Audi as title defender at Bathurst in 2012

Audi as title defender at Bathurst in 2012

• Two Audi R8 LMS cars to compete at the Bathurst 12 Hours

• Phoenix Racing to make debut in Australia with R8 LMS

• Strong driver line-up of local and international drivers

Ingolstadt, November 18, 2011 – The Audi R8 LMS will return to Australia as the

title defender. After the one-two result at the Bathurst 12 Hours last February,

the successful GT3 sports car will again compete at the endurance classic from

February 24 to 26. The high-caliber driver line-up has already been confirmed.

Both sports cars on the front row, a one-two result with a one-lap lead and a new lap

record on the challenging track: The Audi R8 LMS delivered an impeccable showing

on its debut at Mount Panorama nine months ago. In February 2012, the 411 kW

(560 HP) GT3 sports car is to defend its victory on this legendary circuit. The

customer sports car that is fielded at worldwide events has meanwhile clinched 115

single victories and twelve titles in only three years. At Bathurst, Team Phoenix

Racing will be fielding the two Audi R8 LMS vehicles. As an Audi factory team, Ernst

Moser’s squad won the DTM title this year with Martin Tomczyk.

A top-caliber international driver line-up has already been confirmed for the 12-hour

race. The German Christopher Mies and Darryl O’Young from Hong Kong, who won

the endurance race in February, will again share a cockpit. They will be reinforced by

Christer Jöns. The German driver clinched four podium results this year in the ADAC

GT Masters and, like Christopher Mies, was part of the Audi factory team at the

Nürburgring 24 Hours.

Of special interest to the enthusiastic Australian audience will be the driver squad

for the second R8 LMS. Mark Eddy/Craig Lowndes/Warren Luff will be competing

under the symbol of the four rings together for the second consecutive time. Before

the finale next weekend, Mark Eddy is leading the Australian GT Championship in his

own Audi R8 LMS with a 46-point advantage. The seasoned touring car racer Warren

Luff posted the fastest lap of all Audi drivers in qualifying at Bathurst in 2011. Craig

Lowndes is regarded as a touring car legend and has won the V8 Supercar series

three times and the Bathurst 1000 race five times. The trio finished the Bathurst 12

Hours as the runners-up in February.

Audi Sport.