Audi R18 TDI: Advantage through LED technology

Audi R18 TDI: Advantage through LED
technology

• Five weeks before the 24 Hours of Le Mans
• Full LED headlights for the new LMP1 sportscar
• Audi with clear advantage in LED technology

Ingolstadt, May 5, 2011 – Always be at least one step ahead of the opposition –
this is Audi’s motto. This is exactly how the Four Rings brand presented the Audi
R18 TDI – the first Le Mans sports car featuring headlights comprising entirely of
light emitting diodes. As a result, the Audi drivers have a significant advantage at
night during the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Audi is regarded as a pioneer in the development of LED technology and leads the
competition by a large margin in this field. The twelve-cylinder Audi A8 was the first
car in the world to go into production with LED daytime driving lights. The Audi R8 is
credited with having the first full LED headlights worldwide. Slowly but surely an
increasing number of Audi models are offered with full LEDs as an option, as is the
new Audi A6.
Audi also forces the new headlight technology in motorsport. The Audi R10 TDI was
the first race car with LED daytime driving lights in 2006. The Audi R15 TDI, which
broke the 39 year old distance record at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year, was
equipped with a combination of Xenon headlights and LEDs.
Audi goes a step further with the innovative Audi R18 TDI: the new LMP1 is the first
Le Mans sports car with full LED headlights. Combined with sophisticated reflectorlens
modules, eight high-power light emitting diodes per side provide unique
illumination of the race track at night.
“When you’ve driven once with full LED headlights you don’t want to have anything
else,” raves Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen. “The light is stronger and
vibrates less than a normal headlight – this is a clear advantage and particularly at
Le Mans, a track that has many dark braking points in the night.”


However, not only the greater illumination is an advantage of LED technology. Light
emitting diodes are maintenance free and extremely reliable. “The vulnerability to
failures is extremely low,” explains Dr. Martin Mühlmeier, Head of Technology at
Audi Sport. “To date, we haven’t had a single LED failure.”
Thanks to intensive development of the technology, full LED headlights now also
represent a weight saving compared to common headlights – particularly as Audi
Sport managed to eliminate the electrical cooling of the light emitting diodes still
required in street cars and also found last year in the R15 TDI.
The LEDs in the R18 TDI are cooled by the airflow and still supply enough light even
if the cooling airflow is completely cut by dimming themselves automatically. “Our
colleagues in production car development are very interested to see how we
implement this,” says Christopher Reinke, Technical Project Leader for the Audi R18
TDI. “However, we have the advantage in motorsport that the car spends less time
at a standstill. On the highway, the lights mustn’t go out even if the car is in a traffic
jam.”
Audi Sport worked closely with the AUDI AG “Light and Sight” section during
development of the full LED headlights. The light tunnel in the Technical
Development (TE) is available for tests. The Audi R18 TDI is credited with a record: It
has the brightest diodes currently in use. These LEDs are currently not registered for
road use.
To a limited extent LED technology also requires a completely new approach. The
R18 TDI prototype’s main beam, which is comprised of five LEDs per side, is not
brighter than the normal low beam. Three extra LEDs create the effect of a high
beam by illuminating the track additionally through an individual position of the
various reflectors.
Audi is the first automobile manufacturer to also use the diverse possibilities of
light emitting diodes as design element. In the R18 TDI the daytime driving light in
the left headlight forms a number “1” which is mirrored on the right side. With this,
Audi aims to express its position as number one in LED technology. It goes without
saying that the knowledge Audi Sport gains at Le Mans with the latest generation
full LED headlights flows automatically into production car development – so that
the advantage through LED technology remains.

Audi Communications Motorsport

Into the final straight

There’ll be more than a hint of this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans lingering in the air at Spa-Francorchamps! Although the Belgian track bears little resemblance to Le Mans, the second round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup will serve as a dress rehearsal for the year’s most important race. For the first time this season, the Team Peugeot Total line-up will feature all three official Peugeot 908s and its nine works drivers.

