CORONEL AND ROAL TESTED IN VALLELUNGA

CORONEL AND ROAL TESTED IN VALLELUNGA

CORONEL AND ROAL TESTED IN VALLELUNGA ROAL Motorsport and Tom Coronel kicked off their racing season with two days of testing at Vallelunga, Italy. The Dutchman was at the wheel of a BMW 320 TC fitted with a new exhaust system developed by BMW Motorsport. After a sunny Thursday, the weather changed to overcast and windy on Friday with light rain in the early morning, but the track was dry for most of the time and the team was able to complete the programme. “We were mainly focusing on the engine set up and mapping. It is the first track test for the engine in 2013 specifications that features new exhaust and manifold. It has been a good test, though it is still too early to draw a conclusion on the benefits we may have from this technical development,” explained team principal Roberto Ravaglia. And Coronel added: “It’s always a good feeling to be back at the wheel of a racing car after the winter break. The car is still pretty much the same, except for this new exhaust system. The main problem for us is to get down to the minimum weight, because in previous years we were never able to reach it. Now the FIA has reduced our weight from 1160 to 1150, but we need to find a solution for having a benefit from this. This is the third year for me in the team. I know them, my engineer and the car. I am satisfied and this is the first time I have the feeling that I am ready to attack. I’m not sure it’s gonna happen, but in Netherlands we have a say: the third time is going to be right one…”

WIECHERS-SPORT CONFIRM WTCC COMMITMENT Germany-based Wiechers-Sport announced they will take part in the 2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship with one BMW 320 TC car. The team claimed two outright wins in 2012 with Stefano D’Aste, the first for them in WTCC, at the Salzburgring and Suzuka; however, they will unveil the driver’s name as well as the livery of the car only during the second week in March. “We are very much looking forward to the new WTCC season. Our team is part of the world championship since the first year and won the Independents’ Trophy twice, in 2005 with Marc Hennerici and in 2007 with D’Aste. Over the winter we have been able to develop the car in a few areas, with support from BMW Motorsport. We have planned to go out for a track test just before the season’s kick off at Monza,” team manager Dominik Greiner said.

SEVEN OFFICIAL TEST SESSIONS IN 2013 Seven official 30-minute test sessions have been scheduled for 2013. At each of the non-European events, a test session will be held on Friday (Thursday at Macau) in order to give teams the possibility to shake down their cars. An additional test session will be held on Friday at the Moscow Raceway that will host the World Championship for the first time. 2013 TEST SESSION LIST 5 April, Marrakech 7 June, Moscow 26 July, Curitiba 6 September, Sonoma 20 September, Suzuka 1 November, Shanghai 14 November, Macau Fabio Ravaioli Media Delegate.

Season preparations on the finish straight New Porsche 911 RSR successfully concludes test drives

Season preparations on the finish straight

New Porsche 911 RSR successfully concludes test drives

Stuttgart. The development of the new Porsche 911 RSR based on the current generation 991 model is nearly complete. On the Sebring International Raceway in Florida/USA the GTE race car from Weissach completed another successful test on Thursday. The successor to the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR will be run exclusively by the Porsche AG Team Manthey works squad at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the World Endurance Championship (WEC). The vehicle celebrates its race debut on April 14 at the WEC season-opener in Silverstone.

Sharing driving duties at Sebring were Porsche works drivers Richard Lietz (Austria) and Patrick Pilet (France). Lietz contests the WEC including Le Mans with Marc Lieb (Germany) at the wheel of the 911 RSR with the starting number 92. Patrick Pilet joins forces with Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) in the number 91 vehicle. At the first two WEC rounds in Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps as well as at Le Mans, they receive backup from their factory pilot colleagues Romain Dumas (France/No. 92) and Timo Bernhard (Germany/No.91).

