Today's British Touring Car Championship opener was a mixed one for Rob Austin. The Audi driver was able to take a fine third place in race 1. Later he had two hard races with two DNFs. The third race was the hardest with a massive crash after contact with a Toyota Avensis. Big contact and car damaged, but fortunately Rob Austin is OK and unharmed.
Here is a video showing how massive the crash was. We hope the Audi A4 will be ready for Donington Park in three weeks time, the team said the car is repairable.
The third BTCC race of the day was a hard one for Rob Austin. The #13 WIX Racing Audi A4 NGTC had a DNF in race 2 and was forced to start from the back of the pack.
As was the case in the first two races, Rob Austin had a phenomenal start. The Audi driver was able to jump into the middle of the group in only a single lap. Entering lap two Rob Austin collected a spinning Toyota Avensis, the #17 car of Dave Newsham. The Audi hit both the Toyota and a barrier, coming to a stop in the middle of the track. Rob Austin was OK but the car is heavily damaged. Another case of contact with a Toyota and a second straight DNF.
Rob Austin himself was very disappointed when he spoke to ITV4: "We are very disappointed. We had a very quick car today and I believe we are going to suffer next time by"
Will Bratt with the sister #14 Audi A4 finished in fourteenth, not bad after all the drama he faced in the second race. The race win went to Matt Neal with the factory Honda Civic ahead of team mate Gordon Shedden, third was Sam Tordoff with the MG.
The Brands Hatch weekend was a mixed one for Rob Austin Racing. A lot of bad luck prevented the team from scoring big points and taking more podiums. Yet the car is very quick, Rob Austin's performances and lap times are more than proof that the 2013 updated Audi A4 is a front running machine. Next stop for the British Touring Car Championship is in three weeks time at Donington Park.
An action packed qualifying race at Nogaro has started the 2013 FIA GT Series. The five Audi R8 LMS ultra cars who all qualified well yesterday faced different fates today.
The #12 Audi R8 LMS ultra of Belgian Audi Club Team WRT finished in a very strong second place after titanic battles for race lead with the winning McLaren MP4-12C of Sebastien Loeb Racing. The car shared by fast Rene Rast and Niki Mayr-Melnhof started from pole position. Rene Rast had a great start and battled hard with McLaren factory driver, Alvaro Parente, in some of the most exiting battles in recent years of GT racing. After the wave of pit stops the Belgian team was able to send Niki Mayr-Melnhof out in front ahead of Sebastien Loeb. The Austrian Audi driver held onto his lead for many laps, as he resisted the WRC legend, before ultimately loosing the lead. Not bad for a car listed as a Pro-Am car. Phoenix Racing #5 Audi R8 LMS ultra of Belgians Anthony Kumpen and Enzo Ide finished in a strong fourth place. The Portuguese #14 car of Cesar Campanico and Carlos Viera were right behind in fifth. The #11 WRT car of Laurens Vanthoor and Stépahne Ortelli were a lap down in sixteenth, due to contact for Vanthoor with a BMW Z4 in the first lap. Later a tire issue sent Stéphane Oretlli's R8 into the gravel trap. The #13 machine of Edward Sandstrom and Frank Stippler had a very disappointing DNF.
The Championship race is set for tomorrow afternoon. The starting order will be the same as in today's championship race standings. Fingers crossed for the three Audi customer teams.
After a fantastic BTCC race 1 at Brands Hatch earlier today, Rob Austin Racing faced a very hard second race. Both WIX Racing supported Audi A4 NGTC faced troubles. First it was Will Bratt with the #14 Audi A4, which was unable to start as the car stayed in pitlane facing a driveshaft failure.
Next it was the turn of team owner Rob Austin with the #13 Audi A4. As in race 1 a great start from Rob Austin promoted him into second place behind the leader Jason Plato. Right after Rob Austin fought hard with Andrew Jordan's Honda and lost his second place. A few laps ahead contact with Frank Wrathall's Toyota Avensis sent him off track. The car was damaged and it was the end of the race for the yellow and black Audi A4.
