Off To The Races
Sportscar endurance racing is the truest form of motorsport. Exceedingly challenging to both man and machine, it’s the best way to prove what a manufacturer is theoretically capable of. This is a story of hope, new beginnings and old friends getting back together. As another IMSA season was set to take the green flag, we talked with Audi factory drivers and team officials to produce an in-depth look into the year ahead for race fans and enthusiasts.
By: Todd Hughes
When the drivers, teams and fans of Audi Sport customer racing descend on Daytona International Speedway to begin the 2018 IMSA season, more than the calendar will have changed. The most celebrated American sportscar racing series will certainly look familiar, and yet so much will be different from just a year ago.
New vehicles like the Audi R8 LMS GT4, which is making its North American debut, and the Audi RS 3 LMS will take to the high banks of Daytona for the first time. New teams, including the first all-female driver team for Audi, will join Audi Sport customer racing to compete in the exciting Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge series. An all-new class, TCR (Touring Car Racing) will debut. And two of the top teams in sportscar racing, Magnus Racing and Land Motorsport, will combine forces with Audi Sport to battle for the win in one of racing’s true crown jewels—the 56th Rolex 24 At Daytona.
Getting the exceptionally fast band back together.
The 24-hour race at Daytona is the most prominent sportscar race in America, and, along with Le Mans, one of the most prestigious in the world. It’s also the first race of the new season for the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series. The last time Audi tasted the champagne at Daytona, in the 2016 edition of the race, it was the Magnus Racing team that was celebrating in Gatorade Victory Lane. In their first race with the Audi R8 LMS GT3, they won what was one of the most exciting renditions in the history of the event. Now, after a one-year hiatus in another series, Magnus is back and ready to contest the entire 11-race IMSA WeatherTech season.
“We’re excited to return to IMSA competition and our endurance roots,” Magnus Racing team owner and driver John Potter said recently. “Obviously, Magnus has enjoyed a number of successes throughout the years of IMSA and formerly GRAND-AM, and in our first season with Audi in 2016 we had one of our best seasons to date.”
Potter was also clear about his intentions for the upcoming season, “Returning to the series for 2018, we feel stronger than ever, not only with an incredibly fast car, but also the same crew that took us to victory in 2016, as well as an incredible lineup in Andy, Markus and Andrew. The support from Audi over the years has obviously been a big factor—from winning in our first race together at Daytona to helping to secure the Intercontinental GT Challenge title last October—it’s been a relationship that has proven fruitful and instantly competitive. With our team, I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by such an incredible group, and we hope we can begin with immediate success.”
Having Potter back behind the wheel for the brand with the four rings is a success story even before the green flag waves in Daytona. Equally important, however, is the welcome news that Andy Lally is returning to his familiar seat in the Magnus R8 LMS GT3 car. The number 44 vehicle is like home for Lally, one of the most popular drivers in the IMSA paddock, and a great ambassador for the sport.
“I couldn’t be happier to return to my family at Magnus,” Lally stated. “Some of my best memories in my career are with the team, and it’s great to return with them in 2018. There’s a lot in motion right now, but I believe we’ll immediately be in a position to contend, and I’m excited to get the season going.”
Potter and Lally will handle the primary driving duties for the Magnus team in the 11 WeatherTech races this season. For the endurance race in Daytona, they are joined by Audi factory driver Markus Winkelhock and Audi Sport customer racing veteran Andrew Davis, who will also be behind the wheel for all of the 2018 North American Endurance Cup (NAEC) races, which include Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta.
“I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity to join Magnus and contend for all four NAEC rounds,” Davis said. “Obviously I’ve worked with the team going back to 2010, and I’ve known many of the guys on the team even further back than that, so to be engaged in the full Endurance Cup is something I really look to perform in. The Audi R8 LMS GT3 is an incredible car, and given my experience in the same machine over the last two years, I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel.”
In addition to highly capable Magnus Racing, another team with a great record of success with the R8 LMS GT3 will join the fight for the GT Daytona class win at the Rolex. Land Motorsport carved their own piece of history in their first try in the race last year, with an incredibly close finish, nearly winning Daytona in their maiden attempt before settling for second place by just two tenths of a second. The German team are reigning champions of the prestigious ADAC GT Masters series in their home country, and overall winners of one of the world’s most difficult endurance races—the 24 Hours Nürburgring.
“We are very proud that we are back in the 24 Hours of Daytona,” Montaplast by Land Motorsport Team Manager Christian Land said. “Together with our partner Montaplast, we have put together a strong team for the fight for the Rolex. We will try to be 0.293 sec faster than last year. For us, clearly the goal of one of the most famous 24-hour races in the world is to win the Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona and we will give it everything. We also want to have a say in the fight for the North American Endurance Cup Championship this year. We will race all four races. After winning Petit Le Mans in 2017, we are confident for the 2018 season.”
As Land mentioned, the team will plan to contest the four North American Endurance Cup races for Audi, with the possibility of an even more robust schedule. They return with the same car featuring the number 29. Affectionately named “Peggy Sue,” this particular R8 has been remarkably successful. Between Magnus Racing and Land Motorsport, Audi Sport customer racing is perfectly positioned to capture not only the win at Daytona, but also season-long NAEC and WeatherTech championships.