“We are very pleased with how the testing has gone so far,” said Porsche’s Head of Motorsport Hartmut Kristen. “Our goal is to be well prepared for the challenges of the very strong GTE class in the WEC and at Le Mans. The circuit in Sebring is very well suited to put a new vehicle through some demanding trials. For this reason, a test in Sebring is a very good rehearsal for one of the toughest races of all, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Until the season kicks off in Silverstone, we will conduct some final tests on other race tracks so that our new 911 RSR is well and truly ready for the World Endurance Championship season.”

Communication Porsche AG

911 Carrera is the ideal vehicle in all weather conditions Double driving fun with the Porsche 911 – even in snow and ice

911 Carrera is the ideal vehicle in all weather conditions

Double driving fun with the Porsche 911 – even in snow and ice

Stuttgart. Like no other vehicle, the 911 unites such seeming contradictions as sportiness and everyday usability, having stood for sheer driving pleasure for 50 years now – and not just when the sky is blue and the sun is shining but also in winter driving conditions. Against this backdrop, it doesn't come as much of a surprise that there are numerous Porsche customers in regions in which winter is the rule during most of the year. The northernmost Porsche Centre in the world, for instance, is located in Tromso, Norway: there are loyal 911 drivers even at the Arctic Circle. In fact, in Norway alone, there are four more Porsche Centres; three Porsche Centres each are available to customers in Sweden and Finland.

Many 911 customers enjoy driving in snow and ice also in Alpine countries like Switzerland: vehicle sales have been growing there year after year. Alongside the Cayenne, the sports car icon is the most successful model in Switzerland. Last year alone, 656 vehicles were delivered to customers there. And the 911 is popular in Switzerland not only as a coupé. Cabriolets accounted for 42% of the 911 sports cars delivered in 2012. No wonder: Even in cold temperatures, the driver of a 911 Carrera Cabriolet enjoys a climate comfort coming closer to that of a coupé than ever before. Thus, for instance, the external material is lined in its entirety by an insulating mat. The lateral parts are also completely covered with material so no technical components are visible any more when the top is closed.

The 911 with all-wheel drive, in particular, is ideal for driving in winter. The Porsche Traction Management (PTM) translates the great driving-performance potential optimally in all weather conditions. Within a split second, the optimum power distribution between front and rear axle can be controlled via a multi-plate clutch. Depending on the driving situation, this means more driving stability, a more agile handling and outstanding traction even on slippery road surfaces. In short: Even more driving fun with more safety, especially on snow and icy roads. Because that's where the premium on traction really shows its stuff. This makes the 911 the ideal vehicle for all seasons: “For me, the Carrera with all-wheel drive is the perfect everyday car. Thanks to its technology, it is safe for active driving on ice and snow; on the other hand, it always offers the self-assurance of a thoroughbred sports car. Owing to its excellent all-round visibility and the storage space behind the front seats, the car is very suitable for the city and for shopping as well,” says Walter Röhrl, twice holder of the rally world championship.

Porsche enthusiasts can also satisfy their curiosity about the advantages of the 911 Carrera by selecting from the various courses and sessions of Porsche Driving Experience: At two training sites in Finland's far north 1,350 drivers will have the opportunity to test the Porsche 911 at first hand in extreme weather conditions this winter. Beginners and advanced drivers will have the chance to expand their driving skills under the guidance of Porsche instructors and learn to control their car even better in three training steps that build on one another. On snowbound tracks and ice lakes at temperatures up to minus 30° Celsius. The rear-focused design of the all-wheel drive, typical for Porsche, offers optimal support. You will find the dates and other information on all winter offers of Porsche Driving Experience on the Internet at: www.porsche.de/driving-experience-winter/.
Porsche AG
Product Communication

