ADAC GT Masters: A very hard race 2 for Audi at Spa

By Tarek Ramchani

The second race at Spa-Francorchamps in ADAC GT Masters was very hard for the Audi squad in very difficult weather conditions.

The race started very badly for Audi. In the first lap René Rast, driving the #27 Prosperia C.Abt Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra, had a very nasty crash. The three-time Prosche Supercup champion was collected from behind by another competitor after a spin. The safety car was deployed and there were big fears for René Rast. Fortunately René was conscious and was sent to the medical center.

The race resumed after several laps under full course yellow. The wet track conditions remained, and as was the case yesterday, only one Audi R8 LMS ultra finished in the top 10. The #28 car from Prosperia C.Abt Racing driven by Christian Mamerow and Christer Jöns crossed the finish line in seventh place.

The #16 Audi from YACO Racing shared by Philip Geipel and Dino Lunardi was eleventh. The third car from Prosperia C.Abt racing finished in seventeenth with the #26 R8 LMS ultra of Rahel Frey and Markus Winkelhock. Whilst the 2012 series champions from MS Racing had another quite difficult race. The #100 Audi of Daniel Dobitsch and Aditya Patel was eighteenth and their teammates, Sebastian Asch and Florian Stoll with the sister #1 machine, were only twentieth.

Overall the Belgian round was a very difficult weekend for all three Audi teams. We wish the best of luck for René Rast, that he will get well soon and be ready for the Nürburgring 24 Hours next weekend.

Editor's note: As it is now, no one can deny that the Audi R8 LMS ultra is penalized in the ADAC GT Masters. The R16, within this specific Balance of Performance, is not able to fight at the front, and it can be assumed that this will be the same case for the proceeding rounds if things remain as they are now. It is really hard to understand how some of the best drivers are in the Audis, and that they are always far behind. Even with fast and experienced youngsters such as René Rast and Christopher Mies or Markus Winkelhock and Rahel Frey, who both have massive experience in the demanding DTM, the cars are still relegated to not being able to battle at the front. MS Racing are another good example, they are the reigning ADAC GT Masters champions with a rival brand in 2012, but since their switch to Audi in 2013 they have also clearly suffered with the performance disadvantage, despite the Audi R8 LMS ultra being one of the best cars in international GT3 competition. This specific performance deficiency with the the BOP was also the case last year, and unfortunately things have not changed for 2013 in the ADAC GT Masters.

(Editor’s note is stated by the Audi Motorsport Blog (an independent blog), this is NOT a statement made by the official Audi Sport / Audi Sport customer racing)

Photo credit: ADAC GT Masters

ADAC GT Masters: Fifth and sixth for Audi cars in race 1 at Spa

By Tarek Ramchani

Spa-Francorchamps hosted the first of two ADAC GT Masters races today. The Audi squad were able to improve after very hard qualifying sessions yesterday. Two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars from Prosperia C.Abt Racing performed well and made it into the top 10.

The #27 R8 LMS ultra shared by Audi regulars Christopher Mies and René Rast finished in a solid fifth at the end of the 1-hour sprint race. Mies and Rast started way back from eleventh place on the gird. The sister #26 Audi of Rahel Frey and Markus Winkelhock finished right behind them in sixth place. Not bad considering that the Audi cars are now a little bit penalized with the Balance of Performance. The drivers have to push to the limits to fight for the top spots.

The other Audi entries were outside of the top 10. Eleventh was the #1 car from MS Racing (Sebastian Asch/Florian Stoll), sixteenth the #28 Prosperia C. Abt Racing (Christer Jöns /Christian Mamerow), seventeenth the #16 YACO Racing (Philip Geipel/Dino Lunardi) and twentieth the #100 MS Racing (Daniel Dobitsch/Aditya Patel).

Race victory went the #14 Ford GT from Lambda Performance, driven by Frank Kechele and Nicolas Verdonck, the car started from pole position. #10 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 of Polarweiss Racing was second with drivers Maximilian Buhk and Maximilian Götz. In third the #12 BMW Z4 GT3 of DB Motorsport in the hands of Jeroen den Boer and Simon Knap. The race 1 results are here.

Race 2 is set for tomorrow, fingers crossed for all three Audi teams and their drivers.

Photos credit: ADAC GT Masters

ADAC GT Masters: Difficult qualifying sessions for Audi teams at Spa

By Tarek Ramchani

Spa-Francorchamps is hosting the second meeting of the 2013 ADAC GT Masters this weekend. Six Audi R8 LMS ultra cars have entered the Belgian round from three different teams. The Audi squad has again faced very difficult qualifying sessions.
In the first qualifying session only a single Audi R8 LMS ultra was able to enter the top 10. The #28 car from Prosperia C.Abt Racing was tenth with drivers Christer Jöns and Christian Mamerow. Eleventh were their teammates, Christopher Mies and René Rast, in the #27 Audi. The 2012 champions Sebastian Asch and Florian Stoll from MS Racing were fourteenth driving the #1 car, followed by the team's second car the #100 of Daniel Dobitsch and Aditya Patel in fifteenth place. The #16 Audi of YACO Racing with Philip Geipel and Dino Lunardi was seventeenth. The third Prosperia entry, the #26 R8 LMS of Rahel Frey and Markus Winkelhock, was twentieth. The first qualifying session results are here.

