Audi Sport and Markus Winkelhock win worldwide GT series
New concept for the Audi R8 LMS Cup
RenĂŠ Rast ADAC Motorsportsman of the Year
Audi Sport customer racing, after 2016, has again won the only worldwide GT title. In addition to the manufacturersâ title, the driversâ title went to Germany as well, to Audi Sport campaigner Markus Winkelhock.
Audi R8 LMS GT3
Title decision after three rounds: On clinching victory in the Intercontinental GT Challenge, Audi has won the only worldwide GT racing series with rounds held on the three continents of Australia, Europe and America. As in 2016, Audi prevailed in the GT3 manufacturersâ classification, this year taking victory in front of ten other brands.
The driversâ classification went to Markus Winkelhock, ahead of his two fellow Audi Sport drivers Christopher Haase and Christopher Mies. For the first time, the 37-year-old pro has now won a title with Audi, following an amazing number of five 24-hour race victories in the Audi R8 LMS reflected in his biography.
They include the worldâs toughest GT3 race, the Spa 24 Hours. In Belgium, the driver from the German state of Baden-WĂźrttemberg won round two of the Intercontinental GT Challenge in July with Audi Sport Team SaintĂŠloc. With Audi Sport Team Magnus, he subsequently decided the California 8 Hours at Laguna Seca in his favor as well.
Following the cancelation of the final race scheduled in Malaysia in December, the title decision was produced early. âA sincere thank you to Audi Sport customer racing and the teams I contested the Intercontinental GT Challenge with this season,â said Winkelhock.
âThe two victories in Belgium and California were hard-fought ones. My teammates had a major part in them, particularly Kelvin van der Linde without whose overtaking maneuver at Laguna Seca I wouldnât have become champion.â
Audi R8 LMS Cup 2018 exclusively for privateers: In its seventh season, the Audi R8 LMS Cup will feature a fundamentally new format, the one-make cup being exclusively reserved to privateer drivers in the future. They will have the choice between two race cars. The Audi R8 LMS GT3 will be joined by the Audi R8 LMS GT4 as an attractive newcomer.
A mentoring program with guidance provided by professional Audi Sport drivers will make it possible for the privateers to systematically develop their driving skills further. All data from the practice sessions and the races will be openly accessible to all participants. At the same time, the service team from Absolute Racing as the official fielding team will offer maximum equality of opportunity to all the campaigners.
Above and beyond the one-make cup, the motorsport platform of Audi Sport customer racing Asia encompasses the collaboration with local teams in diverse racing classes and series of the region. This is where the professional campaigners that used to be able to participate in the Audi R8 LMS Cup as well will have their stage in the future.
Award for versatile Audi campaigner: A jury has selected RenĂŠ Rast as ADAC Motorsportsman of the Year. The 31-year-old professional racing driver has won the DTM for Audi this year. His career began to pick up momentum in the one-make cups of the Volkswagen Group in 2005 before Rast switched to Audiâs customer racing program and subsequently to the DTM while continuing to compete in selected GT racing events.
His major successes in the Audi R8 LMS include class victory in the Daytona 24 Hours in 2016, overall victories in the 24-hour races at Spa in 2012 and 2014, and at the NĂźrburgring in 2014, plus the ADAC GT Masters title win in 2014. Rast has competed for Audi in the Le Mans 24 Hours as well.
âRenĂŠ is a gifted race driver and excellent ambassador for the whole brand,â said Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. âThe award recognizes his versatility and amazing number of successes he has clinched in his career to date.â
Dates for next week
10â12/11 Highlands Motorsport Park (NZ), round 4, Australian Endurance Championship
11â12/11 Motegi (J), round 8, Super GT
10â12/11 Austin (USA), 24H Endurance Series