Same as in race 1 victory went to Jason Plato with the factory MG6 GT ahead of the customer Honda Civic of Andrew Jordan and Gordon Shedden in third with the factory Honda Civic. Race 3 is next, we hope both Audis will be on track.
The 2013 British Touring Car Championship season has started. Rob Austin Racing did very well with their pair of Audi A4 cars in race 1. An amazing start from Rob Austin #13 Audi A4 NGTC gave him the race lead after starting from seventh. The Audi driver held the race lead for almost half of the race with his soft tires, whilst resisting Jason Palto's MG and Andrew Jordan's Honda assaults. Later Jason Palto passed the Audi and some laps later Andrew Jordan did the same. In the final corner of the final lap contact between Jason Plato and Andrew Jordan was almost fatal for both drivers, however they were able to exit the gravel trap very quickly, before Rob Austin could catch them. A fine third in the end for Rob Austin and best finisher with an independent built NGTC car. Team mate Will Bratt finished in twelfth place. The young driver of the #14 Audi A4 started fifteenth and fought hard on track for positions.
Race 2 is next and the starting grid will be based on the finishing order of race 1. Rob Austin will start from third and Will Bratt from twelfth. Fingers crossed for both drivers and WIX Racing.
The 2013 British Touring Car Championship kicks of this weekend at Brands Hatch. As in the past two years Rob Austin Racing is the only Audi team of the series. A two car effort with some strong performances today in the free practice and qualifying sessions.
Rob Austin the team owner and driver of the #13 WIX Racing backed Audi A4 NGTC ended in a very strong seventh place in a snow-hit qualifying session. Rob Austin again proving the Audi A4 is one of the best cars of the field.
Will Bratt driving the sister #14 Audi A4 NGTC qualified in fifteenth place. A good result after all the bad luck this morning with fuel pump issues.
The 2013 BTCC is stronger than ever no less than 27 cars at Brands Hatch. Three races are set for tomorrow, we wish the best of luck for both Rob Austin and Will Bratt.
The new FIA GT Series starts this weekend in France at Nogaro. Five Audi R8 LMS ultra cars are there and things started very well for the Audi squad. A sensational pole position for Belgian Audi Club Team WRT and Rene Rast.
All the five Audi R8 LMS ultra cars were with "old" 2012 specifications. The brand new 2013 upgrades are not homologated yet by the FIA. Still the Audi squad did really great in a very close qualifying session. The Belgian Audi Club Team WRT put their three cars in the top five. Even better, the outright pole was from a Pro-Am car, the #12 Audi R8 LMS ultra of René Rast and Niki Mayr-Melnhof. Rast the double Porsche Supercup champion was able to beat the quick pair of McLaren MP4-12C cars from Sebastien Loeb Racing. Frank Stippler and Edward Sandstrom ended in fourth with the #13 Audi R8 LMS ultra. Stéphane Oretlli the 2012 Blancpain Endurance Series champion and Laurens Vanthoor the new Audi works GT driver were fifth with the #11 R8.
The other two teams did well too. The Portuguese from Team Novadriver landed in a very strong sixth with Cesar Campanico and Carlos Viera driving the #14 Audi R8 LMS ultra. Phoenix Racing entering a single R8 LMS ultra at Nogaro finished in ninth with Belgian duo Anthony Kumpen and Enzo Ide.
Day 1 at Nogaro was more than positive for Audi. The qualifying race is set for tomorrow with a live stream available on the official series website www.fiagtseries.com. We wish the best of luck to the three Audi Sport customer racing teams.
By Tarek Ramchani It was dream weekend for GMG Racing and Audi at St. Petersburg. Team owner and top driver James Sofronas was able to take race 2 win as well a very strong second place in the first race. The other Audi R8 LMS cars did well too in a very demanding GT class. Our friends at motorsport.com were on site and had a massive photo coverage for the event, you can see it here. A special thanks to Eric Gilbert from motorsport.com providing us with some great photos from Pirelli World Challenge round 1.
Audi Sport Team Joest conducted extended tests with the Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars at Sebring last week. During the tests four of the older Audi R8 LMP cars also took part, run by their respective teams. Below we have embedded an onboard video from one of the R8s at the Sebring tests. It was great to have the older Audi R8s alongside the latest Audi prototypes. The Audi R8s were being tested and ECU maintenance was conducted. The R8s present included chassis: #405; #605; #606 and #607.