Le Mans moves into sight

This year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans is on everyone’s mind now. With six weeks to go to this major event, the test day held on 24 April offered Team Peugeot Total the chance to acquire the data necessary to arrive at Le Mans with optimised race cars. The second race on the ILMC calendar is traditionally seen as an opportunity to fine-tune the team’s preparations. The three Peugeot 908s and the nine drivers therefore have two targets: prepare for Le Mans without taking any risks and pick up ILMC points, as reiterated by Olivier Quesnel, Peugeot Sport Director. “The ILMC season got underway with a podium spot at Sebring, after an intense 12-hour race. The conditions were perfect to prepare for our main target of the year, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Since then, the cars have had a lot of track time in private testing. The test day really got us into the mood at Le Mans; competing in this race at Spa-Francorchamps is the best way of checking that our racing reflexes are well and truly in place. The entire team will be at the event. We will be working in the same conditions that we’ll have in Le Mans. The ILMC is an important goal for us; however, we not going to go after the race win at any cost, just a few weeks away from Le Mans. Above all, we need to make it to the end of the 1,000 kilometres of Spa-Francorchamps with all three cars intact and a host of additional information. If we manage that, Peugeot will undoubtedly come away with a serious haul of points. »

A sensational racetrack

Unbeaten here since 2007, Team Peugeot Total were especially successful in 2010, recording a one-two at the 1,000 kilometres of Spa-Francorchamps, the race won by Sébastien Bourdais, Simon Pagenaud and Pedro Lamy, followed by Franck Montagny and Stéphane Sarrazin in second. The 2011 official driver line-ups are identical to 2010: Peugeot 908 No.7 (blue rear-view mirrors): Anthony Davidson, Marc Gené and Alexander Wurz Peugeot 908 No.8 (white rear-view mirrors): Nicolas Minassian, Franck Montagny and Stéphane Sarrazin Peugeot 908 No.9 (red rear-view mirrors): Sébastien Bourdais, Pedro Lamy and Simon Pagenaud In addition to these three official cars, there is a fourth Peugeot run by Team Oreca. The 908 HDi FAP 2010, in 2011 configuration, is the current championship leader thanks to the race win at Sebring, with the driver team Lapierre-Duval-Panis.

Technical configuration

“The Spa-Francorchamps track is one that is very much appreciated by drivers, because it is unique and very demanding in terms of driving", explains Bruno Famin, Peugeot Sport’s Technical Director. “However, we know from experience that it is totally unlike Le Mans in terms of set-up. The track surface is different and the constraints are not the same. We are nonetheless going to adopt a configuration close to the one we’ll use at Le Mans. After the test day, we have a large portion of the data necessary to prepare for Le Mans. We are treating the Spa-Francorchamps round more like a dress rehearsal geared towards fine-tuning the organisation and getting into a racing mindset, where there is no room for error. The line-up will be more or less the same as at Le Mans. We are entering our three cars. After its long endurance runs of over 7,000 kilometres, the No.7 car has been reconditioned whereas the Nos. 8 and 9 cars will have the technical configuration used at the test day. After all the practice sessions that we have done so far, it’ll be nice for everyone to enjoy the racing atmosphere again, and arrive at the 24 Hours of Le Mans prepared, ready to race.”

Follow all the action from the 1,000 kilometres of Spa-Francorchamps: Web TV
To follow all the action from the 1,000 kilometres of Spa-Francorchamps, with the race due to start on Saturday 7 May at 2pm, Peugeot Sport will be setting up its Web TV service, visible on the website: www.peugeot-sport.com. You can enjoy an insider’s view, with onboard camera footage, coverage from the Peugeot pits and of the race itself.

