Schubert-BMW Z4 GT3 on pole for 24H BARCELONA

Schubert-BMW Z4 GT3 on pole for 24H BARCELONA

BARCELONA (September 23^rd, 2011) – After victory in the Dunlop 24H of Dubai and second place in the 24H of Spa-Francorchamps, the German Need for Speed Team Schubert could well add another endurance racing success to its already very impressive track record this weekend: in qualifying on Friday night, Edward Sandström put the team’s BMW Z4 GT3 with starting number 2 on pole for the 24H BARCELONA. A last-minute attempt saw Dutch driver Duncan Huisman (Equipe Verschuur-Renault Mégane Trophy) getting within 0.4 seconds of Sandström’s fastest time, but eventually, the Scandinavian’s lap time of 1:52.082 minutes at the 4.655 kilometees long Circuit de Catalunya was enough to secure the best starting grid position. The race will start tomorrow at 12 noon.

The Schubert team already topped the time sheets in free practice during the afternoon, but it took a while for the team to get to the fore in qualifying. Half an hour into the session, Hungarian Istvan Racz drove his Brokernet Silversting to a lap time of 1:54.032 minutes, with which he topped the time sheets until well after the one hour mark. With a little bit more than three quarters of an hour remaining, Danish driver Michael Outzen drove a sequence of three fast laps that saw the Schubert-BMW moving up into third, second and first place respectively, but six minutes before the chequered flag was out, Swede Edward Sandström beat his team-mate’s timeby seven hundredth of a second.

“Michael was quick already, but I had an almost clear lap, so I could still beat his time. I only had to pass two cars on my last flying lap, so that gave me the advantage. The car was perfect, but as we all know, qualifying in an endurance race doesn’t mean that much. Still, this is a nice result”, said Edward Sandström. With its outright fastest time, the Schubert-BMW is also fastest in the A6 category, while Duncan Huisman’s second place overall saw Equipe Verschuur ending up fastest in the SP2 class. “I did everything I could, but I just wasn’t quick enough on my final lap. I had a slower car in front of me coming onto the finish straight, which cost me some time, but it was great fun”, said Duncan Huisman after his last-minute dash.

A big improvement by Roland Asch in the final 30 minutes saw the Besaplast-Porsche ending up fourth overall and fastest in the Porsche 997 class. The best-placed Spanish team and class leaders in A3T is the Sunred-SEAT Leon thanks to a fastest lap time set by WTCC ace Jordi Gené, putting the car in sixth place overall. The second-best Spanish team is the PCR Sport SEAT entry with double motorcycle world champion Jorge Lorenzo in its line-up in ninth place overall and second in class. All the action from the 24H BARCELONA can be followed at http://live.24hseries.com

The fastest teams in the various classes:

A6: #2 Schubert Motorsport BMW Z4 GT3 (Sandström/Outzen/Posavac/Stugemo)

A5: #28 JR Motorsport BMW E46 GTR (Hilders/Van den Bos/Van der Zweerde/Poland/Bogaerts)

A4: #29 Bas Koeten Racing BMW Z3 (Van den Berge/Gras/Budding/Koeten)

A3T: #1 Move Racing by Sunred SEAT Leon Supercopa (Monje/Gené/Monjé/Viega)

A2: #54 Jet Black Racing Renault Clio (Majgaard/Bollingtoft/Träger/Moller/Bremer)

D1: #64Recy Racing BMW 120D (De Vocht/Heyman/Van Samang/Van Loo/Beckers)

SP2: #10 Equipe Verschuur Renault Mégane Trophy (Braams/Van ‘t Hoff/Werkman/Abresch/Huisman)

SP3: #18Saker Sportscars Saker GT TDI (Herber/Vetters/Meijer/Jeuris/Meijer)

997: #5 Besaplast Porsche 997 Cup (Kovac/Asch/Asch/Tschornia/Halm)

Creventic BV

Gerrie Willems
Zandstraat 11 6591DA Gennep
Postbus 40 6590AA Gennep
The Netherlands

Tel. +31 (0)485 471166
Fax: +31 (0)485 471127
E-mail : willems@creventic.com
Web: www.24hseries.com