The video features the Audi R8 owned by Rogers Motorsports, chassis #607 (Car #38 in the Champion Racing livery). The car was driven by Doug Smith.
GMG Racing won the second race at St. Petersburg last weekend. James Sofronas drove the #14 Audi R8 LMS to victory in a closely contested SCCA World Challenge race.
The team has now released an onboard video, featuring video footage from the camera mounted on the front splitter of Sofronas’ car. It is a great watch with close action and it includes all the pivotal moments of the race.
More than 7,000 test kilometers in four days at Barcelona
All eight Audi DTM drivers in action
Timo Scheider: “I was impressed by the option tire”
Ingolstadt/Barcelona, March 29, 2013 – Only five weeks to go before the new DTM season starts at the Hockenheimring. During testing at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona/Spain, the Audi DTM drivers spooled off over 7,000 kilometers in the Easter week with the Audi RS 5 DTM and made important findings in the process.
At the first of two official DTM tests before the season opener, the four Audi RS 5 DTM were partially equipped with additional data acquisition equipment in order to log as much data as possible, which will now be analyzed by Audi Sport in Ingolstadt and the three Audi Sport teams Abt Sportsline, Phoenix and Rosberg. During the course of the test, all eight Audi drivers tested the so-called option tires, which should make faster lap times possible for a few laps in the race, and the ‘Drag Reduction System’ (DRS), with which the rear wing can be adjusted by pressing a button on the steering wheel. Both might be used in 2013 in the DTM.
Each of the eight Audi drivers tested for two days at Barcelona. Busiest of all was double DTM Champion Timo Scheider who clocked up 346 laps around the 2.977-kilometer track, and recorded the fastest time (1m 06.844s) for an Audi RS 5 DTM on the last of the four test days.
Mattias Ekström, Jamie Green and Adrien Tambay worked together with their new race engineers at Barcelona. The four Audi RS 5 DTM cars ran in the designs they will sport when driven in the 2013 season by Jamie Green (Red Bull), Miguel Molina (Audi RS 5), Mike Rockenfeller (Schaeffler) and Adrien Tambay (Audi ultra). The designs of the other four Audi RS 5 DTM cars will be revealed during the DTM tests at Hockenheim between April 9 and 12, where a grandstand is opened for spectators on the first day.
Comments from the Audi drivers
Filipe Albuquerque (303 laps/1m 07.257s): “It was great to finally sit in a car again and to see in which direction Audi Sport had developed the RS 5 DTM over the winter. I’m happy with the results. On the first of the two test days, we had a few difficulties with car, which we understood and solved – from the third day onwards we were at the same level as the others. The track conditions were generally a little tricky at Barcelona. The option tire and DRS are definitely a step in the right direction. The ITR is doing something to improve action on the race track. This deserves recognition. DRS will allow us to get closer to the car in front and fight side by side.”
Mattias Ekström (300 laps/1m 07.354s): “I have a new race engineer for the first time since 2001, which is why it was important for me at this test to gel and to be on the same wavelength as the team. This was a success. We had some productive days and completed 300 laps during which we learnt a great deal. The eager anticipation increases when you finally get out track with our competitors cars. I think that the fans can look forward to an exciting year. We’ll only really know exactly where we stand in the opening race at Hockenheim. However, my impression is that it’ll be incredibly close. The option tire and correct use of the DRS can play an important role.”
Jamie Green (268 laps/1m 07.171s): “After a difficult start on the first test day at Barcelona, my second was much better. We managed to work through our plan and tick all the boxes, which we had on the list. It’s a good feeling. The track was dry; there were no interruptions and not a single technical problem. We clocked up a lot of kilometers. It’s of great importance to me right now. There’s only one thing that helps me to get a feeling for the Audi RS 5 DTM: lots of laps. The same goes for working together with my race engineer and my data engineer – the test at Barcelona was a great opportunity for this. The DRS rear wing also made a positive impression. The effect won’t be as big as in Formula 1 and overtaking not easy. However, the DRS will help with overtaking. We also learnt a lot about the option tires, which are much quicker than the standard tires.