But that's not all:

Peugeot Sport iPhone app
twitter.com/peugeotsport

Schedule for the 1,000 kilometres of Spa-Francorchamps

Thursday 5 May 2011
12.20pm – 1.20pm: Free practice
2.45pm – 3.10pm: Press meeting at the Peugeot Sport hospitality area
4.55pm – 5.55pm: Free practice
Friday 6 May 2011
11.50am – 12.50pm: Free practice
4.20pm – 4.40pm: LMP1/LMP2 qualifying

Saturday 7 May 2011
9.55am – 10.15am: Warm up
2pm – 8pm: 1,000 kilometres of Spa-Francorchamps

ILMC standings before Spa:

Manufacturers :
1. Peugeot, 27 points
2. Audi, 17 points

Teams :
1. Team Oreca Matmut, 15 points
2. Team Peugeot Total, 12 points
3. Audi Sport Team Joest, 9 points
4. Rebellion Racing, 6 points

Peugeot in Belgium
With sales of 188,027 cars in the first quarter of 2011, Peugeot Belgium is the third-best selling brand in Belgium, with a market share of 9.4%. Peugeot has 240 sales outlets in Belgium. The main best-selling Peugeot models in the country are 207, Partner, Tepee, 308, 3008 and 5008. The new 508 has been on sale since the end of March.

Info and Fotos: Peugeot Sport/For acreditated and autorized media press.

First racing commitment of the Audi R18 TDI

First racing commitment of the Audi R18 TDI

• Le Mans “dress rehearsal” at the 1000-kilometer race at Spa (Belgium)
• Record field comprising 60 sports prototypes and GT cars
• Audi Sport Team Joest competes with three cars

Ingolstadt, April 29, 2011 – Now the action will begin in earnest. After thousands
of test kilometers including the recent test day at Le Mans, the new Audi R18 TDI
is ready for its first race. At the 1000-kilometer race at Spa-Francorchamps
(Belgium) on May 7, Audi Sport Team Joest will perform its “dress rehearsal” for
the Le Mans 24 Hours.
The racing debut of a new race car is always a very special event and Audi Sport has
good experiences in this regard. Since 2000 every new sports prototype of the brand
with the four rings has won its first race. In 2000, 2006 and 2009 Sebring in Florida
(USA) was the venue of the respective debut victories of the R8, R10 TDI and R15
TDI models. The updated R15 TDI, internally designated as “R15 plus,” won its
maiden race as well, at Le Castellet (France).
Now Spa-Francorchamps is the track to see the debut of the latest LMP1 sports car
made by Audi which turns the company’s ultra-lightweight technology into a visual
experience and which is equipped with a new type of ultra-compact V6 TDI engine.
The circuit in the Belgian Ardennes region is seen as particularly demanding and
therefore well suited as the “dress rehearsal” for the season’s pinnacle at Le Mans
on June 11/12. Audi Sport Team Joest learned a lot at Spa-Francorchamps last year
as a month later, Audi celebrated a one-two-three result with the R15 TDI and broke
the 39-year distance record.
The squad led by Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich would again like to
decide the “dress rehearsal” in its favor, given that the 1000-kilometer race at Spa-
Francorchamps is also the second round of the newly incepted Intercontinental Le
Mans Cup (ILMC).

At Spa-Francorchamps speed and reliability will not be the only crucial factors as a
massive 60-car entry comprising of sports prototypes and GT vehicles have entered
the race. Consequently, the 7.004-kilometer track will be extremely packed.
Practice in the Ardennes will start as early as on Thursday. Qualifying is scheduled
for Friday afternoon. The 1000-kilometer race will start at 14:05 on Saturday and
last a maximum of six hours.

Topics of the weekend
• Will the Audi R18 TDI be able to win right away on its debut?
• How will Audi fare in the first comparison with the competition?
• How fuel-efficient will the new V6 TDI engine of the Audi R18 TDI be?
• Will Audi manage the first victory in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup?
• What role will the often changeable weather in the Ardennes play?
• How many spectators will turn out for the Audi R18 TDI’s race debut?
Quotes by the officials
Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “We want to mainly use the race
at Spa-Francorchamps again to prepare for Le Mans. It’s important for the teams to
develop a feeling of working together in a racing situation before going to Le Mans.
We’ve already started to work on this at our 30-hour endurance run at Le Castellet
and the test day at Le Mans. But Spa also gives us a first assessment of where we
stand compared with the competition. For us the 1000-kilometer race is a very
important preparatory race for the 2011 Le Mans 24 Hours.”
Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest): “The 1000-kilometer race
at Spa is an ILMC round, which makes it very significant for us since we’re contesting
the whole ILMC season. Spa is the second round after Sebring. We’re running behind
in the championship and want to score as many points as possible. Our aim, very
clearly, is to try and equalize Peugeot’s advantage or to take the lead ourselves.
Naturally, for us Spa is also a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the Le Mans 24 Hours, so it serves
a dual purpose.”

