Audi R8 LMS GT4
More success for Audi in the GT4 category: The Audi R8 LMS GT4 continued its worldwide winning streak in France. Following three drivers’ titles and one teams’ classification both in the United States and in the GT4 European Series, Audi has now finished at the very front in France as well, thanks to Team Saintéloc Racing. After the two Frenchmen Gregory Guilvert/Fabien Michal retired in the finale at Le Castellet in Saturday’s race following contact with a rival, the duo fought back on Sunday to sixth position. As a result, they won the Pro Am drivers’ classification while Saintéloc Racing secured the teams’ title. With more than 40 participants the French GT4 racing series is the strongest national championship in Europe and one of the best worldwide. For the long-standing Audi customer team of Sébastien Chetail, these were not the first titles this year: With the GT3 version of the Audi R8 LMS the squad had previously secured the Pro Am Cup in the drivers’ and teams’ classifications of the Blancpain GT Series.
Class victory in Belgium: Fox Motorsport celebrated its next class victory in the 24H Series. After the British customer team had previously won its class in Portugal in July, the Audi R8 LMS GT4 was not to be beaten in the Spa 12 Hours either. Ben Clucas/Andrew Perry/Jamie Stanley again decided the GT4 classification in the Ardennes in their favor. As a result, Fox Motorsport earned the runner-up finish in the European GT4 teams’ classification. Second place in the European GT4 drivers’ classification went to the three Britons as well. Altogether, this marked the third endurance racing class victory this year for the Audi R8 LMS GT4 after Phoenix Racing had scored a one-two result in the series’ season opener in Dubai.
Success at the Nürburgring: Stefan Wieninger finished the Spezial Tourenwagen Trophy season with a class success in an Audi R8 LMS GT4. With Team LMS Engineering he won his category in the final race at the Nürburgring ahead of the nominally more powerful GT3 sports cars.
Audi RS 3 LMS (TCR)
Three titles in the United States: As in 2017, the Audi RS 3 LMS again won several titles in North America this season. After Team Compass Racing won the TC class in the Pirelli World Challenge last year, Karl Thomson’s squad now prevailed in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge. In the finale at Road Atlanta, Britt Casey jr./Tom Long only needed third place to win the title ahead of their teammates, Rodrigo Sales/Kuno Wittmer. Race victory was secured by Tom O’Gorman/Kenton Koch from eEuroparts.com Racing ahead of Michael Johnson/Stephen Simpson from JDC-Miller MotorSports. They all relied on the Audi RS 3 LMS. As a result, Audi’s TCR touring car remained unbeaten in all ten races. Compass Racing additionally won the teams’ classification and Audi the manufacturers’ classification of this TCR series.
Strong conclusion in Denmark: In the finale of the Danish Endurance Championship, two trophies went to Team Dream Concept Motorsport. Daniel Lundgaard and Lasse Sørensen in the two races at Padborg not far from the Danish-German border shared an Audi RS 3 LMS. In the first session, they took second place and then went on to win race two in the TCR touring car from Audi Sport.
Coming up next week
19–21/10 Shanghai (CN), rounds 11 and 12, GT China
20/10 Nürburgring (D), round 9, Endurance Championship Nürburgring
20–21/10 Barcelona (E), rounds 13 and 14, TCR Europe
20–21/10 Barcelona (E), rounds 13 and 14, International GT Open
20–21/10 Barcelona (E), rounds 9 and 10, TCR Benelux
20–21/10 Autopolis (J), round 7, Super GT
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