ELMS: No podium for MOMO Megatron Audi R8 LMS at Imola

Momo Megatron Press Release

The second round of the European Le Mans Series was held last weekend on the Italian circuit of Imola. During the previous race held over 3 hours on the British Silverstone circuit the Dylan Derdaele (B), Raffi Bader (CH), Kuba Giermaziak (PL) trio had claimed a first podium place in the GTC class. Despite the good prospects of clinching a second podium place in a row the Audi R8 LMS of the MOMO-Megatron-DF1 Team experienced a technical problem with its brakes. Everything was running smoothly up until the 60th lap! The front brake lining literally went up in smoke and the American Audi-Team was then confronted with a leaking oil line.

With a starting grid of 28 cars the GTC class was strongly represented with seven top cars. In varying weather conditions the MOMO-Megatron-DF1 Team concentrated on the set-up of the Audi R8 LMS for this difficult circuit. Their efforts were finally rewarded with an excellent third best time in GTC during the qualifying. It was once more to be a challenge for the young Derdaele, Giermaziak and Bader trio.

Raffi Bader: "After Silverstone we experienced a fair amount of bad luck during the race here in Imola. The brake cooling was set at "shortrun". This resulted in the brakes not being ideally cooled".

Kuba Giermaziak: "Unfortunately up against the new Ferrari and Lamborghini our Audi R8 LMS was no match regarding lap times".

Also Dylan Derdaele was not really satisfied with the performance of the Audi R8 LMS as compared to the competition: "There is work to be done. Through some heavy test sessions we need to improve the performance of the Audi R8 LMS before the next round of the ELMS on the Austrian Red Bull Ring in order to take on our rivals ", the fast young Belgian concluded.

Photo credit: European Le Mans Series

Single Audi R8 LMS ultra in European Le Mans Series

By Tarek Ramchani

The 2013 European Le Mans Series entry list was released by the ACO and Le Mans Endurance management. 29 cars have applied as full season competitors. The Audi brand will be back in the series for the first time since the R10 TDI era, this time in the GT division.

After a disastrous 2012 season with some races being cancelled and very poor grid numbers, the ELMS seems to be heading in the right direction again. One of the major changes for the competition this year is the addition of FIA GT3 cars. This category has long since been disallowed in Le Mans style racing, but now the GT3 cars will finally debut in the ELMS, racing in a special GTC class. Five GT3 cars have committed and will fight for the title, among them a single Audi R8 LMS ultra from Momo Megatron DF1. The Austrian team are debuting with Audi in international sportscar racing. The driver line-up is yet to be known. The rivals are two Ferrari 458, a Lamborghini Gallardo and a Porsche 911 GT3 R. The GTC series winner will be awarded by an automatic entry for the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours in GTE Am class.

Five rounds are planned for 2013, with a new three hour race format. The season opener will be at Silverstone. Another Audi team has also shown interest in the British round. DragonSpeed from America are expected to field their Audi R8 LMS ultra, but this is yet to be confirmed. We also regret that the European Le Mans Series opener is clashing with another major series, the Blancpain Endurance Series at Monza. A clash preventing more possible Audi R8 LMS cars to join.

Photo credit: Downforce1

First Audi team in the European Le Mans Series

By Tarek Ramchani

It has been known since the end of 2012 that the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) would be welcoming FIA GT3 spec cars in the series. The cars will compete in a special GTC class (Grand Touring Challenge). Of course one of the stars of the GT3 class is the Audi R8 LMS ultra.



Now the first full season competitor in is known. It is team Momo Megatron DF1 from Austria. The team is also known as Downforce1 and is strongly linked to the famous American actress, Pamela Anderson. The Austrian squad will enter a pair of Audi R8 LMS ultra cars and will target an invitation for the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours. The cars will be in full 2013 specification.

The team is evaluating a possible entry in the ADAC GT Masters in Germany and the International GT Open. On their website they also list the logos of the Blancpain Endurance Series and the FIA GT Series, which may hint to further possibilities.

Photo credit and more information:
Downforce1 official website

GT3 cars in European Le Mans Series 2013

By Tarek Ramchani

It's no secret that the GT3 class is booming worldwide at the moment. The formula has proven to be a great success in many international and national series. Now it's the turn of the European Le Mans Series to welcome the class.

In 2012 the ELMS field faced a dramatic collapse in numbers, especially in the Grand Touring division, where both GTE Pro and GTE Am failed to attract competitors. As a result the ACO have granted GT3 cars access to the ELMS series. With this move the ACO wanted to increase the amount of cars next year, with a large field of GT3 races cars around Europe. The all conquering Audi R8 LMS ultra is part of the GT3 class of course and we hope to see some cars in this top level sportscar series.

For 2013 the GT3 cars will compete in a special GTC class (Grand Touring Challenge), a class which is very different from the GTC class in ALMS where only GT3 Cup Porsches are allowed to compete. To make sure the GTC cars won't challenge the top GTE ones, the ACO will impose more restrictors on GTC cars. So do not expect the possibility of Audi R8 LMS cars there fighting against the GTE cars.