The new year started successfully for Porsche

The new year started successfully for Porsche Stuttgart. Porsche AG delivered a total of 12,061 new vehicles of the 911, Boxster/Cayman, Cayenne and Panamera model ranges to customers the world over in January 2013. With this, the sports car manufacturer realised an increase of 25.5 per cent in comparison to the same month of the previous year. “The new year started very well for us,” says Bernhard Maier, Member of the Executive Board Sales and Marketing of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. “We have an attractive model range, so we have reason to be optimistic for 2013. Still, we continue to observe all markets attentively so as to be able to react quickly.” The models were especially sought after in the United States: 3,358 customers (+31.7%) were delighted that their sports car was delivered to them. China, the second largest Porsche market, is where the sports car manufacturer achieved the greatest increase, with 38.1 per cent in comparison to January 2012. There were positive trends also in Europe: Thus Porsche was able to post two-digit growth rates for January in Southern Europe (Spain, Portugal, Italy) as well as in Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden and Russia. The Porsche model most in demand internationally in January 2013 was the Cayenne: 6,735 sporty SUVs were handed over to our customers all over the world. And in sync with the commencement of “50 years of 911,” Porsche boosted deliveries of the sports car icon by over 50 per cent, reaching 2,286 vehicles. PORSCHE AG Deliveries January 2013 2012 Variance (%) World 12,061 9,613 25.5 Europe 3,191 2,928 9.0 Germany 1,346 1,097 22.7 America 3,834 2,996 28.0 USA 3,358 2,550 31.7 Asia-Pacific 5,036 3,689 36.5 China 3,123 2,261 38.1 Communication Porsche AG Corporate Communication

ALL-INKL.COM COMPLETE FIRST TRACK TEST

08 February 2013

ALL-INKL.COM COMPLETE FIRST TRACK TEST Newcomer team ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport kicked off their first WTCC campaign with a two-day test at Circuito de Navarra, located in Los Arcos, Spain. The German outfit tested on Wednesday and Thursday under a pouring rain with the first of the three SEAT León cars they will run in the 2013 World Championship. Team principal René Münnich sat in the Spanish car for the second time, after he took part last year in the WTCC event at Suzuka. “It was interesting, as the intensity of the rain changed during the day and this gave us the opportunity to try different set up solutions for the wet. However, it was tough to handle the power and grip.” 2012 FIA GT1 champion Marc Basseng had his first taste of a WTCC car. “I was very cautious in the first laps, because I wanted to get used on how to work with the throttle. But as far as the test went on, I felt more and more comfortable. The car is edgy, but reacts very well to set up changes. I can’t wait to see how it behaves in the dry.” The team is now heading to Portimão, Portugal, for another two days of testing at the Autódromo do Algarve.

SPEED EUROSERIES TO SUPPORT WTCC The SPEED EuroSeries will be one of the WTCC support races in three events during the 2013 season: at Monza, Slovakia Ring and Salzburgring. The agreement signed between the promoter companies – Eurosport Events (WTCC) and World Sportscar Organisation SPEED EuroSeries) – marks the start of a long term relationship with future broadcast opportunities discussed. An official international series since the start of 2012, the SPEED EuroSeries is based on the FIA’s CN sports prototype race formula and benefits from important support from Honda Motor Europe which manufacturers the racing engines. Jean-Louis Dauger, Eurosport Events Director of Operations: “We are delighted to welcome the SPEED EuroSeries in three WTCC events. It is a professional championship, very well organised and delivering exciting competition on the track. It suits very well our aim to offer motorsport fans a variegated and competitive range of different categories at our race meetings.” Oli McCrudden, SPEED EuroSeries Organiser: “The potential in the CN sports prototype formula is immense; over 400 chassis have been built by manufacturers over the last decade and the quality of the engineering is superb. The chassis are excellent race machines which test drivers and develop talent at limited cost. By racing at the WTCC events in 2013 we are taking SPEED to a higher level and, in establishing the important relationship with a major international motorsport broadcaster such as Eurosport, we are taking another step towards creating an achievable global race formula.” The SPEED EuroSeries will run in a 2-hour race at Monza and in two 90-minute races at both Slovakia Ring and Salzburgring.