In the second qualifying session it was once again only one car that entered the top 10, the #27 of Christopher Mies and René Rast in fourth place. The other Audi R8 LMS ultra cars were fifteenth (#28 Christer Jöns/Christian Mamerow), seventeenth (#26 Rahel Frey/Markus Winkelhock), nineteenth (#16 Philip Geipel/Dino Lunardi), twenty-second (#1 Sebastian Asch/Florian Stoll), and twenty-sixth (#100 Daniel Dobitsch/Aditya Patel). The second qualifying session results are here.

Two 1-hour sprint races are set for Saturday (race 1) and Sunday (race 2). We hope that the Audi teams and drivers will be able to recover and fight for the top spots. Spa-Francorchamps has always been a good track for the Audi R8 LMS, both inthe Spa 24 Hours and the Belgian national GT races.

Photo credit: ADAC GT Masters

ADAC GT Masters: Harder race 2 for Audi teams at Oschersleben

By Tarek Ramchani

An Audi won the first race of the 2013 ADAC GT Masters at Oscherslben yesterday, with René Rast and Christopher Mies in the wet. Race 2 today was a little bit harder for the Audi R8 LMS ultra cars.

The best ranked Audi R8 LMS ultra finished in sixth place, the #28 Prosperia C.Abt Racing car shared by drivers Christer Jons and Christian Mamerow. The two drivers started from third on the gird and were not able to fight for the race win.

All the other Audi R8 LMS ultra cars were outside of the top 10. Rahel Frey and Markus Winckelhock, with #26 Prosperia C.Abt Racing, were eleventh. The defending champions from MS Racing were only able to finish in twelfth and seventeenth places with their #1 and #100 Audis. The YACO Racing #16 car was twentieth. Bad luck for race 1 winners René Rast and Christopher Mies, they were classified twenty-fourth with #27 R8 LMS ultra.

The next stop for the ADAC GT Masters is set in two weeks time in Belgium, at Spa-Francorchamps.

Photo credit: ADAC GT Masters

ADAC GT Masters: Sensational Audi victory in race 1 at Oschersleben

By Tarek Ramchani

The 2013 ADAC GT Masters season has started at Oschersleben. Race 1, which was held today, was a great one for Audi. A storming victory for drivers René Rast and Christopher Mies, who came from far behind on the grid.

The victorious #27 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Prosperia C.Abt Racing started from fifteenth place on the grid. Both Mies and Rast raced very hard through the field, setting the fastest lap of the race with a 1:41.863. After one hour and 33 laps they crossed the finish line, 8 seconds ahead the second placed Porsche GT3 R. YACO Racing, on their debut with Audi, finished in a very strong fourth place with drivers Philip Geipel and Dino Lunardi, in the #16 R8 LMS ultra. The other Audi cars finished sixth with #26 C.Jöns/C.Mamerow (Prosperia C.Abt Racing), ninth with #26 R.Frey/M.Winkelhock (Prosperia C.Abt Racing), twelfth with #100 D.Dobitsch/A.Patel (MS Racing) and twentieth with #1 F.Stoll/S.Asch (MS Racing). Race 1 results are here.

Race two is set for tomorrow. We hope for another set of good results for the Audi squad.

Photo credit: ADAC GT Masters

ADAC GT Masters: Mixed qualifying for Audi teams at Oschersleben

By Tarek Ramchani

Oschersleben is hosting the season opener of the 2013 ADAC GT Masters this weekend. Two qualifying sessions were held today with some disappointing results for the Audi squad.

Six Audi R8 LMS ultra cars are entering the event from three different teams. Prosperia C. Abt Racing is fielding three cars, #26 of R.Frey/M.Winkelhock, #27 of C.Mies/R.Rast and #28 of C.Jöns/C.Mamerow. MS Racing, who are the defending ADAC GT Masters champions, have two Audi cars, #1 of F.Stoll/S.Asch and #100 of D.Dobitsch/A.Patel. YACO Racing is entering a single R8 LMS ultra, #16 of P.Geipel/D.Lunardi.

In the first qualifying session the best ranked Audi was the #28 Prosperia R8 LMS ultra of C.Jöns/C.Mamerow who placed in eighth. All the other cars were far behind, they were respectively classified in 14th (#1 MS Racing), 15th (#27 Prosperia), 16th (#26 Prosperia, 20th (#100 MS Racing) and 22nd (#16 YACO Racing). Qualifying session 1 results are here.