FIA GT1: Closing on the Ultimate Goal for 2012

Closing on the Ultimate Goal for 2012

A meeting held in Brussels yesterday between current, returning and prospective GT1 team owners, the FIA and championship organiser SRO, saw the 2012 FIA GT World project take a significant step towards the ultimate goal of bringing together ten teams, representing ten different brands with two cars each. Such a diversity of prestigious brands in a single category would make the FIA GT World Championship completely unique in international motorsport. The meeting in Brussels came at the end of a week-long series of talks involving the FIA, teams, manufacturers and SRO, where it was been agreed that the 2012 World Championship will be based on the highly successful GT3 category, with current GT3 cars being upgraded to a newly-defined GT World specification. Current GT1 cars would be eligible, with their performance aligned to that of the GT World specification. The most recent GT3 cars, including the BMW Z4, Ferrari 458, McLaren MP4-12C and Mercedes SLS, and the 2012 evolutions of the Audi R8 and the Porsche 911, would allow for a higher level of Balance of Performance (BOP), which would be specific to the FIA GT World Championship. GT World specifications will include – · 2012 GT3 homologation forms · Carbon brakes · No ABS · GT1 noise level · Specific GT World Balance of Performance Stephane Ratel said: “The meetings held over the past week have been extremely encouraging and today we have a clear goal of what we can achieve in 2012. Using regulations adapted from the ultra-successful GT3 category is the correct way to go. It has been agreed with the teams and manufacturers that rather than bringing GT3 cars up to GT1 levels of performance, we will adopt a GT World level, to which the current GT1 cars adhere, reducing development costs significantly.” “GT3 is the most successful GT category in the world and almost all of the major manufacturers are building cars to these specifications,” Ratel continued. “This allows us to have a grid of ten two-car teams, each representing a different model, while keeping costs under control. Using the FIA Balance of Performance, the current GT1 cars would be able to race with restrictions on their performance to bring them into line with the 2012 GT World specification. It has also been decided that GTE cars will not be eligible as every manufacturer currently involved in GTE also makes a GT3 model. Stephane Ratel concluded: “2012 will be a transition year, with the current GT1 cars able to compete alongside the new cars. In 2013 every car on the grid will be a GT World car, which will reflect the growing demand for GT3 cars in National and International motorsport around the world. In light of the current economic climate, GT World specification is the correct solution to secure the future of the FIA GT1 World Championship.” Pre-entries to the 2012 Championship will close in October, while work will continue on an ambitious, wide-ranging calendar for the next season. As for 2011, the season will conclude in San Luis, Argentina, on November 4th – 6th, with ten drivers and four teams still in contention for the World Championship titles. Jeff Carter Media Delegate,

AMENDMENT TO THE 2012 FIA WTCC CALENDAR

AMENDMENT TO THE 2012 FIA WTCC CALENDAR
Due to a mistake the calendar of the 2012 World Touring Car Championship that was released earlier today was wrong.
The calendar actually approved today by the FIA World Motor Sport Council is the following.
Apologies for the incovenience.

11 March - Monza, Italy
1 April - Valencia, Spain
15 April - Donington Park, UK
29 April - TBA, Germany
6 May- Budapest, Hungary
20 May - Marrakech, Morocco
10 June - Porto, Portugal
22 July - Curitiba, Brazil
23 September - Sonoma, USA
21 October - Suzuka, Japan
4 November - Shanghai, China
18 November - Macau

Fabio Ravaioli/FIA WTCC Media Delegate.

American Le Mans Series, round 9 in Road Atlanta, USA Porsche teams keen to stay on course at finale

American Le Mans Series, round 9 in Road Atlanta, USA

Porsche teams keen to stay on course at finale

Stuttgart. The title defenders are back: With the first victory of the season under their belts, Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA) travel with optimism to the final round of the American Le Mans Series on 1 October on the time-honoured Road Atlanta circuit. At the 1,000 mile classic in the US State of Georgia, the Laguna Seca winners aim to conclude the season with another success with their Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. One of their strongest rivals comes from their own camp: Porsche factory pilot Wolf Henzler (Germany) has already notched up two victories so far this season from Mid-Ohio and Baltimore.

The race

Petit Le Mans, which takes off during the day and finishes at night, is traditionally one of the season’s highlights. It has been a permanent fixture on the American Le Mans Series calendar since the championship’s foundation in 1999. This year, it also counts towards the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.