CORREIA TEACHES AT YOKOHAMA TYRE LAUNCH WTCC Safety Car driver Bruno Correia attended last week a Yokohama test drive event at the Ascari Race resort in Ronda, Spain. A highly qualified instructor, Bruno was providing a helping hand and loads of driving expertise to a large group of international journalists who had been invited to participate in a global test drive event organised by the WTCC tyre supplier to launch its new flagship tyre ADVAN Sport V105. Correia and his fellow instructors of the Empista Team distributed advises that helped the media representatives, coming from virtually all continents, to put the ADVAN Sport V105 through the toughest of tests on the spectacular Ascari race circuit. Fabio Ravaioli Media Delegate.

World premiere on Red Square: Audi A5 DTM in Moscow ·         Audi in the heart of the Russian capital before DTM debut ·         Mattias Ekström and Edoardo Mortara thrill fans ·         Deliveries in 2012 up by 44.1 percent: Russia an important market for the Four Rings Ingolstadt/Moscow, February 7, 2013 - On August 4, the DTM will be entering new territory to contest a race in Russia for the first time in its near 30-year history. Audi is the only brand to have visited Moscow half a year before the DTM round: Mattias Ekström and Edoardo Mortara today presented themselves together with an Audi A5 DTM to a large number of fans and journalists. The agreements have been signed, the date has been confirmed, the level of excitement before the event is rising. While the motorsport scene is feverishly looking forward to the DTM debut in Russia, Audi sent three of its stars to Red Square months before the first race: Mattias Ekström, Edoardo Mortara plus an Audi A5 DTM. Press conference at the Garage Center for Contemporary Culture, ceremonial unveiling of the 460-hp race car, photo shoot on Red Square, great enthusiasm and countless requests for autographs by the Russian fans - the first visit of the DTM stars in the heart of Moscow caused a major sensation. "Complementing the calendar by a race in Moscow marks a decisive step for the DTM. It’s a great opportunity to present ourselves in an important market with an affinity for motorsport," said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. The numbers underscore the significance of the country for Audi: More than 33,500 automobiles delivered to Russian customers in 2012 correspond to an increase by 44.1 percent compared to the year before. Of Audi’s top ten sales markets, Russia was the one to record the fastest growth last year. "The huge enthusiasm we were met with in Moscow is fantastic," said Mattias Ekström, who had never been to Russia before. "I always enjoy getting to know new countries and people. Right after the first day here in Moscow I’m convinced that it has been a very good decision to hold a race here. I can hardly wait to return in August." Two-time race winner in the 2012 season, Edoardo Mortara, has high expectations as well: "I don’t know the Moscow Raceway yet but the layout looks interesting and promises a lot of action. I think the spectators can expect quite a bit on track and of course off track as well. I’m very excited about the DTM’s first visit to Russia." Elena Smirnova, Head of Audi Russia, shares the excitement of the two Audi stars. "Motorsport is the best forge of the brand’s technologies," she said. "Now, when this kind of sport is on the rise in Russia, when professional race tracks are being built in different regions of the country, Audi is ready to show the new edges of its character. The fans of Audi here are looking forward to the beginning of the DTM series’ new season. They will be able to cheer for our drivers, personally attending the stage at Moscow Raceway for the first time. Russia is one of the top ten markets for Audi, so today, a few months before the championship gets to our country, we are pleased to introduce the Audi A5 DTM to our fans." Audi Sport.

SRO UNVEIL NEW CORPORATE BRANDING

SRO UNVEIL NEW CORPORATE BRANDING

SRO Motorsports Group (SRO) is today proud to announce a new logo as part of the ongoing evolution of the company's brand. 2013 sees a perfect time for SRO Motorsports Group to evaluate and progress the visual presentation. Careful consideration throughout the Group has resulted in a vibrant and dynamic new look in brand identity. This will mirror the company's sporting and competitive philosophy over the next phase in its history.

The new SRO icon provides an energetic look to its corporate communications and is intended to showcase a specific style that represents all the professional series that it manages, organises and promotes.

The new style SRO Motorsports Group logo has been devised in-house and stays true to the dynamics and spirit of the company, as all staff members were involved in creating the new style branding.

