Audi R8 LMS GT3
First victory for BWT Mücke Motorsport: On the second race weekend of the ADAC GT Masters, Peter Mücke’s racing team delivered a perfect showing. Up-and-coming driver Jeffrey Schmidt together with his teammate, Stefan Mücke, celebrated his first victory in an Audi R8 LMS. The Swiss-German driver duo on the circuit at Most in the Czech Republic won with a 4.3-second advantage, so marking the second victory this season by an Audi Sport customer racing team in the ADAC GT Masters.
A breath of fresh air at Imola: Audi Sport Italia started to the new domestic GT season with great momentum. New signing Bar Baruch from Israel and three-time Le Mans winner Marcel Fässler from Switzerland in the Audi R8 LMS won the second single race at Imola, now ranking in second place of the standings after the first of seven race weekends.
Fast lady continues string of success: Carrie Schreiner remains on course for success in the DMV GTC. After having previously achieved two victories in the opening round, the up-and-coming driver from Team HCB-Rutronik Racing won the Dunlop 60 race in round two at Dijon as well. Her teammate in the Audi R8 LMS: Kevin Arnold, who was promoted from the Audi Sport TT Cup. In the second sprint race of the series, Carrie Schreiner additionally clinched a second place.
First podium in Japan: Phoenix Racing Asia in round two of the Super Taikyu Series celebrated its first trophy. Alex Au and Shaun Thong from Hong Kong and their teammate Alex Yoong from Malaysia in an Audi R8 LMS crossed the finish line in second position after three hours of racing.
Three victories in Hungary: The FIA CEZ opener was a resounding success for the customers of Audi Sport. At the Hungaroring, Marcin Jedlinski from Poland won the endurance race in the Audi R8 LMS ahead of the Czech father-and-son pairing Richard Chlad and Richard Chlad jr. in an Audi R8 LMS ultra. Chlad jr. from K+K Racing Team decided the first sprint race of the series in his favor while Jedlinski with Olimp Racing took third position. In the second sprint race, the order was exactly reversed.
Audi privateers unbeaten in Australia: In round one of the CAMS NSW Production Sports Car Championship, the Audi drivers dominated events in Sydney. Nick Kelly won the first sprint race in an Audi R8 LMS ultra ahead of Matt Stoupas. Daniel Gaunt in an Audi R8 LMS decided race two in his favor, while Kelly finished third. In the subsequent one-hour race with driver change, no competitor was able to get past Gary Higgon and Daniel Gaunt who shared an Audi R8 LMS.
Audi R8 LMS GT4
Success in America: GMG Racing in the hard-fought Pirelli World Challenge clinched two strong results in Virginia. In a field of 38 race cars, James Sofronas and Alex Welch in race one achieved second place in the GTS X class. In the subsequent second race, the driver duo in its Audi R8 LMS GT4 celebrated victory.
Quick guest: Audi privateer campaigner Hamza Owega delivered a strong performance in the inaugural event of the new GT4 Central European Cup. On the circuit at Most, the driver from Cologne in the Audi R8 LMS GT4 of Team Racing One won the first race of the series. In race two, he took third place. However, as a guest entrant he is not eligible for points.
Good weekend for Jean-Luc Weidt: Audi privateer driver Jean-Luc Weidt in an R8 LMS GT4 posted strong results in round two of the DMV GTC in his class. On the circuit at Dijon, he won his class in the Dunlop 60 race and in each of the two sprint races took second position.
Audi RS 3 LMS (TCR)
First victory in the ADAC TCR Germany: Antti Buri in the second event of the ADAC TCR Germany achieved the first victory of an Audi driver this season. The Finn from Team LMS Racing relegated his closest rival on the circuit at Most in the Czech Republic to second place with a 0.397-second advantage. Four different marques are now sharing the victories in the first four single races of the series.
Class success in France: For Kevin Arnold, Dijon was worth a visit. In an Audi RS 3 LMS, the driver from Baden-Württemberg in round two of the DMV GTC decided both sprint races in his class in his favor.
Two trophies in the Pirelli World Challenge: In a field of 14 cars in the TCR class, Audi privateer driver Jerimy Daniel finished on podium twice. The Canadian from Team The Racing Company on the second race weekend in Virginia took third place in an Audi RS 3 LMS in both single races.
Good beginning of the season in Italy: Team Pit Lane Competizioni managed a good start to the 2018 season in the TCR Italy. Enrico Bettera in an Audi RS 3 LMS took third place in race one at Imola and in race two improved to second position. With 26 entrants the Italian championship ranks among the particularly strong national TCR series.
Podium places in Japan: Two privateer teams in the Super Taikyu Series clinched podium places with the Audi RS 3 LMS in the TCR class. Team BRP Audi Mie in round two at Sugo with its drivers “Hirobon”/Kei Akiyosi/Koichi Okumura claimed second place ahead of Audi Team Mars with another Audi RS 3 LMS.
Trophy at the Hungaroring: Václav Nimč jr. in his Audi RS 3 LMS clinched a trophy in the FIA CEZ season opener. The up-and-coming Czech driver in the first sprint race of the Central European Sports and Touring Car Series at Budapest placed third in his class with Team Krenek Motorsport.
Premiere in Hungary: Audi Sport customer racing in round two of the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup unveiled the race car livery for guest entrant René Rast. The DTM Champion has received a “wild card” for round three of the series at the Nürburgring. His Audi RS 3 LMS attracted many curious looks at the Budapest paddock at its premiere on Friday. Car number 33 will be racing in the colors of Esports WTCR. Simracers will be able to compete in this computer game with the TCR cars of the new racing series for the first time. The game will debut on the Nürburgring race weekend and attract fans with a total of 25,000 euros of prize money. Participants will also have the opportunity to compete against real race drivers in the simulator. Following its appearance at the Hungaroring, Audi will display the race car at the Audi Forum Neckarsulm before it will be seen at the Nürburgring from May 10 to 13.
Coming up next week
05–06/05 Mid-Ohio (USA), round 3, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
05–06/05 Mid-Ohio (USA), round 3, IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge
03–04/05 Fuji (J), round 2, Super GT
05–06/05 Le Castellet (F), rounds 1 and 2, TCR Europe
05–06/05 Le Castellet (F), round 3 and 4, International GT Open
04–05/05 Knutstorp (S), rounds 1 to 3, TCR Scandinavia
04–05/05 Knutstorp (S), rounds 1 and 2, GT Sweden
04–06/05 Hockenheim (D), rounds 1 and 2, Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup
05–06/05 Smolenskring (RUS), rounds 3 and 4, TCR Russia
05–06/05 Brands Hatch (GB), rounds 3 and 4, Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup
05–06/05 Brands Hatch (GB), rounds 3 and 4, GT4 European Series