The circuit

It was on this challenging 4.087 kilometre race track near Braselton that the success story of the American Le Mans Series began back in 1999. With its twelve corners, Road Atlanta is one of the most venerable and challenging circuits in the United States.

The Porsche drivers

Tackling the GT class with the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Flying Lizard Motorsports are Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany), Patrick Long (USA) and Marc Lieb (Germany). Wolf Henzler, their factory pilot colleague from Falken Tire, shares driving duties with Bryan Sellers (USA) and Martin Ragginger (Austria). In the second Flying Lizard Porsche, works driver Marco Holzer (Germany) teams up with Americans Seth Neiman and Darren Law. Sascha Maassen (Germany) joins forces with Bryce Miller (USA) in Paul Miller Racing’s Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. Richard Lietz (Austria), as the sixth factory driver for Porsche, contests the GTE Am class of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup for the Proton Competition squad, with Germany’s Christian Ried and Porsche Cup winner Gianluca Roda from Italy.

Quotes before the race

Hartmut Kristen, Porsche Head of Motorsport: “With three wins from four races, our drivers have impressively demonstrated the potential of the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR against strong competition. The way Wolf Henzler won in the rain at Mid-Ohio and then Joerg Bergmeister in the dramatic closing laps at Laguna Seca – now that was some of the best action fans have witnessed in the American Le Mans Series this year. This makes them hungry for more. However, the character of the Road Atlanta course and the additional race cars contesting the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup make it difficult to judge how things will go.”
Joerg Bergmeister: “Our luck finally changed in Laguna Seca. Our first victory this season is just the right boost we need for Road Atlanta. We will do everything in our power to try and win this classic on one of America’s most beautiful race tracks. In the past it has always worked in our favour.”
Patrick Long: “Road Atlanta is a very picturesque, but extremely difficult race track. It demands a lot from drivers, and that’s what makes it one of the greatest challenges in the American Le Mans Series.”
Marc Lieb: “I can’t wait to drive in the USA again and hope that we can wind up the season with another good result at Road Atlanta. A 1,000 mile race is somewhat of a very special format – and it’s great fun.”
Wolf Henzler: “I hope we can finish well after our retirement in Laguna Seca. One of the many characteristics in Road Atlanta is the temperature differences: When we take off at midday the temperatures are predominantly warm, but when the sun goes down it becomes markedly cooler. That requires a great deal of skill and also a little bit of luck in the choice of tyres.”
Marco Holzer: “I was given the chance to gain crucial experience on many tracks that were new for me this year. Now I’m looking forward to racing on a track I’m familiar with. Road Atlanta is a fascinating venue.”
Richard Lietz: “I’m looking forward to my first race in Road Atlanta. We started the season with second place in Sebring and now we’re pinning our hopes on a good result at the second US race of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. It won’t be easy because there are many good teams competing, but we’ll do our best.”

The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

The most successful GT race car of the last years took off into the season with a raft of improvements. The output of the four-litre, six-cylinder boxer engine was increased to 455 hp (335 kW). Priority in the development of the car was given to the newly designed aerodynamics at the front and rear. In 2010, the 911 GT3 RSR again won the environmental "Michelin Green X Challenge” classification as the GT vehicle with the best overall efficiency in the American Le Mans Series.

Porsche successes

Porsche, as the most successful manufacturer at Road Atlanta, has collected nine GT victories since 1999. And Joerg Bergmeister is one of the most successful drivers: From 2003 to 2007 he set the benchmark with five victories in a row. He clinched two of these wins with Patrick Long in the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. Moreover, with the Porsche RS Spyder sports prototype, developed and built in Weissach, Porsche celebrated three straight victories in the LMP2 class from 2006 to 2009.

The schedule

The 1,000 mile race in Road Atlanta starts on Saturday, 1 October, at 11.30 hrs local time (17.30 hrs CEST) and is broadcast live on www.americanlemans.com. The GT qualifying can be seen on www.porsche.com/alms-live on Friday from 20.55 hrs CEST.

The American Le Mans Series

The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) was created in 1999 for sports prototypes and GT vehicles. The regulations correspond to those of the Le Mans 24 hour race. All classes start together but are classified separately:
GT class: This most popular class amongst car manufacturers is traditionally extremely well supported: Slightly modified standard sports cars with 440 to 500 hp and a minimum weight of 1,125 – 1,325 kilograms (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 RSR).
GTC class: This class is reserved for vehicles from one-make race series (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 Cup).
LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 550 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kilograms.
LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with ca. 440 hp and an 825 kg minimum weight.
LMPC class: Prototype brand trophy series for the ORECA FLM 09.