Miguel Molina (327 laps /1m 07.112s): “It was a fantastic feeling to finally sit in a racecar after such a long and hard winter. From my point of view the test was a success. It was less about setting fast lap times, but actually more about completing our busy test program. We’ve improved our understanding considerably and collected a lot of data, which will move us a step forward in preparation for the season – also with regard to the option tire and DRS. Both will make the races even more interesting. Every outing at Barcelona is special for me: I started my motorsport career here in a single-seater at that time, and am proud every time to return as professional racing driver. Especially with this car: my Audi RS 5 DTM is just fantastic.”
Edoardo Mortara (228 laps /1m 07.439s): “Of course it’s great to get out on track again with the car after such a long break. However, I would like to have stayed here a little longer after the test. I’m not entirely satisfied with the basic set-up of the car. We have a lot of work to do during the next test at Hockenheim. Anyway, it wasn’t possible to judge the real performance within the DTM field here. I really like the DRS. I really hope that we can run with the system this year. In my eyes this is the right way to get more overtaking and in doing so to make the races more interesting. After all, it also works in Formula 1. The same applies to the option tires.”
Mike Rockenfeller (290 laps /1m 07.070s): “We tried a lot over the course of the two days I was in the car Barcelona, and learnt a lot in the process. In general, I’m really satisfied. However, it’s very difficult to assess the lap times with all these new things like DRS rear wing and option tires. You just don’t know whose using what. DRS has functioned perfectly so far and brings a lot – more speed on the straights and faster lap times. The aim is to provide more overtaking opportunities – this is fantastic for us drivers and at the end of the day for the spectators as well. I was able to try the option tires on the second day. This was very important. It’s difficult to make a genuine assessment because the track conditions changed frequently and a lot. As a whole, Barcelona was very informative. I’m already looking forward to the next test at Hockenheim in 10 days.”
Timo Scheider (346 laps /1m 06.844s): “It was great to sit in the cockpit of a racing car after such a long break. At first, I had to get used to the DTM car again, but I was soon up to speed. It may well sound as if you’ve heard it all before, but we got through up to 90 per cent of our test program – although it’s extremely difficult to draw any conclusions: sometimes it was very sunny and warm, then cloudy and cooler again. This is why the track conditions were very different. I tested the option tire for the first time on Friday afternoon – and I was very impressed: these tires make a DTM car even more fun to drive! After you’ve tested them once, you don’t actually want to change back to the standard tire. The DRS rear wing is noticeable. I think the time has come to change something. The fans want to see overtaking. DRS and option tires will help this.”
Adrien Tambay (310 laps/1m 07.274s): “It was important for me to get back into the cockpit of my car after the long winter break, and especially because I have to gel with my new race engineer. This worked very well at Barcelona. Franco (Chiocchetti) and I completed a lot of work, but we still have a huge amount ahead of us. This is why I’m already looking forward to the next test at Hockenheim and obviously the first race. We don’t have many opportunities to test the option tires. They should be good for the show and the fane. The DRS is also a good idea when it works. You really feel it in the car.”
The Truth in 24 film series has been a highlight for Audi fans in recent years. Two of these films have been produced featuring two of the closest contested Le Mans 24 Hour races in recent times.
Truth in 24 I was released in 2009 and covered the 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours, a titanic battle between Audi and Peugeot which was ultimately decided by the weather. The first film was an instant hit followed by the second film being released in 2012. Truth in 24 II featured the 2011 Le Mans which was another close battle with Peugeot and a gap at the finish of under 14 seconds after 24 Hours. Both films were released as free internet downloads via I-Tunes. Truth in 24 II also had a number of other viewing option as well, you can see our Truth in 24 II Viewing Guide HERE.
Along with the opportunity to download the film for free, fans were also able to purchase both films on DVD. Up until now these films were only available as DVD products in hard copy form, however Audi as recently released a High Definition Truth in 24 Blu-ray Collector's Edition. For the first time fans will be able to own this cult classic set of motorsport films in Blu-ray format.