Facts and quotes by the Audi drivers
Timo Bernhard (30/D), Audi R18 TDI #1 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
• Clinched position two on the grid in last year’s qualifying at Spa
“I’m looking forward to the first race with the new Audi R18 TDI. I’ve got
particularly fond memories of Spa from last year. We had good qualifying there in
2010 because I put the car on the front row of the grid. Although in the end we only
finished fifth, the race helped us a lot to prepare for Le Mans. Achieving a great
result this year would be a nice motivation for the whole team. In the end this race
is intended to be our ‘dress rehearsal’ for Le Mans.”
Romain Dumas (33/F), Audi R18 TDI #1
• Won at Le Mans in 2010 together with Timo Bernhard and Mike Rockenfeller
“It’ll be an important race for us for two reasons. We’ve got a lot of learning to do
again. It’s important to be ready for Spa because obviously we want to win. But the
race is also a major practice for Le Mans. Last year we learned a lot. Together with
Timo (Bernhard) and Mike (Rockenfeller) I gained a great deal of self-confidence.
We did a good job of working together and preparing at Spa – with respect to quick
driver changes, for example. I’m hoping that we’ll have the same situation again
this year.”
Mike Rockenfeller (27/D), Audi R18 TDI #1
• Will race at the DTM season opener at Hockenheim one week before Spa
• Finished Spa in 2008 as the runner-up in the Audi R10 TDI
“I’m really looking forward to driving the Audi R18 TDI for the first time in racing
conditions. We’re all very excited to see where we stand. We put a lot of work into
the car during the winter. It’s great to see it on the track for the first time now. I’m
happy that after Sebring, where we ran with the R15 TDI, we can now race the new
car.”
Marcel Fässler (34/CH), Audi R18 TDI #2
• Was the 2006 runner-up at Spa in a Courage
• Also knows the track from numerous runs in 24-hour races
“I’m looking forward to this first race in the Audi R18 TDI at Spa with eager
anticipation. This track is a challenge, it’s like it was built for sports cars. It has
really great sections with very fast turns such as Eau Rouge and Blanchimont.
Generally speaking, Spa suits me very well. I’ve frequently won there and am always
happy when I get the chance to drive there again.”
André Lotterer (30/D), Audi R18 TDI #2
• Had an accident on the formation lap last year at Spa
“After so many tests and preparations with the new car you’re particularly eager to
drive it at the first race. Spa’s a great track and not far from the place where I grew
up. Last year I spun on the formation lap in difficult conditions. Unfortunately, the
wall there was very close and that meant I destroyed our race. I’ve learned a lesson
from that incident and am sure something like that won’t happen to me again. But
we still managed to prepare well for Le Mans. A good preparation for Le Mans is
again our goal this year.”
Benoît Tréluyer (34/F), Audi R18 TDI #2
• Contested a race in Japan between the test day at Le Mans and the round at Spa
“For the first time we will drive a closed car in a race. That’s a very special thing. It’s
always fun to begin the season with a new car. That’s why we’re just dying for the
first race. New regulations have come into effect. We’re eager to see the
performance of the vehicle compared with the competition. Naturally, nobody will
have finished their preparations 100 percent, but Spa gives us a small but vital pretaste
of Le Mans.”
Dindo Capello (46/I), Audi R15 TDI #3
• Clinched second place at Spa in 2004 together with Seiji Ara
• Contests the Italian GT Championship this year as well
“On any debut of a brand new car like the Audi R18 TDI it’s difficult to make a
prediction. We’ve been working hard on making this car fast and reliable. Everyone
is optimistic about managing a good result right in the first race. The whole team
knows that Spa is a very beautiful as well as a difficult and demanding track. What’s
more, there will be about 60 cars in the field, which makes the race even more
demanding. For Spa you need a combination of performance and agility. We’re there
to win but we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that our main job is to improve the car
for Le Mans and to prepare for the 24-hour race. Spa’s our only chance to drive the
R18 TDI at a race before the big run in June.”
Tom Kristensen (43/DK), Audi R18 TDI #3
• Won the 1000-kilometer race at Spa in 2003 in the Audi R8