The GTE Am class is also contested in Road Atlanta as part of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup event. The difference to the GT class: Only vehicles in the 2010 specification are permitted to compete, and the regulations stipulate that just one professional driver is allowed per vehicle.

Public Relations and Media
Motorsportpress
Oliver Hilger

WTCC: Race of China Goes to Shanghai.

WTCC RACE OF CHINA GOES TO SHANGHAI
The location of the penultimate event of the 2011 World Touring Car Championship has been moved from Zhaoqing to Shanghai; the date remains the same, November 6.
The first WTCC Race of China will also feature the final round of the China Touring Car Championship that has joined in this last minute change of venue.
WTCC promoter Marcello Lotti explained: "After everything had been arranged for racing at the Guangdong International Circuit, a couple of weeks ago we were told by the promoter of the China Touring Car Championship that it was not possible to carry on with the event as scheduled. For the time being, we are unable to share further details about the reasons for the cancellation. However we wish to thank the CTCC promoter for having managed to salvage the event by moving it to Shanghai."
It has not been decided yet whether the event will be hosted by the Shanghai International Circuit, home of the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix, or the Tianma International Circuit, a regular venue for CTCC.

The city of Shanghai will host WTCC's first event in China

2012 CALENDAR APPROVED BY FIA WMSC
The FIA World Motor Sport Council approved today the calendar of the 2012 World Touring Car Championship.
The main change compared to previous years is the concentration of all overseas events in the second part of the season, in order to reduce the transportation costs.
As for the venues, besides the inclusion of an event in the USA at the Infineon Raceway in California, are noteworthy the return of the Marrakech's street race and the addition of the Salzburgring that will receive WTCC's first ever visit to Austria.

11 March - Monza, Italy
1 April - Valencia, Spain
15 April - Donington Park, UK
29 April - Salzburgring, Austria
6 May- Budapest, Hungary
20 June - Marrakech, Morocco
10 June - Porto, Portugal
22 July - Curitiba, Brazil
23 September - Sonoma, USA
21 October - Suzuka, Japan
4 November - Shanghai, China
18 November - Macau

QUALIFYING AND GRID SYSTEMS CHANGE IN 2012
The FIA World Motor Sport Council has also approved a number of changes proposed by the Touring Car Commision to the WTCC sporting regulations that will become effective in the 2012 season.
The main changes concern qualifying session and starting grid systems.
QUALIFYING POINTS - In order to reward the fastest drivers in qualifying, points will be awarded to the top-five classified in Q2: 5 points to the 1^st, 4 to the 2^nd, 3, 2, 1.
GRID FOR RACE 2 - The starting grid for Race 2 will be determined by the results of Q2, with the ten fastest drivers in reverse order.
12 DRIVERS TO Q2 - To prevent drivers from trying to achieve a good starting position on the grid for the second race by qualifying 10^th or 9^th, twelve drivers will be admitted to Q2 but only the ten fastest will be reversed.

ANDRÉ COUTO AT MACAU IN A SUNRED CAR
Once again André Couto will take part in the WTCC finale at Macau. This will mark the sixth appearance of the local hero in the Guia Race that traditionally ends the World Championship's season.
Couto will be at the wheel of a SUNRED León 1.6T car, run by the SUNRED Engineering team. In the previous years he drove Alfa Romeo, Honda and SEAT cars, claiming his best results in 2008 with a seventh place.
Already victorious in the 2000 Macau Grand Prix, Couto is aiming to become the first F3 winner capable to clinch a WTCC triumph on the Guia street circuit.

André Couto will take part in the WTCC event at Macau once again

NYKJÆR TO RACE AT MANTORP PARK Michel Nykjær returns to the Scandinavian Touring Car Cup this weekend for the series' finale at Mantorp Park. The Dane will drive once again the third Chevrolet Cruze run by Chevrolet Motorsport Sweden, alongside the team's regular drivers Rickard Rydell and Viktor Hallrup. Nykjær's mission is supporting Rydell in the title fight; on the eve of the final race meeting Rydell lies only two points behind Volkswagen's Fredrik Ekblom. "I hope I can be competitive straight away and find that tenth of a second that I needed to be at the front in the previous event at Ring Knutstorp. The battle for the championship is tough. Ekblom's team will run four cars, but I am aiming for some clean racing without denting the car and hope Rickard will be crowned champion," Nykjær said. Fabio Ravaioli/ Media Delegate.