Speaking about the unveiling of the new logo, SRO Motorsports Group CEO and Founder, Stephane Ratel, commented: "Our new visual brand styling is an important refresh for the company as we enter an exciting phase in the company's history. The various series that we manage, promote and market have their own identities. However, for SRO Motorsports Group we have a dedicated focus and collective goal to maximise the sporting objectives of excellence and professionalism that the Group has been identified with for so long. This new logo reflects these and will be our identification going forward."

About SRO Motorsports Group

SRO was founded in 1995 by Stephane Ratel. The company is involved in the promotion, support, and organisation of many national and international Motor sport series around the world. Today, SRO has offices in London, Paris, Brussels and Sao Paulo and organises eight major championships and series, including the iconic 24 Hours of Spa, a round of the Blancpain Endurance Series.

SRO.

Mission title defence: Audi nominates driver line-ups for World Endurance Championship ·         World Championship winning trio will race for Audi for the fourth consecutive year ·         Two other teams with young and established drivers ·         Three Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars at Le Mans and at Spa Ingolstadt/Paris, February 1, 2013 - Audi has established powerful driver pairings for its commitment in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). The respective entries were confirmed today by the Selection Committee of the ACO and the FIA. Three Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars will be competing at the Spa 6 Hours and the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2013. At each of the six other WEC rounds, Audi will be fielding two hybrid sports cars. Drivers Marcel Fässler (CH), André Lotterer (D) and Benoît Tréluyer (F) are jointly tackling the title defense. The trio has been racing together for Audi since 2010 and celebrated the WEC drivers’ title and victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours last year, their biggest successes so far. Eight-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen (DK) and Allan McNish (GB), who has won at La Sarthe twice, are forming a team with Loïc Duval in 2013 for the first time. The Frenchman made his debut with Audi in 2012 and won the Spa 6 Hours. The two driver teams will be competing at all eight WEC rounds. At the Spa 6 Hours and the Le Mans 24 Hours, Audi is relying on an additional driver line-up. The Brazilian Lucas di Grassi, who debuted with Audi in the WEC at his home round at São Paulo last year and immediately qualified on the front row, will be driving a third R18 e-tron quattro. He is sharing the cockpit this season with the Spaniard Marc Gené, last year’s winner of the Spa 6 Hours. Oliver Jarvis is the third driver in this combination. In the Audi R8 GRAND-AM, the Briton won the GT class at the Daytona 24 Hours a week ago. "With these three combinations we’ve put together an international team that we expect a lot of," says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "Our younger drivers will have the chance to establish themselves alongside the experienced Audi drivers who have really been pleasing us with their top results in all these years. With that, we’re in a very good position in terms of drivers for the Le Mans 24 Hours as well as for the other WEC races." 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) driver combinations Spa 6 Hours and Le Mans 24 Hours Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer (CH/D/F) Loïc Duval/Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish (F/DK/GB) Marc Gené/Lucas di Grassi/Oliver Jarvis (E/BR/GB) All other 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship races (WEC) Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer (CH/D/F) Loïc Duval/Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish (F/DK/GB)

Audi R18 e-tron quattro, Le Mans 2012 The 2012 FIA World Endurance Champions Audi Sport.

Le Mans 24 Hours / World Endurance Championship Organiser confirms Porsche entry for Le Mans

Le Mans 24 Hours / World Endurance Championship

Organiser confirms Porsche entry for Le Mans

Stuttgart. Porsche AG fields two new 911 RSR based on the 991 model generation at this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours and in the World Endurance Championship. Entry for the newly developed vehicles sporting the starting numbers 91 and 92 was confirmed for the GTE class by the organisers ACO and FIA today in Paris. The factory squad “Porsche AG Team Manthey” will run both 911 RSR race cars.

