Audi R8 LMS GT4
Two trophies in home round: Baporo Motorsport in the home round of the GT Cup Open Europe racing series at Barcelona celebrated two podium successes with the Audi R8 LMS GT4. Daniel Díaz-Varela from Spain and Andorran Manel Cerqueda in the fifth event of the European series achieved third position in both races, which made them the second-best team in the AM classification, respectively.
Audi RS 3 LMS (TCR)
Success at Vallelunga: In round six of the Coppa Italia Turismo at Vallelunga, Enrico Bettera in the first race won the TCR classification in an Audi RS 3 LMS with an 8.6-second advantage ahead of Jacopo Guidetti in another Audi. In the second race, Edoardo Barbolini crossed the finish line 1.2 seconds in front of Andrea Argenti – both relied on an Audi RS 3 LMS, too.
Class victory in France: In round six of the Trophée Tourisme Endurance, the Audi RS 3 LMS once again proved its endurance racing qualities. On the circuit at Nogaro, the Motorsport Développement team finished overall runners-up and scored victory in the T4 class. After 3h 50m of racing, the driver team of Mané Vignjevic/Pierre-Etienne Chaumat had achieved a 7.4-second advantage in its class.
Two second positions in Australia: In round six of the TCR Australia, the Audi RS 3 LMS claimed two podium finishes. In both the second and third race at Sandown, Garth Tander crossed the finish line closely behind winner Nestor Girolami from the FIA WTCR. In the second sprint race, Tander was separated from the Argentinian by 1.58 seconds and in the third one even by merely 0.46 seconds.
Two Audi drivers on podium: In round six of the TCR Europe at Barcelona, two Audi Sport customer teams were successful. In the first race, Santiago Urrutia with the WRT team achieved the fourth spot. Following a penalty for runner-up Josh Files, the up-and-coming driver from Uruguay in an Audi RS 3 LMS subsequently moved up to third position. In the second race, Comtoyou Racing clinched a trophy with the Audi RS 3 LMS. After twelve laps, the Belgian Gilles Magnus as the runner-up had to admit defeat by merely half a second. The event was not only part of the TCR Europe but also of the TCR Benelux. Before the Benelux finale at Monza, Magnus sits in the runner-up’s spot with a 23-point deficit while 85 points are yet to be awarded in Italy in three weeks’ time.
Successful debut in New Zealand: Team Track Tec Racing celebrated a good season opener in the South Island Endurance Series in New Zealand. In the first race of the Audi RS 3 LMS on the circuit at Teretonga on the South Island, Dennis and Debbie Chapman in the 60-minute category finished runners-up in Class B.
WTCR wild card entry by Audi Team Hitotsuyama: In round eight of the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup in Japan from October 25 to 27, Audi Sport customer racing will welcome a local customer team to the field. Audi Team Hitotsuyama received two wild card entries for the race weekend at Suzuka. Ryuichiro Tomita is going to take the wheel of one of the two Audi RS 3 LMS cars. The 30-year-old Japanese has been driving an Audi R8 LMS of the team in the GT300 class of the Super GT racing series. In the fifth round of the Super Taikyu Series in September, he clinched third position in an Audi RS 3 LMS. “These race cars are clearly more powerful and a lot more fun than the front-wheel drive models I became familiar with at the beginning of my career. I’ve raced at Suzuka many times before and can hardly wait for my run in the FIA WTCR,” said Tomita. Ritomo Miyata will drive the second Audi RS 3 LMS. The 20-year-old up-and-coming Japanese driver has won the Formula 4 Championship in his country twice and is currently the runner-up in the Japanese Formula 3 Championship before the finale. “In a test, I came to know the Audi RS 3 LMS as a car that’s easy to drive and a lot of fun and that likes fast corners. I’m looking forward to the weekend at Suzuka,” said Miyata.
Coming up next week
27–28/09 Shanghai (CN), rounds 11 and 12, Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia
27–29/09 Sachsenring (D), rounds 13 and 14, ADAC GT Masters
27–29/09 Sachsenring (D), rounds 11 and 12, ADAC GT4 Germany
27–29/09 Sachsenring (D), rounds 13 and 14, ADAC TCR Germany
27–29/09 Sydney (AUS), round 4, GT-1 Australia
28/09 Nürburgring (D), round 7, VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring
28–29/09 Barcelona (E), round 5, Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup
28–29/09 Okayama (J), rounds 7 and 8, TCR Japan
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