U.S. debut of the Audi R18 TDI

U.S. debut of the Audi R18 TDI

• Audi aims for tenth “Petit Le Mans” victory at Road Atlanta

• First overseas run of the diesel race sports car

• Dindo Capello and Romain Dumas reinforce the Audi squad

Ingolstadt, September 23, 2011 – In June Audi celebrated its tenth victory with

the R18 TDI diesel race sports car and ultra-lightweight technology in a dramatic

race at the famous Le Mans 24 Hours. Likewise, on October 1st, Audi Sport Team

Joest is aiming for the brand’s tenth triumph at the U.S. counterpart, the “Petit Le

Mans” at Road Atlanta in the state of Georgia.

Nine times Audi has won the event which alongside the Daytona 24 Hours and the

Sebring 12 Hours is the most important endurance race in North America. From

2000 to 2005 the Audi R8 was unbeatable at the race that is run over 1000 miles or

for a maximum of ten hours. In 2006, 2007 and 2008 the Audi R10 TDI triumphed

three times in a row. After unfortunate defeats in the past two years with the R15

TDI, Audi is set on returning to victory lane with the new R18 TDI at Road Atlanta.

Audi Sport Team Joest is fielding two vehicles at the first overseas event of the R18

TDI. Each will car will have three drivers due to the length of the race. Timo Bernhard

and Marcel Fässler, who have been forming a driver team in the Intercontinental Le

Mans Cup (ILMC) since the round at Imola and have been on the podium twice, will

be supported by Romain Dumas. Joining Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen and

Allan McNish will be Dindo Capello – the most successful driver of the American

classic with a track record of five overall victories (2000, 2002, 2006, 2007 and

2008).

Last year the Italian became the victim of a strange incident. While he was leading

the race an insert in his helmet that is prescribed by the regulations came loose and

caused the fireproof balaclava to slip over his eyes. The unscheduled pit stop cost

Audi a possible victory.

Minute details could also be crucial this year. At Le Mans Audi triumphed in June

after 24 hours with an advantage of merely 13.854 seconds. At the 6-hour race at

Silverstone the fastest lap times of the top four vehicles were within 202

thousandths of a second. And with 56 teams having submitted entries, the track at

Road Atlanta will be pretty packed, with numerous overtaking maneuvers posing a

permanent risk of body contact.

After third place at Imola and second place at Silverstone there is just one goal for

Audi at the U.S. classic on October 1st: victory. Therefore, Audi Sport Team Joest will

already be testing on the weekend before the race at Road Atlanta in order to set up

the R18 TDI as perfectly as possible for the special characteristics of the track and

not leave anything to chance.

Nothing was left to chance either by the engineers from Audi Sport who developed

the new diesel race sports car. The Audi R18 TDI is packed with innovative

technology – from the compact 3.7-liter V6 TDI engine with a mono-VTG charger,

the full LED headlights through to ultra-lightweight design that is becoming

increasingly important in production cars too.

Tens of thousands of spectators lining the track at Road Atlanta will be watching the

two R18 TDI cars with their whispering V6 TDI engines. Since its inaugural round in

1998, “Petit Le Mans” has evolved into one of North America’s biggest racing events

that is meanwhile attracting more than 100,000 fans.

Qualifying will take place on Friday afternoon (September 30) from 15:30 to 15:45,

local time; the race will start on Saturday (October 1) at 11:30. Eurosport will

broadcast the starting phase from 17:30 to 18:30 and the final phase from 00:00 to

03:30 live. In the USA the race will be broadcast live on ESPN 3. ABC will air a twohour

summary on Sunday (October 2) starting at 16:00 Eastern Time.

Topics of the weekend

• Will Audi manage the revenge for Silverstone?

• Who will do the best job of getting through the dense traffic?

• How many yellow periods will interrupt the race?

• Will the Audi R18 TDI be the fastest car in the field, as it was at Le Mans?

