Video: 1988 Trans Am Audi Documentary

By Johan Laubscher

The 1988 Trans Am series came under siege from Germany. Audi had sent a pair of race cars to form the quattro assault on the American motorsport scene. The Audi 200 TransAm was extremely successful and overcame performance penalties to become the 1988 champions with Hurley Haywood.

Below is the 1988 season video from Audi, which includes the TransAm championship. It is unfortunately only in German, however the scenes and sounds speak a universal language and it is still well worth the watch, enjoy. 

Video: 1989 IMSA GTO Audi Documentary

By Johan Laubscher

The Audi 90 IMSA GTO is a cult classic. It has been a fan favourite ever since it was seen for the first time at the beginning of 1989. It took part in the American IMSA GTO championship that season and went onto win multiple race victories.

Below is the 1989 season video from Audi, which includes the IMSA GTO championship. It is unfortunately only in German, but the scenes and sounds speak a universal language, and it is still well worth the watch, enjoy. 

DTM: Compact season comprising 10 races held in a two-week rhythm

DTM Press Release

Compact and high-quality: in 2013, DTM wants to provide its fans even more thrilling motor racing. BMW ace Bruno Spengler will have to contest 10 races, for his title-defence campaign. This means that the 2013 race calendar of the most popular international touring-car series comprises the same number of races as this year’s. The highlight of the 2013 season will be the maiden DTM race in Russia that will be held at Moscow Raceway on 4th August a stone’s throw from Russia’s capital. Due to the extraordinary attractiveness of this new market, DTM foregoes the abroad event in Spain, this year.

Due to this move, the traditional season finale at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg will take place as early as on 15th September. Just 19 weeks or 133 days after the season kick-off contested at the same venue on 5th May, the Southern German circuit will be the venue of the decision in the battle for the titles. The race at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben will take place two weeks earlier on 1st September. Altogether, the fans may look forward to a season that will be held nearly completely in a two-week rhythm - and never, the break between two rounds will add up to more than three weeks.

“We are going to offer our fans an even more compact package, in 2013,” says Hans Werner Aufrecht, Chairman of DTM rights holder and promoter ITR e.V. “From early May to mid-September, DTM will be racing nearly every second weekend and provide the spectators top-class motor sport. In the course of the internationalisation, we are looking forward to the new and extremely attractive market in Russia. A market that is so attractive that we even were ready to forego the round in Spain, for this race. But we’d like to thank our partners in Valencia for the good cooperation in the past years.”

Altogether, six of the ten races will be held on German soil, next year, with the other four taking the DTM fraternity abroad. In addition to the two race weekends at Hockenheim, traditionally the kick-off and the finale of the DTM season, and the race in Oschersleben the venues of the other home events for three premium-car manufacturers involved - Audi, BMW und Mercedes-Benz - will be the Lausitzring (16th June), Nuremberg’s Norisring (7th July) and the Nürburgring (18th August).

In addition to the round at the Moscow Raceway, the 2013 calendar comprises another three abroad races: on 19th May, DTM will be racing at Brands Hatch/GB and two weeks later, on 2nd June, the DTM drivers will battle it out for championship points at Austria’s Red Bull Ring - with the final race on foreign soil, the round at Zandvoort, Netherlands, being held for 21st July.

The 2013 DTM calendar at a glance*
5th May Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (D)
19th May Brands Hatch (GB)
2nd June Red Bull Ring Spielberg (A)
16th June Lausitzring (D)
7th July Norisring (D)
21st July Circuit Park Zandvoort (NL)
4th August Moscow Raceway (RUS)
18th August Nürburgring (D)
1st September Motorsport Arena Oschersleben (D)
15th September Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (D)

* Subject to approval by FIA

Photo credit: ITR/DTM

Video: Audi TT RS Targa High Country 2012

By Johan Laubscher

Targa is a very popular form of motorsport in Australia and in recent years a very special Audi has been competing. The Audi TT RS of Matt and Casey Close has been a front runner in these road rallies since it debuted in 2009. Unfortunately the Close pairing suffered a large crash earlier in 2012, but luckily they were unharmed and back on track. They recently competed at the Targa High Country event, and they did not disappoint. The TT RS had a few upgrades which included a new S-Tronic gearbox and a new livery.