“We’re all looking forward to the ILMC race at Spa. It’s the debut of our Audi R18
TDI, our new baby, on a fantastic race track. Personally, Spa is my favorite track, but
I think all drivers like it. This year there will be 60 cars in the field, so there will be a
lot of traffic on the track. That means You’ve got a car about every 100 meters. It’ll
be a very demanding situation for all the drivers. But we’re looking forward to what
will hopefully be a good ‘dress rehearsal’ for our run at the Le Mans 24 Hours a
month later.”
Allan McNish (41/GB), Audi R18 TDI #3
• Clinched Audi’s only ILMC pole position to date at Silverstone in 2010
“I’m always particularly keen on going to Spa. With a new car like the R18 TDI the
race will be very interesting for us and the fans. It marks the first occasion that all
our main rivals will be on track at the same time, so everyone looks forward to
qualifying with particularly eager anticipation – at least I do. The track is arguably
one of the top three for any driver. The weather at Spa though is usually
unpredictable. Last year it was raining on the grid while the track was bone dry on
the other side. We’ve tested the Audi R18 TDI a lot this year. We understand the
potential of the new car and know that we’ve got to get into a racing situation now
to see how the car performs in different conditions. Tom (Kristensen), Dindo
(Capello) and I are looking forward to being part of the whole action again. We
know from last year that Spa is a replica of Le Mans. We’ll be represented there with
all three race teams. That adds further spice to this race.”
The Audi drivers at Spa-Francorchamps
Timo Bernhard (D): *Feb 24, 1981 in Homburg (D); residence: Dittweiler (D);
married to Katharina; height 1.73 m; weight: 61 kg; Audi driver since 2009; Le Mans
victories: 1; ILMC races: 4; ILMC victories: 0; pole positions: 0; fastest laps: 0; best
result at 1000 km Spa: 5
Dindo Capello (I): *Jun 17, 1964 in Asti (I); residence: Canelli (I); married to
Elisabetta, one son (Giacomo); height: 1.72 m; weight: 66 kg; Audi driver since
1994; Le Mans victories: 3; ILMC races: 4; ILMC victories: 0; pole positions: 0;
fastest laps: 0; best result at 1000 km Spa: 2
Romain Dumas (F): *Dec 14, 1977 in Alès (F); residence: Basel (CH); single; height:
1.74 m; weight: 60 kg; Audi driver since 2009; Le Mans victories: 1; ILMC races: 4;
ILMC victories: 0; pole positions: 0; fastest laps: 0; best result at 1000 km Spa: 5
Marcel Fässler (CH): *May 27,1976 in Einsiedeln (CH); residence: Gross (CH);
married to Isabel, four daughters (Shana, Elin, Yael, Delia); height 1.78 m; weight
78 kg; Audi driver since 2008; Le Mans victories: 0; ILMC races: 1; pole positions: 0;
fastest laps: 0; best result at 1000 km Spa:
Tom Kristensen (DK): *Jul 07, 1967 in Hobro (DK); residence: Monaco (MC); single
(partner Hanne), two sons (Oliver and Oswald) and one daughter (Carla Marlou);
height: 1.74 m; weight: 72 kg; Audi driver since 2000; ILMC races: 4; ILMC victories:
0; pole positions: 0; fastest laps: 0; best result at 1000 km Spa: 1
André Lotterer (D): *Nov 19, 1981 in Duisburg (D); residence: Tokyo (J);
single; height 1.84 m; weight 74 kg; Audi driver since 2010; Le Mans victories: 0;
ILMC races: 1; ILMC victories: 0; pole positions: 0; fastest laps: 0; best result at
1000 km Spa: 12
Allan McNish (GB): *Dec 29, 1969 in Dumfries (GB); residence: Monaco (MC);
married to Kelly, one son (Finlay), one daughter (Charlotte); height: 1.65 m; weight:
58 kg; Audi driver since 2000; Le Mans victories: 2; ILMC races: 4; ILMC victories: 0;
pole positions: 1; fastest laps: 0; best result at 1000 km Spa: 3
Mike Rockenfeller (D): *Oct 31,1983 in Neuwied (D); residence: Altnau (CH); single;
height 1.75 m; weight 67 kg; Audi driver since 2007; Le Mans victories: 1; ILMC
races: 2; ILMC victories: 0; pole positions: 0; fastest laps: 0; best result at 1000 km
Spa: 2
Benoît Tréluyer (F): *Dec 7, 1976 in Alençon (F); residence: Gordes (F); married to
Melanie, 1 son (Jules); height 1.78 m; weight 68 kg; Audi driver since 2010; Le Mans
victories: 0; ILMC races: 1; ILMC victories: 0; pole positions: 0; fastest laps: 0; best
result at 1000 km Spa: 12
All winners of the 1000-kilometer race at Spa-Francorchamps (since 2003)
2003 Ara/Kristensen (Audi)
2004 Herbert/Davies (Audi)
2005 Nielsen/Elgaard/Shimoda (Zytek)
2006 Collard/Boullion (Pescarolo
2007 Lamy/Sarrazin (Peugeot)
2008 Gené/Minassian/Villeneuve (Peugeot)
2009 Minassian/Pagenaud/Klien (Peugeot)
2010 Lamy/Bourdais/Pagenaud (Peugeot)