As was the case with the previous DVD versions, the new Blu-ray edition is a wonderful product and a beautiful addition to any collection. Our review of the Truth in 24 II DVD can be read HERE.
The Truth in 24 Blu-ray Collector’s Edition can be purchased via the links included HERE.
We have provided a brief review of the Truth in 24 Blu-ray Collector's Edition below:
Truth in 24 Blu-ray Collector's Edition Review
The Blu-ray edition arrives in a very good looking hard-cover case. It looks very special and it is a nice touch that the product is not one of the industry-standard blue Blu-ray cases. The case also has a very good hefty feeling, adding to its high quality first impression.
Inside the case you will find both disks, one each for the two films. In the centre of the case an eleven page booklet is included, which features a brief look at Audi’s Le Mans history and the individual films.
The films themselves are beautifully pictured in High Definition, and allows another, more enhanced, chance to relive these two legendary Le Mans races.
A number of options are available to the viewer. Language and subtitle choices includes four languages, each with its own commentary/audio set on the disks. Bonus viewing material has also been included.
Disk highlights:
Language choice: English, German, Spanish and French
Subtitle choice: English, German, Spanish and French Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Video: HD 1080p ; 23.976 fps ; 16:9
DVD Menu
Bonus Material
Film:Full length versions of the films (Truth in 24 I = 98min ; Truth in 24 II = 83min)
The Truth in 24 Blu-ray Collector's Edition is certainly a great product, and will be a great addition to any Audi or Sportscar racing fan's collection.
The Truth in 24 Blu-ray Collector’s Edition can be purchased via the links included HERE. Photo credit: Photos provided by author - cover image from Audi Sport Media
By Johan Laubscher Belgian Audi Club Team WRT have officially revealed their 2013 plans. They have held their press conference where they announced their three-car teams in the FIA GT Series and the Blancpain Endurance Series. The official WRT press release can be read HERE (English) and HERE (Dutch).
RallyandRaces.com were on site and have provided great coverage from the event, which was held yesterday. Their photo gallery can be seen via the link below. More photos HERE More information: RallyandRaces website RallyandRaces on Facebook
Three Audi R8 LMS ultra in the FIA GT Series and in the Blancpain Endurance Series
The Nürburgring and Zolder 24 Hour races also in the team’s diary
Belgium’s Laurens Vanthoor joined by international stars
The Belgian Audi Club Team WRT invited the press today at its premises in Baudour to present its 2013 sporting programme. Not a short one, it must be said!
The Belgian team will enter three Audi R8 LMS ultra – in 2013 specifications – in both the Blancpain Endurance Series and the FIA GT Series. In the new sprint series launched by SRO, Swedish driver Edward Sandström will partner with Germany’s Frank Stippler, while another car will be driven by Belgium’s Laurens Vanthoor and Monaco’s Stéphane Ortelli. «These two line-ups composed of drivers who are already part of the WRT family will be joined by a third duo, entered in the Pro-Am category, composed of Nikolaus Mayr-Melnhof from Austria and Germany’s René Rast», explains Belgian Audi Club Team WRT team principal Vincent Vosse. «René has repeatedly confirmed in recent years that he is a top GT driver and Nikolaus has done an excellent season with Vita4One last year. The pair can certainly aim at the Pro-Am title! Our objective as a team is to do better than the third place conquered in 2012.»
The FIA GT Series will kick-off this weekend with the traditional ‘Coupes de Pâques’ at the Circuit Paul Armagnac in Nogaro, in South-West France. Saturday’s qualifying session will give a first glimpse of the 2013 hierarchy, while the one-hour Qualifying Race will start at 2:30 pm on Sunday. The Championship Race, also of one hour duration, will start at 2:15 pm on Easter Monday, following the Easter Cup tradition. ./..
As in the FIA GT Series, the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT will enter three cars also in the Blancpain Endurance Series. Once again, the driver line-ups have been carefully selected, in cooperation with Audi Sport. «We have been the Drivers’ and Teams’ Champions for two years in a row, in 2011 and 2012 », reminds Vincent Vosse, «and we hope to do as well this year!»
