#Cup drivers will race in Thailand on June 11-12
#Yoong/Au and Lee/Thong form two-car team entry for Audi with Phoenix Racing Asia
#Lee and Thong currently third in overall series standings
In yet another busy weekend for the Audi R8 LMS Cup drivers, Marchy Lee, Shaun Thong, Alex Yoong and Alex Au will race with Phoenix Racing Asia in Rounds 3 and 4 of the GT Asia Series at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand on June 11 and 12.
2016 marks the GT Asia Series debut of Phoenix Racing Asia, the newly established division of the experienced German team of Ernst Moser, which is quickly building a strong foundation in Asia. The team has also joined the 2016 season of the Audi R8 LMS Cup as an official service partner.
In the GT Asia Series, Phoenix Racing fields two eye-catching new generation Audi R8 LMS cars. Lee and Thong share the #5 entry which features a striking gold AAPE by A Bathing Ape livery. A former regular in the GT Asia Series, Lee is the 2012 champion of the Audi R8 LMS Cup and brand ambassador of Audi Hong Kong. Thong is part of the Young Driver Development Programme of Audi in Asia. Reigning Audi R8 LMS Cup champion Yoong and Hong Kong’s Au, a former amateur category winner of the Audi R8 LMS Cup, compete in an all-silver livery for in their #6 Tak Chun Group and Doubleduck entry.
Along with claiming pole in Round 2, the team of Lee and Thong finished fourth and fifth in the first race weekend at the Korea International Circuit, and are currently ranked third in the GT3 category with 19 points, while the entry of Yoong and Au stands fifth.
“Phoenix Racing has a rich history with the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) and has won leading GT races at the Nürburgring and Spa 24 Hours. They have brought their renowned expertise from Europe to Asia” said Lee, who is a shareholder of the new Asian company of Phoenix Racing. He added: “As the only team racing with Audi in the 2016 GT Asia season, we are all working towards our first win this year. As part owner of the team, this is a learning experience for me. Shaun and I need to think strategically about how two drivers can best work with one car. Alex Yoong and Alex Au are also a perfect match in the second car as they are very similar drivers – they work carefully based on the data and set-up of the cars. With this Audi line-up, the goal is definitely to win a race this weekend.”
Rene Koneberg, Director of Audi Sport customer racing Asia, said: “With Phoenix Racing Asia on board, we are expecting a strong performance from the Audi drivers and the team in the GT Asia Series this season. The action packed first race weekend in Korea has already shown that this is going to be a strong battle. We wish our drivers the best of luck.”
Rounds 3 and 4 will be held this weekend at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand, where, impressively, the entire track is visible from the main 50,000 seat grandstand. In July, the Audi R8 LMS Cup will also make its debut at the Chang International Circuit, racing in Thailand for the first time in the series’ five-year history.
Rounds 3 and 4 of the GT Asia Series will be streamed live on the official GT Asia Series website: www.gtasiaseries.com
GT Asia Series 2016 Calendar (provisional)
Rounds 1&2 / May 13-15/ Korea International Circuit, Korea
Rounds 3&4 / June 10-12/ Chang International Circuit, Thailand
Rounds 5&6 / July 1-3/ Okayama International Circuit, Japan
Rounds 7&8 / July 15-17/ Fuji International Speedway, Japan
Rounds 9&10 / August 19-21/ Shanghai International Circuit, China
Rounds 11&12 / October 21-23/ Zhejiang Circuit, China