Track info
Track length: 7.004 km
Race distance: 1000 kilometers
Qualifying record set on this track: Sébastien Bourdais (Peugeot), May 08,10, 1m
57.884s (213.892 km/h)
Race record set on this track: Franck Montagny (Peugeot), May 09,10, 1m 59.797s
(210.476 km/h)
Pole position 2010: Sébastien Bourdais (Peugeot), May 08,10, 1m 57.884s
(213.892 km/h)
Fastest lap 2010: Franck Montagny (Peugeot), May 09,10, 1m 59.797s (210.476
km/h)
André Lotterer about Spa-Francorchamps: “For me Spa is like a home track because
I grew up just an hour away from there. It’s one of the most beautiful race tracks in
the world. Overtaking is possible right in the first turn, La Source. The famous Eau
Rouge is next. Will we able to take it flat-out in the R18 TDI? In the R15 TDI we still
had to ‘lift’ slightly. The section in front of Les Combes is another good place for
overtaking. The turn drops toward the outside and you’re always a little too fast
there. The Pouhon double left-hander opens up a long way. You’ve got to take a lot
of speed with you. Then the Fagnes high-speed chicane literally flies toward the
driver. It should be possible to drive the Blanchimont passage flat-out if you put
yourself in a good position. The end of the circuit is marked by the slowest corner,
the new chicane in front of the start and finish.”
ILMC LMP1 manufacturers standings after 1 of 7 rounds:
1 Peugeot 27 points; 2 Audi, 17.
ILMC LMP1 team standings after 1 of 7 rounds:
1 Team ORECA Matmut, 15 points; 2 Peugeot Sport Total, 12; 3 Audi Sport Team
Joest, 9; 4 Rebellion Racing, 6.
Schedule (local times; CET)
Thursday, May 5
12:20–13:20 Free practice
16:55–17:55 Free practice
Friday, May 6
11:50–12:50 Free practice
15:50–16:10 Qualifying (GTE vehicles)
16:20–16:40 Qualifying (prototypes)
Saturday, May 7
09:55–10:15 Warm-up
14:05–20:05 Race (1000 kilometers, maximum of 6 hours)

