Audi R8 LMS ultra with Facelift

By Johan Laubscher

Facelifted Audi R8

The Audi R8 LMS ultra has been a formidable force in international GT racing. The Audi R8 road car has recently received a facelift which included subtle and tasteful visual updates. The most notable updates include the front and rear lights, as well as some small bodywork changes. Ever since the introduction of the facelift there has been speculation of the possibility of facelift updates for current and new Audi R8 LMS ultra race cars. The new INR8 website even developed a few renders of what a new facelifted Audi R8 LMS ultra could look like, you can see that HERE. 

Despite all of the speculation a facelifted R8 LMS ultra has emerged. The car is a normal Audi R8 LMS ultra which has been fitted with the new front and rear lights. It may not be a true facelift, but it does give us another glimpse of what a facelifted R8 LMS ultra would look like, and it looks brilliant. The car was at the Audi R8 Facelift Press days held at the Misano Circuit in Italy during October.

Thanks to bigblogg for the photos from Italy.

More Information:
bigblogg on Flickr

bigblogg.com website

bigblogg on Facebook

bigblogg on twitter

Video: Craig Lowndes with Audi R8 LMS interview

By Johan Laubscher

Craig Lowndes is one the most famous names in Australian motorsport. Fans are use to seeing him at the front in the V8 Supercars, but in recent years Craig has been seen at the wheel of Audi R8 LMS race cars. He has twice competed for Audi at the Bathurst 12 Hours and most recently he raced a Melbourne Performance Centre Audi R8 LMS at Phillip Island in the Australian GT Series where he won his first race behind the wheel of an Audi. He was part of the Audi race experience that weekend. Here is a short interview with Craig from the Phillip Island race weekend where Craig gives some insight into his thoughts of the Audi R8 LMS.

More information:

Melbourne Performance Centre on Facebook

Craig Lowndes on Facebook

Photos by MPC

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.

Weekend Round Up - Audi Motorsport Blog (3-4/11/2012)

By Johan Laubscher

1. The Weekend

Focussing this week on the weekend of 3 - 4 November 2012

2. The Events

•           Spanish IBER GT / GT Open
•           Midas Clubmans
•           Killarney Sports and GT
•           Mexican SuperTurismo

2.1. Spanish IBER GT / GT Open

The final round of the Spanish IBER GT Championship was combined with the final round of the International GT Open series. The finale was held at Catalunya in Barcelona. Team Novadriver took part with both of their Audi R8 LMS ultras. The pair of Novadriver cars qualified at the front of the Spanish GT category for the first race. Race one ended with the #81 car finishing first in the Spanish GT category but the championship hopeful #80 car fell back and finished fourth. Race two saw an excellent result for the team, the #81 finished second followed  by #80 in third. The result was enough to secure the Spanish IBER GT driver’s title for Mikko Eskelinen in the #81 Novadriver Audi R8 LMS ultra.

Team Novadriver FB page

Results

2.2. Midas Clubmans

The penultimate round of the Midas Clubmans was held this weekend at Killarney in Cape Town, South Africa. Modack had been a regular during the season with his ex-Johan Fourie Racing Audi A4 but he was facing a race ban. The news emerged this weekend that the Modack Audi would be in the hands of Kosie Swanepoel with a new green and blue livery. Kosie was very fast during practice and maintained that pace on race day. He qualified in the top three and went on to finish first in race one. Race two saw Kosie finish his debut event in the Audi A4 with another win, making it a perfect day. Andre Johnson, who is normally seen in his black turbocharged Audi A4 B7, was in the silver and red ex-Sipuka Audi A4 this weekend, however he did not take part in either of the races.

Street Motion FB page

Results

2.3. Sports and GT at Killarney

The Sports and GT category was also in action at Killarney this weekend. The Audi of Paul Beachyhead was entered. Paul drives an Audi R8 spaceframe race car which uses an Audi 3.6 litre V8 which has been fitted with a twin turbo. The car won its class during race one despite a last lap puncture.

emanoek.blogspot.com

Results

2.4. Mexican SuperTurismos

The Mexican SuperTurismos championship held its last round of the 2012 season this weekend. Various Audi and Audi bodied silhouette cars take part in the series.

SuperTurismos website

Results

2.5. Other Audi News

034 Motorsport announced a new car this week. The North American team have acquired an Audi TT RS VLN which competes in the SP4T class of the VLN series in Germany. The car was on display at SEMA this weekend. The 034 Motorsport TT RS will debut at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill at the beginning of December.

034Motorsport FB page

The SRO held its awards evening on Friday. Many of the Audi drivers were present, including the 2012 Blancpain Endurance Series champions: Christopher Haase, Christopher Mies and Stéphane Ortelli

Christopher Mies FB page

3. Next Weekend’s events (10-11/11/2012)

•           CMRC
•           HSR Daytona
•           Audi R8 LMS Cup
•           BRCC

All photos are hosted at their respective website which are listed within the Weekend Round Up

FOR SALE: Terry Moss Racing Audi A4 B7

By Johan Laubscher

The three time Bridgestone Production Car champions (2007, 2011 and 2012), Terry Moss Racing, are selling their second Audi A4 B7 race car. The team are currently racing with new Audi S4 B8 race cars and they are selling their one remaining A4. The Audi A4 is a 3.2 quattro version wearing Audi RS4 bodywork. The cars were ultra competitive in South Africa with many victories, which includes the 2007 Class A driver’s title. These cars are spectacular and perfect for club racing. The team’s other Audi A4 (ex-Sipuka) and the ex-Johan Fourie Racing A4 are competing very successfully in the Killarney based Midas Clubmans championship in Cape Town.

Ex-Sipuka Terry Moss Racing A4 in CT

It is an excellent acquisition for prospective club racers, and the car can also be entered in Class A at national race meetings in the Bridgestone Production Cars.

Interested buyers can contact Michael Stephen from Terry Moss Racing:

Michael Stephen email address

Michael Stephen on Facebook

More information:

Terry Moss Racing on Facebook

Street Motion on Facebook

Photos by Reynard Gelderblom from Street Motion and Terry Moss Racing.  

Gallery: Audi quattro cars at Rallye Legend - San Marino

By Tarek Ramchani

The famous Rallye Legend event at San Marino celebrated its tenth edition this year. The 2012 event was held two weeks ago. A lot of legendary rally car racers took part, which included Audis of course. No less than eight quattro cars were there.

Our friend and rally enthusiast, Lawrence Clift, provided massive coverage from the San Marino meeting with some brilliant photos.

More information:
Rally Legend website
Lawrence Clift Photography website
Lawrence Clift Photography on Facebook

Audi Motorsport 2013 Calendar by Audi Holland

By Tarek Ramchani

Audi Holland has just released their 2013 Motorsport Calendar. It includes great photos featuring some of the famous and victorious race cars from the Ingolstadt brand. The cars included are the ABT Audi TT-R, the Audi R8 LMS, The Audi R10 TDI, the Audi Quattro, the Audi quattro S1, the Audi R8, and the Audi R18 TDI. Thanks to our friends from AudiBlog.nl for the tip.

More information can be found here.