Our Friend and often forum contributor JF Musial today unveiled his newest project: DRIVE. DRIVE is a collaboration between: Jalopnik, JF Musial, Chris Harris, Michael Spinelli, Jon Alain Guzik, Matt Farah, and Emil Rensing. The first release speaks for it self. The 24 Hours of Nürburgring is the most difficult endurance race in the world. Every year hundreds of cars take to the Nordschleife in an attempt to surive for 24-hours. JF and team have done an excellent job of capturing the feeling of being there. Not to mention lots of hot R8 LMS action!
In September the Audi R8 LMS will start into its fourth major marathon this season and contest a 12-hour race in Asia.
Endurance race in Asia: After winning the Bathurst 12 Hours in Australia in February, clinching class victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hours in June and overall victory at the Spa 24 Hours in July the Audi R8 LMS will be contesting another major marathon. From September 15 to 17 the WRT team that was victorious at Spa will compete in Malaysia with two of the GT3 customer sport cars. The driver teams for the Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race (MMER) at Sepang:Frank Biela/Marcel Fässler/Marco Werner and Seiji Ara/Darryl O’Young/Alex Yoong.
Audi Sport Team WRT triumphant at the 24 Hours Spa
Victorious against GT cars from twelve other manufacturers
DTM stars Ekström and Scheider in winning car
The Audi R8 LMS won the most important endurance race for GT cars ahead of BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Audi Sport Team WRT overcame the strongest competition during the 63rd running of the 24 hours of Spa (Belgium). The two DTM stars Mattias Ekström (Sweden) and Timo Scheider (Germany) and the Belgian endurance specialist Greg Franchi shared driving duties in the victorious mid-engine sportscar.
Experts agreed before the race started that the endurance classic, held since 1924, had never fielded so many potential winners as this year. A total of 62 cars representing 13 different manufacturers joined the grid, including no less than 57 cars of the worldwide booming GT3 category.
The opening stages of the endurance classic in particular fulfilled expectations. Spectators lining the 7.004 kilometer track and in front of television screens enjoyed tough battles for position, countless overtaking maneuvers, retirements and small and big dramas which are typical for a 24-hour race. The Audi R8 LMS was the fastest car in the field from the very beginning. After just a few hours it was clear that the V10 powered R8 sports cars where the favorites for the victory.
Audi Sport Teams Phoenix and WRT field four factory cars
Customer team United Autosports with former Formula 1 stars
Premiere in the Belgian Ardennes: the GT3 class is the top tier for the first time at the 63rd running of the 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps. Audi uses the opportunity to send four factory backed R8 LMS into the battle for overall victory on July 30/31. On top of this come three customer cars with high-caliber driver line-ups.
The Belgian endurance classic was staged for the first time in 1924 and, as a result, is almost as old as the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans and is currently the world’s only 24-hour race in which GT cars compete exclusively. This includes the Audi R8 LMS which has recorded almost 100 victories since its debut in 2009 and is one of the most successful GT3 sports cars and thus automatically numbers among the candidates for overall victory.
Ekström, Rockenfeller and Scheider contest 24-hour races
Factory supported events at the Nürburgring and at Spa-Francorchamps
Three top teams and high-caliber driver line-ups
Audi tackles the two 24-hour races at the Nürburgring (June 25/26) and at Spa-Francorchamps (July 30/31) with high-caliber driver teams. DTM stars Mattias Ekström, Mike Rockenfeller and Timo Scheider also join the grid for the two factory supported events with the Audi R8 LMS.
Successful debut for newly-structured customer sports program
Exciting three-way battle throughout race
Audi achieved a dream debut of its 2011 motorsport season in Australia: The Audi R8 LMS entered by Audi race experience Team Joest celebrated a 1-2 victory at the Bathurst 12 Hour after a fierce battle. Bathurst rookies Marc Basseng/Christopher Mies/Darryl O’Young (D/D/CN) won the 12 hour race 0.7 seconds ahead of their Australian team mates Mark Eddy/Craig Lowndes/Warren Luff.