Quotes by the officials

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “I’m personally very much looking

forward to Road Atlanta. I like this race track and think it’s one of the nicest circuits

for the sports prototypes. It’s a track on which Audi has celebrated major successes

before. And after Imola, where things didn’t go so well for us, we were fully

competitive again, most recently at Silverstone. But there our good work went

unrewarded. I’m hoping that we’ll be showing a good performance with the R18 TDI

in America and achieve victory. At the same time, I’ll be in permanent phone and email

contact with Valencia where Martin Tomczyk might be able to clinch the DTM

title early for Audi – it’ll be an important, exciting and busy weekend for Audi Sport.”

Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest): “For Road Atlanta, there

can only be one aim: all-out attack! We’ve got to finally win there again. At

Silverstone, we were simply struck by misfortune. Even without that factor it would

have been incredibly tight and we don’t know what the outcome would have been.

Road Atlanta is a special event. We’ve run there before, in the IMSA. ‘Petit Le Mans’

was launched in 1998, and we contested it even back then. It’s a classic and the

longest race after Le Mans and Sebring. The ten-hour race is held on an incredibly

beautiful and challenging track. It also enjoys an extremely high level of prestige

today. It’s called ‘Petit Le Mans’ and that also includes a piece of Le Mans. That’s

why we’ve simply got to win there.”

Facts and quotes by the Audi drivers

Timo Bernhard (30/D), Audi R18 TDI #1 (Audi Sport Team Joest)

• Was class winner at Road Atlanta in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007

• Most recently finished as the runner-up with Marcel Fässler at Silverstone

“At Silverstone we saw how tight the situation can be in the end. That gave the

whole team another boost. Our performance is right, we’re in contention for victory,

and in the UK we had the lead several times. After my class victories at Road Atlanta

an overall win would mean a lot to me. Maybe I can continue my sequence of

results: At Sebring I was fifth, at Spa fourth, at Imola third and at Silverstone

second. So what’s still missing ...?”

Romain Dumas (33/F), Audi R18 TDI #1 (Audi Sport Team Joest)

• Class winner in 2003 and 2007 at Road Atlanta

• Is contesting his first race in the R18 TDI since Le Mans

“I’m happy to be sitting in the cockpit again. Since Le Mans I’ve had one opportunity

to test the R18 TDI, at Le Castellet. I really like the R18 because its handling has

been notably pleasant since the winter tests. Since June I’ve been waiting for my

next racing commitment with Audi. In the USA ‘Petit Le Mans’ is a big and important

race. I finished as the runner-up there once, only a few tenths behind an Audi, by the

way. Hopefully we’ll be able to win this time. I’m highly motivated.”

Marcel Fässler (35/CH), Audi R18 TDI #1 (Audi Sport Team Joest)

• Started from position three in the fastest Audi at Road Atlanta last year

• Was the runner-up together with Timo Bernhard at the ILMC race at Silverstone

“We’re expecting a very large field at Road Atlanta. Traffic will be even heavier than

usual. It’s difficult to overtake at the ‘Petit.’ There’s only one long straight. But

that’s the same situation for everyone. We should be among the front runners. I’m

already looking forward to this nice race track.”

Dindo Capello (47/I), Audi R18 TDI #2 (Audi Sport Team Joest)

• Clinched his victory for Audi at Road Atlanta in 2000

• With five overall victories under his belt, is the record holder at “Petit Le Mans”

“For Road Atlanta I’m returning to the cockpit of the R18 TDI. I tested the car just a

few weeks ago. That was very nice because I last drove the car on a warm-up lap for

Le Mans. ‘Petit Le Mans’ is one of the races I enjoy most. I’m holding a victory record

there. And it would be nice if I could add another success to my track record. We’re

at least on a par with our competitor Peugeot but have to cover the distance without

any problems to achieve a good result.”

Tom Kristensen (44/DK), Audi R18 TDI #2 (Audi Sport Team Joest)

• Won for Audi at Road Atlanta in 2002 together with Dindo Capello

• Recently started at Silverstone from the first row with Allan McNish

“We’re all looking forward to Road Atlanta. ‘Petit Le Mans’ is the grand slam of the

sports car scene, along with Sebring and the Le Mans 24 Hours. The track is an

extreme challenge. It’s like a roller-coaster with crests, downhill stretches, raised

and dropping corners where you can’t see the apex in some cases. And the track is

relatively narrow. There are also a lot of directional changes. The fans really support

the race and make for a spectacular show. Almost 60 cars are jostling for a place in

the field. That’ll be strenuous for us in the cockpit because we’re fighting for every

centimeter, if not to say millimeter, on the track. The competition between Audi and

Peugeot is extremely close. Small things make the difference. I’m hoping for us to

be able to fully use our potential and to bring the big trophy home.”

