Europe: Audi Motorsport Newsletter 05/2009

[B]Audi R8 LMS shine around the Nordschleife[/B]

[B]VLN:[/B] The four Audi R8 LMS cars fielded by Phoenix Racing and ABT Sportsline made a strong impression in the dress rehearsal for the 24-hour race around the Nürburgring. Marc Basseng, Marcel Fässler, Mike Rockenfeller and Frank Stippler narrowly missed taking overall honours by a mere 0.981 seconds at the third round of the BFGoodrich Endurance Championship.

Christian Abt, Jean-Francois Hemroulle, Pierre Kaffer and Lucas Luhr finished third and thus completed a perfect Audi one-two in the SP9 class. The other two Audi R8 LMS were also in the leading group but slid off the circuit on a patch of liquid at the same time as several other competitors on the fourth lap.

[B]Strong European Championship debut for Audi R8 LMS[/B]

[B]FIA GT3:[/B] The Audi R8 LMS also demonstrated its potential during the opening rounds of the FIA GT3 European Championship at Silverstone. In the first of the two races Christopher Haase and Christopher Mies held the lead before a gearbox problem forced them to retire just before the finish. In the second race the two Germans in the team Phoenix Audi R8 LMS fought their way through the field from 16th to second place. Nicolas Armindo and Cesar Campanico, who took third place in both races for Team Rosberg, also made a strong impression.

[B]Mike Rockenfeller particularly busy[/B]

[B]DTM:[/B] Mike Rockenfeller was the busiest driver at the official DTM tests at the Hockenheimring. The Audi factory driver spooled off a total of 236 laps between Monday and Thursday with his Audi A4 DTM in the changeable weather conditions.

All nine Audi factory drivers tested at Hockenheim with their race cars. Oliver Jarvis and defending champion Timo Scheider posted the fastest times of the day on Monday and Tuesday respectively. The new DTM season starts at Hockenheim on May 19. Audi has the chance to become the first automobile manufacturer in DTM history to win the title three times in succession.

[B]False start for Junior Team in Sweden[/B]

[B]JTCC:[/B] Engine problems thwarted the efforts of Mattias Ekström's Junior Team at the opening round of the Swedish Junior Touring Car Championship (JTCC) at Mantorp Park. The 16-year old Rasmus Marthen was even unable to start the first of the two races. In the second race he had to park his Audi A3 after only four laps.

Credits: JRC