Info and Fotos: Audi Motorsport Communications/ for acreditated and autorized press media.

DTM stars at wheel of the Audi R8 LMS

DTM stars at wheel of the Audi R8 LMS

 Ekström, Rockenfeller and Scheider contest 24-hour races
 Factory supported events at the Nürburgring and at Spa-Francorchamps
 Three top teams and high-caliber driver line-ups

Ingolstadt, April 5, 2011 – Audi tackles the two 24-hour races at the Nürburgring
(June 25/26) and at Spa-Francorchamps (July 30/31) with high-caliber driver
teams. DTM stars Mattias Ekström, Mike Rockenfeller and Timo Scheider also join
the grid for the two factory supported events with the Audi R8 LMS.
ABT Sportsline and Phoenix Racing each field a brace of Audi R8 LMS at the
legendary Nürburgring-Nordschleife. After gaining valuable experience over the last
two years at the 24-hour race around the Nürburgring with the quattro GmbH GT3
sports car the two teams now receive full factory support from Ingolstadt and
Neckarsulm.
All four cars have first rate driver teams: competing for ABT Sportsline are Mattias
Ekström, Timo Scheider and Marco Werner as well as Christer Jöns, Luca Ludwig and
Christopher Mies. Christian Abt is nominated as support for both cars entered by the
DTM championship winning team from the years 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008 and
2009. Frank Stippler assumes the “dual role” for Phoenix Racing. He supports Marc
Basseng, Marcel Fässler and Mike Rockenfeller and also Christopher Haase, Marc
Hennerici and Markus Winkelhock.
Like last year Phoenix Racing also contests the 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps
(Belgium). Nominated to drive the two R8 LMS are Marc Basseng, Christopher Haase
and Frank Stippler and also Marcel Fässler, Andrea Piccini and Mike Rockenfeller. The
Belgian W Racing Team, which won the 2010 Belcar series championship title in its
debut season, fields two more cars on behalf of Audi. Driving for WRT are Mattias
Ekström, Greg Franchi and Timo Scheider and also Filipe Albuquerque, Bert Longin
and Stéphane Ortelli. Phoenix Racing and WRT are regarded as having intimate
knowledge of the Spa-Francorchamps race track and the Belgium 24-hour classic.



“The Audi R8 LMS was developed specifically for customer sport,” explains Head of
Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “With the two factory supported events at
the Nürburgring and at Spa-Francorchamps we aim to underline the positive image
that the R8 LMS has built up following its first two years of competition. I think we
are well positioned for this from the driver and team side.”
The quattro GmbH, under the direction of Werner Frowein and Romolo Liebchen,
took over marketing and further development of the GT3 sports car from 2011. A
further improved version of the Audi R8 LMS celebrated its debut at the beginning
of February with a one-two finish in the 12-hour race at Bathurst (Australia).
Among other features, the 2011 Audi R8 LMS is equipped with a modified engine
control for the 5.2 liter V10 power unit, modified suspension and a light-weight
motorsport clutch specifically developed for endurance races.
“The 2011 season started perfectly for the Audi R8 LMS with the one-two finish at
Bathurst,” says Werner Frowein, Managing Director of the quattro GmbH. “We want
to continue this. In the shape of Phoenix Racing we send a team to compete that has
accompanied the development of the R8 LMS for endurance races since the very
beginning and which has gathered the most experience in this area. ABT Sportsline
is the perfect choice for the Nürburgring, and WRT for Spa. As far as the drivers are
concerned you could hardly wish for better.”
ABT Sportsline and Phoenix Racing contest rounds of the VLN endurance
championship in preparation for the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. WRT contests
the Blancpain Endurance Series in 2011 which also includes the 24-hour race at Spa-
Francorchamps.

The Audi teams contesting the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring

Phoenix Racing
Marc Basseng/Marcel Fässler/Mike Rockenfeller/Frank Stippler
Christopher Haase/Marc Hennerici/Frank Stippler/Markus Winkelhock

Team ABT Sportsline
Christian Abt/Mattias Ekström/Timo Scheider/Marco Werner
Christian Abt/Christer Jöns/Luca Ludwig/Christopher Mies

The Audi teams contesting the 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps

Phoenix Racing
Marc Basseng/Christopher Haase/Frank Stippler
Marcel Fässler/Andrea Piccini/Mike Rockenfeller

W Racing Team
Mattias Ekström/Greg Franchi/Timo Scheider
Filipe Albuquerque/Bert Longin/Stéphane Ortelli

Audi Communications Motorsport Jürgen Pippig