To that end, the team has called in some of the drivers involved in the FIA GT Series. René Rast will partner Laurens Vanthoor and Stéphane Ortelli while Edward Sandström and Frank Stippler will be joined by German driver Christopher Mies, a member of the Champion trio last year. Another of the FIA GT Series drivers, Nikolaus Mayr-Melnhof, will team up with the fast New-Zealander Matt Hallyday, who shone in GT1 last year, and Switzerland’s Rahel Frey, who joins straight from the DTM. This year, the three Audis R8 LMS ultra of the Belgian squad will be included in the Pro Cup category.
This double programme, which includes the Total 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, will be complemented with two other one-day races : the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring on 19-20 May and the 24 Hours of Zolder on 31st August-1st September. At both instances, the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT will be present with a single car entry. «It’s still too early to announce the names of the drivers at the wheel of WRT’s cars in those two races», says Vincent Vosse, «but what I can say is that we won’t go there just to fill the grid.»
No doubt: the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT is committed defend Audi’s nametag in the GT scene and the 2013 season promises to be busy and exciting !
2013 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Driver Line-ups
FIA GT Series #11 Stéphane Ortelli (MC) - Laurens Vanthoor (BE) (Pro) #12 Nikolaus Mayr-Melnhof (AT) - René Rast (DE) (Pro-Am) #13 Edward Sandström (SE) - Frank Stippler (DE) (Pro)
Blancpain Endurance Series #1 Stéphane Ortelli (MC) - Laurens Vanthoor (BEL) - René Rast (DE) (Pro) #2 Nikolaus Mayr-Melnhof (AT) – Matt Halliday (NZ) - Rahel Frey (CH) (Pro) #13 Edward Sandström (SE) - Frank Stippler (DE) – Christopher Mies (DE) (Pro)
Possible new fields of competition for the Audi RS 5 DTM
Development Boss Wolfgang Dürheimer: “Of interest to Audi”
Ingolstadt/New York, March 26, 2013 – a new and promising opportunity in motorsport opens up for Audi: as announced at a press conference today in New York, the organizers of NASCAR and GRAND-AM plan a US based race series for DTM racecars like the Audi RS 5 DTM.
To this end, a dedicated platform for the spectacular DTM cars should be in place in the USA by 2016. The responsible parties of the ITR have concluded a corresponding cooperation with their partners in America. It complements a previously existing and similar agreement with the Japanese Super GT Championship organizers.
“As a consequence, the opportunity arises in the future to race the Audi RS 5 DTM not only in Europe, but also in Asia and North America in premium championships,” says Wolfgang Dürheimer, Member of the Board for Technical Development at AUDI AG. “As a globally active company, this is exciting and interesting for Audi.”
Scott Keogh, President of Audi of America: “Audi has a strong and spectacular history in US motorsport. We are currently looking for options that will allow the four rings to be more visible again on the race tracks throughout the USA. It’s fantastic news that there could soon be a US DTM. The Audi RS models are very popular in America. I’m convinced that our customers will be delighted to see the Audi RS 5 DTM in action.”
Audi has been active for more than 30 years in motorsport and was frequently successful in the USA during this period. In the 1980s, the brand with the four rings triumphed three times in succession at the Pikes Peak hill climb in Colorado. In 1988, Audi won the Trans-Am Series, in 1989 the Audi 90 quattro was the dominant car in the IMSA GTO series. Audi won the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) championship title nine times in succession between 2000 and 2008. In January, the Audi R8 GRAND-AM celebrated a GT victory in the 24-hour race at Daytona (Florida). With the R18 e-tron quattro, Audi clinched the brand’s eleventh victory in the 12-hour race at Sebring (Florida) 10 days ago.
Audi teams have won the DTM title in Europe eight times to date: 1990 and 1991 with the Audi V8 quattro, 2002 with a Coupé based on the Audi TT plus 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011 with the Audi A4 DTM. For the new DTM regulations introduced last year, Audi Sport developed the Audi RS 5 DTM, with which three teams join the grid with eight drivers in 2013. The new DTM season begins on May 5 around the Grand Prix circuit at Hockenheim.