Allan McNish (41/GB), Audi R18 TDI #2 (Audi Sport Team Joest)

• Has celebrated overall victory with Audi there four times

• Last won there in the Audi R10 TDI with Dindo Capello and Emanuele Pirro in

2008

“It’s always nice to return to the ‘Petit Le Mans race.’ I already contested the

inaugural round in 1998. I’ve enjoyed every single race so far. The atmosphere is like

a carnival. The track is wonderfully fast and has seen some very thrilling races. At

three or four rounds only seconds or even tenths of seconds made the difference in

the end. I’m expecting an extremely tough competition. The American fans will turn

the event into a huge festival again. It’ll be a cracker – guaranteed!”

The Audi drivers at Road Atlanta

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: 7; ILMC victories: 0; pole positions: 1; fastest laps: 0; best

result “Petit Le Mans”: 2; victories “Petit Le Mans”: 0

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; ILMC races: 6; ILMC victories: 0; pole positions: 0; fastest laps: 0, best result

“Petit Le Mans”: 1, victories “Petit Le Mans”: 5

Romain Dumas (F): * Dec 14, 1977 in Alès (F); residence: Basel (CH); single; height:

1.74 m; weight: 60 kg; Audi driver since 2009; ILMC races: 6; ILMC victories: 0; pole

positions: 0; fastest laps: 0; best result “Petit Le Mans”: 2; victories “Petit Le Mans”:

0

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; ILMC races: 5; ILMC victories: 1; pole positions: 0;

fastest laps: 0; best result “Petit Le Mans”: 6; victories “Petit Le Mans”: 0

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: 8; ILMC victories:

0; pole positions: 0; fastest laps: 0; best result “Petit Le Mans”: 1; victories “Petit Le

Mans”: 1

Allan McNish (GB): *Dec 29, 1969 in Dumfries (GB); residence: Monaco (MC);

married to Kelly, one son (Finlay), one daughter (Charlotte Amelie); height: 1.65 m;

weight: 58 kg; Audi driver since 2000; ILMC races: 8; ILMC victories: 0; pole

positions: 1; fastest laps: 0; best result “Petit Le Mans”: 1; victories “Petit Le Mans”:

All winners of the “Petit Le Mans” race at Road Atlanta (since 2000)

2000 Michele Alboreto/Dindo Capello/Allan McNish (Audi R8)

2001 Frank Biela/Emanuele Pirro (Audi R8)

2002 Dindo Capello/Tom Kristensen (Audi R8)

2003 Johnny Herbert/JJ Lehto (Audi R8)

2004 JJ Lehto/Marco Werner (Audi R8)

2005 Frank Biela/Emanuele Pirro (Audi R8)

2006 Dindo Capello/Allan McNish (Audi R10 TDI)

2007 Dindo Capello/Allan McNish (Audi R10 TDI)

2008 Dindo Capello/Allan McNish/Emanuele Pirro (Audi R10 TDI)

2009 Stéphane Sarrazin/Franck Montagny (Peugeot)

2010 Pedro Lamy/Franck Montagny/Stéphane Sarrazin (Peugeot)

Track info

Track length: 4.088 km

Length/duration of race: 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) / 10 hours

Pole position 2010: Anthony Davidson (Peugeot), 1m 07.187s = 219.023 km/h (Oct

01, 2010)

Fastest lap 2010: Franck Montagny (Peugeot), 1m 07.948s = 216.569 km/h (Oct

02, 2010)

Timo Bernhard about Road Atlanta: “You reach an incredible speed on this track.

Except for turn seven all the corners are very fast. The many directional changes

within a lap also stand out. Particularly the ‘Esses’ are very challenging. It’s difficult

to find a good set-up for them. After you’ve been at the wheel for a long time you

can really tell what you’ve accomplished because of the high ’g’ forces. In addition,

there are many differences in elevation. You often can’t see the track behind the

crests. It’s very dusty when it’s dry and it floods the circuit when it’s wet. The best

places for overtaking are in turns 10 and 11. But watch out, if you overtake a car in

the left-hand turn it is normally perfectly placed to counter in the next right!”