Contesting the event in the #92 Porsche 911 RSR are Porsche works drivers Marc Lieb (Germany) and Richard Lietz (Austria). The pair has already shared a cockpit in last year’s WEC. At the first two rounds of the season in Silverstone (14 April) and Spa (4 May) as well as at the Le Mans 24 hour race (22 June) they will receive reinforcement from their works driver colleague Romain Dumas (France). Works drivers also pilot the number 91 sister car: Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) teams up with Patrick Pilet (France). In Silverstone, Spa and Le Mans the duo are joined by Timo Bernhard (Germany).

Additionally, the customer teams IMSA Performance Matmut and Felbermayr Proton have received a starting place in the WEC and at Le Mans, fielding the predecessor model Porsche 911 GT3 RSR in the GTE-Am category. At the wheel of the IMSA Matmut 911, Raymond Narac (France) shares driving duties with Jean-Karl Vernay (France) who contests the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup with backing from Porsche AG this year. Vernay is the reigning champion of the Porsche Carrera Cup France.

The customer team Dempsey Racing-Proton is also delighted with its acceptance to contest the Le Mans 24 Hours. Hollywood star Patrick Dempsey, who is known especially for his role as “McDreamy” in the hit television series Grey’s Anatomy, already contested the Le Mans race in 2009 and now climbs back into the cockpit.

“We are very much looking forward to returning to Le Mans with a works team from Porsche for the first time since 1998,” says Porsche Head of Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen. “The new 911 RSR performed well in earlier tests and is already proving extremely reliable on the track. Between them, our six pilots have scored eight class wins in Le Mans and have a great deal of experience with different 911 race cars. And our customer teams in the GTE-Am class are also well prepared for the 2013 season.”

Communication Porsche AG
Motorsport Press
Oliver Hilger

Audi sports cars selected as Le Mans icons ·         ACO selects the ten most legendary Le Mans race cars of all time ·         Audi R10 TDI and R18 e-tron quattro are winners of their eras ·         Hybrid race car from Audi Sport wins Environmental Award as well Ingolstadt/Paris, February 1, 2013 - The Audi R10 TDI and the Audi R18 e-tron quattro have gone down in Le Mans history. Now they have been selected to join the illustrious circle of the ten most iconic Le Mans sports cars of all time by a panel of expert judges and the fans. On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Le Mans 24 Hours on June 22/23, 2013, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) had run a poll to select the Le Mans icons. More than 20,000 fans cast their votes online. The final decision was made by a twelve-member panel of expert judges including FIA President Jean Todt and ACO President Pierre Fillon in Paris on Friday. They selected the ten race cars that most decisively shaped Le Mans history in their respective decades. Two of the ten Le Mans icons come from Ingolstadt. The Audi R10 TDI, in 2006 the first Le Mans winning car with a diesel engine, was voted the most legendary Le Mans sports car of the past decade. The Audi R18 e-tron quattro, in 2012 the first Le Mans winning car with hybrid drive, is the most important present-day Le Mans sports car. "These two accolades fill us with great pride," said Wolfgang Dürheimer, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development of AUDI AG when the results were announced in Paris. "Audi uses the Le Mans 24 Hours to demonstrate its technical expertise and to test new technologies on the race track. The R10 TDI and the R18 e-tron quattro are two particularly good examples of ‘Vorsprung durch Technik.’" Three days earlier, also in Paris, Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich had accepted another award. An expert judging panel of the Festival Automobile International recognized the Le Mans winning Audi R18 e-tron quattro with the "Grand Prix de l’Environnement." Through the intelligent combination of a compact V6 TDI engine and a hybrid system Audi Sport managed to reduce fuel consumption by ten percent compared to the year before. In the 2013 season, Audi is competing with the updated hybrid sports car in the FIA World Endurance Championship and at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Audi R18 e-tron quattro (2012) Audi R18 e-tron quattro (2012) Audi R18 e-tron quattro (Le Mans winner 2012) Audi R10 TDI (2006) Audi R10 TDI (Le Mans winner 2006) Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Grand Prix Spécial de l’Environnement Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Grand Prix Spécial de l’Environnement AUDI SPORT.