The Close TT RS faces some formidable competition in the Targa series which includes a Lamborghini, Nissan GTRs and a host of Porsche 911 cars. Despite the though competition the TT RS armed with quattro and its five cylinder turbo engine was able to finish second in this event. Below we have included a video which features the Close TT RS at the Targa High Country. It is four minutes of action with this beautiful car and its even more beautiful five cylinder engine note. 

More information:

Other Side Productions
Targa News

Video: Inside the Audi team at Macau

By Johan Laubscher

The 2012 Macau Grand Prix was the scene of Edoardo Mortara’s fourth consecutive win at Macau. He was driving an Audi R8 LMS ultra in the Macau GT cup, entered by the Audi R8 LMS Cup team. The team did very well at the event and had entered two cars, one for Mortara and the second for Jeffrey Lee.

Here is a set of four videos documenting the team’s efforts at the 2012 Macau Grand Prix.

Macau Day 1 

Macau Day 2 

Macau Qualifying

Macau Race Day

Photos by: Audi R8 LMS Cup

Pirelli World Challenge Announces Approved FIA GT3 Models from Audi, BMW and Mercedes for Competition in 2013

World Challenge Press Release

Denver, CO - WC Vision is pleased to announce the approval of the Audi R8 LMS, Mercedes SLS, and BMW Z4 for competition in the Pirelli World Challenge GT class for 2013.

“As we continue our successful strategy of offering the best world-class production car racing I am pleased to announce the approval of three FIA GT3 cars to race in the Pirelli World Challenge GT class,” said Scott Bove, WC Vision, President and CEO. “After the successful integration of the Audi R8 into our GT class in 2012 we began the comprehensive review of the Mercedes SLS and BMW Z4. We take the addition of any new vehicle very seriously and I want to thank our Director of Competition Geoff Carter and his team for the thorough job they did with the analysis and performance balancing of these vehicles. With the addition of Audi, BMW and Mercedes,” added Bove, “we offer Pirelli World Challenge fans the most manufacturer brand diverse racing on the planet. Our GT class will have representation from 10 different brands.”

“Each of the approved models is subject to our performance balance and aero specs,” said Carter. “It was a challenging process, but the end result was well worth the investment.”

“We race in the Pirelli World Challenge because it is a production-based series providing the opportunity for manufacturers to validate their performance capabilities on the track,” said John Kraemer, Racing Manager, Cadillac V Series. “The series also allows us to directly compete on the track with those that we compete with in the showroom every day. The addition of Audi, BMW and Mercedes adds to an already deep lineup and should provide for some seriously competitive racing as Cadillac looks to defend the GT Manufacturers’ Championship in 2013.”

The 2013 season will showcase an increase in event weekends, car counts, and live stream coverage in addition to coverage on NBC Sports Network. For more information on the 2013 schedule please visit http://www.world-challenge.com/event/season.php?y=2013.

The Pirelli World Challenge is one of North America's top production car-based racing championships. Divided into four separate categories (Pirelli World Challenge GT, Pirelli World Challenge GTS, Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car and Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car B-Spec), each race features thrilling standing starts, adrenaline filled door-to-door action and world-class drivers. The Pirelli World Challenge features cars from the world's most popular manufacturers – race-prepped versions of the cars driven on the streets.

Photo credit: Mark Weber/Pirelli World Challenge

More information:
Pirelli World Challenge website

Video: 2012 Macau GT Cup Full Race

By Johan Laubscher

Macau 2012 saw Edoardo Mortara re-establish himself as “Mr Macau,” by winning for the fourth time in succession. He won the Macau GT Cup event in an Audi 8 LMS ultra. He faced strong competition this year which included ex-Macau F3 winner Lucas Di Grassi in a Ferrari 458 Italia GT3. Despite the increased competition and losing the lead at the start, he was able to come through and win the race.

Here is the first full race video which has appeared on YouTube. It is over a hour of footage and is well worth the watch.

Photo by: Audi R8 LMS Cup