase, Marc Hennerici and Markus Winkelhock.
”The Audi R8 LMS has specifically been developed for our customer sport programme”, explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “With the two works participations at the Nürburgring and in Spa-Franchorchamps, we wish to underline the positive image which the R8 LMS has already gained during its first two years of racing. I think we are very well prepared both from the team’s and drivers’ side.”
The responsibility for the sales and distribution as well as for the further development of the GT3 sports cars has been delegated to quattro GmbH under the direction of Werner Frowein and Romolo Liebchen. The further improved version of the Audi R8 LMS made its debut beginning of February with a 1-2 victory at the 12 Hour Race in Bathurst (Australia).
The Audi R8 LMS of model year 2011 features amongst others a modified engine application of the 5.2 litres V10 engine, a modified suspension and a competition sports clutch specifically developed for endurance racing and lighter than before.
“With the 1-2 victory at Bathurst, we had a perfect start into the 2011 season”, says Werner Frowein, quattro GmbH Managing Director. “And we wish to follow up this performance. Phoenix Racing has accompanied the development of the R8 LMS for endurance racing from the very beginning and we have thus entered for both races the team which has so far gained the most experience in this field.”