For the second qualifying session things were slightly better. Again the #28 Prosperia Audi of C.Jöns/C.Mamerow was the best R8 LMS ultra and was able to qualify in a fine third place. All the other Audi cars were once again outside of the top 10: 11th (#27 Prosperia), 12th (#1 MS Racing), 13th (#26 Prosperia), 19th (#16 YACO Racing) and 22nd (#100 MS Racing). Qualifying session 2 results are here.

The first race of the weekend is set for tomorrow. A 1-hour sprint event, we wish the best of luck to all three teams and their drivers.

Photo credit: Audi Media

ADAC GT Masters: YACO Racing ready for Oschersleben with Audi

By Tarek Ramchani

One of the two new Audi teams for the 2013 ADAC GT Masters season is YACO Racing. The team raced in the German GT series last year with a Reiter Engineering built Chevrolet Camaro GT3, with very mixed result. This year they have decided to switch to the Audi R8 LMS ultra.

A single car will compete in the eight-round calendar. The YACO car will carry the number #16 and will be shared by Philip Geipel and Dino Lunardi. Philip Geipel raced for the team last year with the Camaro. Dino Lunardi is of course the 2011 ADAC GT Masters champion with Alpina BMW, a team who he competed for last year as well.

The opening round of the ADAC GT Masters is set at Oschersleben this weekend. The YACO Racing Audi will be one of six R8 LMS ultra cars entering the event, three from Prosperia C.Abt Racing and two from MS Racing.

Photo credit: KSM - Sport - Marketing / Kai Malditz

ADAC GT Masters: Rahel Frey and Markus Winkelhock join Prosperia C.Abt Racing in an Audi R8 LMS ultra

By Tarek Ramchani

Prosperia C.Abt Racing will enter a third additional Audi R8 LMS ultra for the 2013 ADAC GT Masters. The car will be shared by Audi regulars Rahel Frey and Markus Winkelhock.

Rahel Frey will debut in the top German GT series and in the team as well. The Swiss factory Audi driver is having a very busy 2013 season with the Audi R8 LMS ultra. In addition to the ADAC GT Masters she is racing in the Blancpain Endurance Series for Belgian Audi Club Team WRT and in the Asian based Audi R8 LMS Cup.

During 2011 Markus Winkelhock competed at selected events in the ADAC GT Masters, with the Swiss Novidem team. He and Rahel Frey will both be debuting with Prosperia C.Abt Racing. He is also taking part in the Blancpain Endurance Series for team Phoenix Racing. Markus Winkelhock is of course the reigning FIA GT1 World Championship champion and the 2012 overall winner of the Nürburgring 24 Hours with Audi.

Both drivers are joining a world class effort at Prosperia C.Abt Racing, the other two cars are in the hands of René Rast/Christopher Mies and Chrisitan Mamerow/Christer Jöns. The ADAC GT Masters season opener is set at Oschersleben next weekend. No doubts that Prosperia C.Abt Racing will be among the big favourites.

Photo credit and more information:
Prosperia C.Abt Racing

ADAC GT Masters: Five Audi R8 LMS ultra for the 2013 season

By Tarek Ramchani

The ADAC GT Masters organizers have published the entry list for the 2013 season. A great quality field of 29 GT3 race cars from different brands and teams.

The Audi squad will be very well represented in the seventh edition of the top German GT series. Five Audi R8 LMS ultra cars entered by three different teams.

Prosperia uhc Speed and Christian Abt have joined forced to form the newly named team of Prosperia C.Abt Racing. The team will enter two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars as they did in 2012. Last year the team had a very mixed season with many ups and downs.

New comers to Audi are MS Racing with a two-car effort. The team had a fantastic 2012 season in the series by winning both the teams and drivers titles. MS Racing are switching from Mercedes-Benz and will have two very special numbers: #1 for the first R8 LMS ultra as defending champions, and #100 for the sister Audi celebrating the 100th customer race car delivered by Audi Sport customer racing and quattro GmbH.

The third team is Yaco Racing with a single Audi R8 LMS ultra carrying the number #16.

The 2013 ADAC GT Masters will start at Oschersleben in four weeks time.

Photo credit: Norbert Kratz / Audi Media

Audi delivers 100th customer race car

Audi Press Release

•          Audi R8 LMS ultra handed over to MS RACING on Tuesday
•          Current ADAC GT Masters champion’s team to start relying on Audi
•          Car number “100” symbolizes success of the program

Ingolstadt, April 3, 2013 – Newcomer to Audi Sport customer racing: Team MS RACING is switching to Audi and will be fielding two new R8 LMS ultra cars in the 2013 ADAC GT Masters. On Tuesday, quattro GmbH handed over the 100th race car from Heilbronn-Biberach, a facility of the Neckarsulm location, to the squad.