ILMC LMP1 manufacturers standings after 5 of 7 rounds:

1 Peugeot 153 points; 2 Audi, 108.

ILMC LMP1 team standings after 5 of 7 rounds:

1 Peugeot Sport Total, 81 points; 2 Audi Sport Team Joest, 74; 3 Team Oreca

Matmut, 34; 4 Rebellion Racing, 33; 5 Oak Racing, 16; 6 Aston Martin Racing, 4.

Schedule (local times)

Sunday, September 25

08:00–10:00 Free practice

12:00–17:00 Free practice

Monday, September 26

08:00–12:00 Free practice

13:00–17:00 Free practice

Wednesday, September 28

14:45–16:45 Free practice

Thursday, September 29

10:00–11:00 Free practice

14:55–15:55 Free practice

19:00–21:00 Night practice

Friday, September 30

10:15–11:15 Free practice

14:40–14:55 Qualifying (GTC/LM GTE Am)

14:55–15:10 Qualifying (GT/LM GTE Pro)

15:15–15:30 Qualifying (LM PC prototypes)

15:30–15:45 Qualifying (LM P1 and LM P2 prototypes)

Saturday, October 1

09:15–09:40 Warm-up

11:30–21:30 Race

Audi Sport/ For Autorized and Acreditated Media Press.

Skoda Fabia Super 2000 lined up for the Race Of Champions

Skoda's rally car, the Skoda Fabia Super 2000, willtake part in the Race Of Champions on December 3-4, 2011 ·

The four-wheel drive rally car is the first to be confirmed for the event, with a wide range of machinery due to follow in the run-up(pict· The Skoda Fabia Super 2000 was this week given a t). The circuit layout, which has undergone only minor changes since last year’s successful event, was set up on tarmac next to the stadium. The drivers in action were ROC co-founder and former world rally driver Michèle Mouton, German racing legend Hans-Joachim Stuck and ROC race director Marc Duez ured alongside race organiser Fredrik Johnsson and Patrik Meyer of German race promoter TSP).
Duez, who carried out the debut ROC track test in the 270bhp, four-wheel drive Skoda, declared: "It goes without saying that driving this agile rally car was great fun for me, but the crowds will also love the Skoda Fabia Super 2000. They will have the chance to see a top rally car that is virtually tailor-made for circuits like this, so it will have what it takes to deliver to the max.”

The drivers in action agreed that the track, which will be built inside the stadium itself early in December, will guarantee a spectacular show. Mouton, who designed the layout of the circuit in her role as ROC track director, confirmed that it had passed its first litmus test, adding: “The track has been only slightly modified since last year so it will again provide the perfect setting for a spectacular show. That means ROC’s fans can look forward to another two days packed with thrilling action, with the best drivers of the world battling it out face to face at the wheel of a range of different machinery – including the Skoda Fabia Super 2000 which we used this week to complete the first ROC mileage of the year."

The Race Of Champions is an annual end-of-season competition that brings together the world’s greatest drivers from all motor sport’s disciplines – including Formula 1, world rally, touring cars, Le Mans and NASCAR – and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery on a specially constructed parallel track. Drivers pair up for the ROC Nations Cup, this year scheduled for Saturday 3 December, before the individual Race Of Champions takes place on Sunday 4 December.

Of course, as ever the competing drivers will have to show off their skills in a wide range of machinery – with Skoda’s challenger the latest asset in what will be an impressive fleet. ROC 2011 will indeed feature four-wheel drive, front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive competition cars.

Five drivers have been confirmed so far for ROC 2011, including F1 world champions Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button. Plenty more big names will be added in the run-up to the event at Düsseldorf in December. For information about tickets (starting from €19) please visit the website www.raceofchampions.com.

Drivers already confirmed for the 2011 Race Of Champions: · Sebastian VETTEL, Reigning Formula 1 World Champion · Michael SCHUMACHER, Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion · Mattias EKSTROM, DTM star and triple ROC Champion of Champions · Andy PRIAULX, Three-time World Touring Car Champion Jenson BUTTON, 2009 Formula 1 World Champion
Press: Race of Champion.