On 28 March, time has come: The new Audi R8 LMS will be facing its baptism of fire in the VLN endurance racing championship Nürburgring. Seven weeks later, one of the biggest races in Germany will follow with four new R8 LMS fighting for success at the Nürburgring 24 Hours Race on 16 and 18 May.
Just recently, at the beginning of the month, the Audi R8 LMS was in the spotlight at the Geneva Motor Show, and about three weeks later it has to stand up for the first time against the competition at the Nürburgring “Green Hell”. The Audi R8 LMS will be competing there on the last weekend of March. For the VLN endurance racing championship season-opener, the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT and the Team Phoenix Racing will each be entering one of the brand-new GT3 race cars. Both teams have fantastic references: The Belgian team of Vincent Vosse has won the 24 Hours of Spa last year, whilst Ernst Moser’s Phoenix team based in the Eifel region won the classical race marathon on their doorstep.
“Our new Audi R8 LMS is ready for a rigorous test programme under racing conditions”, says Romolo Liebchen, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. “We have selected the two toughest 24 hour races in Europe in which GT3 race cars are eligible. With Phoenix Racing and the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT we have two teams spoiled with success at our side. Towards the end of the year, we will then deliver a powerful new race car to our customers.”
Successful Audi race drivers from various motorsport categories will take turns behind the steering wheel in the Audi R8 LMS at the Nürburgring and Spa races. Former DTM champion Mike Rockenfeller and his Audi team mate Nico Müller, Le-Mans winners Marcel Fässler and Stéphane Ortelli, WEC driver René Rast, last year’s winners at the Nürburgring and in Spa, as well as many other GT top drivers will complete the line-up of the two teams.