For the customer sport project that has only been in existence since 2009, this vehicle handover marks a symbolic milestone as quattro GmbH delivered the 100th race car based on the Audi R8 to a customer only four years after the program was launched. The Audi R8 LMS ultra meanwhile embodies the third evolution of the GT3 model. For the United States, the line-up also includes a GRAND-AM version that won the GT class at the Daytona 24 Hours in January.

“We’re delighted about Team MS RACING having opted for Audi for the first time,” emphasizes Franciscus van Meel, Managing Director of quattro GmbH. The wholly owned Audi subsidiary based in Neckarsulm develops, produces and sells the customer sport race cars of the brand with the four rings. “The sporting tally that meanwhile reflects 18 championship titles plus endurance victories at the major 24-hour races on the Nürburgring, at Spa, Daytona and Zolder underscores the car’s qualities as well. More than 50 percent of the race car is based on the production vehicle. At the same time, on delivering the 100th car, we’re extending our global market position. The R8 is meanwhile being fielded in races in Australia, Asia, Europe, North and South America.”

Sebastian Asch, last year’s champion in the ADAC GT Masters, visited the handover of the Audi R8 LMS ultra together with his team-mate Florian Stoll. Race engineer Ralph Stoll accepted the keys to the car from Dirk Spohr, Head of Customer Management at Audi Sport customer racing. The team based in Waldshut-Tiengen will announce its complete driver line-up in the next few weeks before the season starts at Oschersleben on April 27.

Photo credit: Audi Sport Media

Prosperia C.ABT Racing with Audi in ADAC GT Masters

By Tarek Ramchani

Prosperia uhc Speed, a regular Audi team in ADAC GT Masters, is set to comeback in the German GT series this season.

A brand new promotional video has recently been released by the team featuring three Audi R8 LMS and ultra cars around the Hockenheimring circuit. There are some major changes this year as the team is changing its name to Prosperia C.ABT Racing and forming a partnership with the Dancecom Project. Christian Abt is no stranger to the team, he was part of their 2012 effort in the ADAC GT Masters. Christian Abt won the 2009 title with an Abt Sportsline entered R8 LMS. The driver line-up and the number of cars will be announced later.

Prosperia C.ABT Racing will join another already confirmed Audi team. MS Racing will field a pair of brand new R8 LMS ultra cars after switching from Mercedes-Benz. MS Racing were the 2012 ADAC GT Masters team and driver champions with their SLS AMG GT3 cars.

The ADAC GT Masters is one of the most demanding national GT series in Europe. The 2013 competition will have an eight-round calendar, Motorsport Arena Oschersleben will be the season opener.

Photo credit and more information:
Prosperia uhc Speed website

Prosperia C.Abt Racing season 2013 from Prosperia UHC on Vimeo.

ADAC GT Masters confirms Nürburgring date

ADAC GT Masters Press Release

The Nürburgring will once again be hosting the ADAC GT Masters during the 2013 season. The weekend of 2nd - 4th August at the legendary circuit in the Eifel region has now been confirmed for the Super Sports Car League. The event will mark the halfway point in the ADAC GT Masters season, by which time the leading title contenders will have begun to emerge.

August and September are the two most decisive months in the campaign, with no fewer than five race weekends being staged. It will be a very full programme, with all of the support series - Formel ADAC, ATS Formel-3-Cup, ADAC PROCAR and the MINI TROPHY - sharing the bill.

To ensure that the ADAC GT Masters teams are optimally prepared for the new season, there will be two official test days during the run-up period. On 9th and 10th April, all the teams that have registered for the ADAC GT Masters will be testing their cars at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. 9th April has been designated as the official press day, when representatives of the media will have the opportunity to find out all about the teams and what the new season has in store.

Dates and venues for the 2013 ADAC GT Masters
9th - 10th April: Official testing at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben (9th April Media Day)
26th - 28th April: Motorsport Arena Oschersleben
10th - 12th May:Circuit Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium)
7th - 9th June: Sachsenring
2nd - 4th August: Nürburgring
9th - 11th August: Red Bull Ring (Austria)
30th August - 1st September: Lausitzring
13th - 15th September: Slovakiaring (Slovakia)
27th - 29th September: Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg

Photo credit: Prosperia uhc Speed

Video: Closer look at the Audi R8 LMS ultra

By Tarek Ramchani

A new video found on YouTube which offers a closer look at the all-conquering Audi R8 LMS ultra. The car is from Team Prosperia uhc Speed, a regular entry in the ADAC GT Masters. The car looks great with its very beautiful predominantly red livery.

Audi R8 LMS on Facebook