GT Asia: Top 5 finishes for the Audi R8 LMS ultra at Twin Ring Motegi

By Johan Laubscher

The GT Asia series held its first round in Japan this weekend. Twin Ring Motegi hosted the event and a total of five Audi R8 LMS and ultra cars took part.

Absolute Racing were out in force with three 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra cars and a strong driver line-up. Two more Audis were entered by Dilango Racing and Hitotsuyama Racing, fielding one car each, an Audi R8 LMS ultra (2013) and an older R8 LMS respectively.  

The Audis performed well during the sessions and achieved good qualifying positions. All five Audis qualified within the top ten for race one, being lead by the #7 R8 LMS ultra in third place. For race two three Audis were within the top ten grid, again being lead by the #7 in third.

Race one saw very wet and difficult conditions on Saturday afternoon. The Audis dropped back during the race, but an overall top five result was achieved by the #98 Absolute Racing entry driven by Philip Ma and Cong Fu Cheng. The other Audis finished outside of the top ten. Hitotsuyama Racing also finished within the top five of their class, finishing fifth in the GTM class. The first race was won by the #2 Asia Racing Team Porsche 911 GT3 R. The results from race one can be seen HERE. 

A sunny day greeted the competitors for race two on Sunday. The race got underway on a dry track, a complete contrast to race one yesterday. The race saw an improvement as three Audis finished within the top ten. The highest placed Audi was again a fifth place finish overall, this time with the #7 Absolute Racing entry driven by Marchy Lee and Jeffrey Lee. The #888 of Francis Hideki Onda and Alex Yoong finished sixth followed by the #88 entry from Hitotsuyama Racing in ninth overall and second in the GTM class. Race two as won by the #007 Craft Racing Aston Martin Vantage V12 GT3. The results from race two can be seen HERE.

The second round of the GT Asia series will also take place in Japan, to be hosted at Okayama in June. 

Photo credit and more information:

J-Fly Racing on Facebook

Hitotsuyama Racing on Facebook

GT Asia: Five Audis enter the GT Asia at Twin Ring Motegi

By Johan Laubscher

The GT Asia Championship is getting underway in Japan this weekend, round one at Twin Ring Motegi. Audi entries are occupying almost 30% of the GT Asia gird, with five entries in total.

Absolute Racing is fielding three Audi R8 LMS ultra cars, representing their customers. The three cars are the same which competed in the MSS at Sepang earlier this year, the international race debut for the 2013 specification Audi R8 LMS ultra. The cars are however now in the new 2013 homologated specification, having been fitted with the older rear diffuser, just like all the other 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra cars around the world.

The lead Absolute Racing car includes the #7 entry (J-Fly Racing) with Marchy Lee and Jeffrey Lee, the duo who also competed for Absolute Racing last year. The second car is that of Philip Ma and Cong Fu Cheng, who are sharing the #98 car (Team Hong Kong Racing). The third car will be driven by Francis Hideki Onda and Alex Yoong, sharing the #888 car (Tunewear Racing).

Two more teams have also entered one Audi each. Hitotsuyama Racing is fielding their older Audi R8 LMS for the driver pairing of Billy Fung and Akihiro Asai, driving the #88 entry. The third Audi team this weekend includes a new Audi R8 LMS team. Dilango Racing has entered a 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra for driver Dilantha Malagamuwa. This #24 entry was originally listed under the name of Nova Engineering, but it has subsequently been updated to Dilango Racing. They are another great addition to the ever growing Audi Sport customer racing family. 

Photo credit: J-Fly Racing