More firsts for the Audi R8.
The Audi R8 LMS GT3 has been an incredible success no matter how you look at it, with more than 200 vehicles delivered to customer teams to date and more than 200 wins worldwide, including victories in the Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona, the 24 Hours Nürburgring, the 24 Hours of Spa, the Bathurst 12 Hours, Petit Le Mans and, literally, hundreds more. In fact, the R8 LMS GT3 scored 101 race wins in 2017 alone.
Now, the venerable Audi R8 supercar is poised to blaze even more new trails. Daytona will be the site of the national debut race for the all-new Audi R8 LMS GT4, which shares approximately 60% of its components with the R8 street car. But more than just the site of the debut race for the GT4, Daytona will serve as the location for another first—an all-female driver team for Audi. Up-and-coming Polish racer Gosia Rdest, recent class winner at the 2018 Hankook 24H Dubai, will partner with accomplished racer Ashley Freiberg in an R8 LMS GT4 for Global Motorsports Group (GMG).
Audi of America stands firmly committed to external initiatives that develop opportunities for women at the educational, career and leadership levels in art and film, STEM, and business that will inspire and secure the next generation of female leaders. The relationship between Audi Sport customer racing and GMG offers a unique platform to support opportunities for female race car drivers.
“Gender equality is something that I’ve always represented throughout my career and daily life, so being a part of the #DriveProgress campaign is extremely exciting for me, and I’m truly honored to be a part of such a powerful movement being made by a company like Audi,” Freiberg said. “To me, my gender never made a difference when behind the wheel. I still have to do a good job and drive the car hard; the data and lap times don’t lie. Both Gosia and I have proven that we can win major races if given an equal opportunity that the best drivers out there get. So I’m excited to be in an Audi with her and GMG at Daytona. I think we will be a strong team, not because we are female, but because we are drivers that are ready to do the job well.”
“I feel very privileged and honored to be a part of the Audi #DriveProgress campaign,” Rdest said. “I have always thought that it is not the gender, but the personal warmth, endurance and hard work that are the mainstay of any winner. Moreover, I believe that competitive sports that are equally open to and supportive of both sexes are the best means to underpin social and cultural exchange of values and desires for a better tomorrow, promote equality for all, and create opportunities for personal growth and social collaboration. I fully agree with Ashley—that given equal opportunities regardless of gender, people are both free to compete as equals and empowered to unleash their full potential. I would like to congratulate Audi on their efforts and thank the company for undertaking a long-awaited lead in this matter. I am convinced that Ashley and I, as a team, will do our level best at the Daytona racetrack.”
GMG Racing team owner James Sofronas is fielding the car for the #DriveProgress team. He talked recently about the opportunity. “It’s great to return to IMSA competition and the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge,” Sofronas said. “Our team has had a rich history of competing in a number of categories over the years, and this is a great program for our driver development. The Audi R8 LMS GT4 has proven to be a remarkable platform so far, both in presenting a car that’s great for drivers looking to gain more experience, and a proven baseline that has been extremely reliable. For a team like ours, always looking to develop drivers through a variety of experience levels, the opportunity to join forces with Audi Sport customer racing and take our drivers to some of the most prestigious events is a welcome one.”
Another GMG driver entered in the inaugural race is Audi staple Andrew Davis. In addition to his duties in the Magnus Racing R8 for the Rolex 24, Davis will drive the number 14 Audi R8 LMS GT4 for GMG Racing in the four-hour Endurance Challenge. “The addition of a key endurance race in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge makes for a great opportunity for GMG to introduce new drivers to the format, and I’m glad my history can enhance the experience,” Davis said. “I’ve worked closely with Audi Sport customer racing on the development of the new GT4, and I can say with a lot of confidence that this is an excellent car for a program like this. The car is fast, balanced, and a lot of fun to drive. I look forward to finally getting out and racing it.”
In all, four Audi R8 LMS GT4 models will take the track in Daytona, including one entry from legendary racing figure Steve Dinan’s CarBahn Motorsports which will run the entire Continental Tire Series 10-race schedule. “I am excited about having a team again,” Dinan said. “We are very happy to be with Audi, and we think their new R8 LMS GT4 race car will be very competitive. We are lucky to have some great sponsors and drivers, and we are looking forward to a successful season.”
A whole new class is in session.
For 2018, IMSA will debut a new class in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge series. The TCR (Touring Car Racing) class will feature cars with four or five doors, front-wheel drive, and no more than 350 horsepower.
Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge series stalwart and Compass Racing Team Principal Karl Thomson ordered a few. As fast as he could. “We were proud to be the first team to commit to this new IMSA class,” Thomson said. “We’ve run for many years in this series, having not missed a race since January 2004, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to continue to grow our program in this paddock. The TCR class has a lot of good traction worldwide, and it’s going to be exciting for us to be part of its first season in North America.” Compass Racing will field three cars in Daytona, and will compete for the season-long TCR championship. In total, look for six Audi RS 3 LMS cars on the track in Daytona, and keep your eyes open for more as the season continues. The TCR class and the RS 3 LMS are gaining popularity by the day.
Audi Sport customer racing will arrive in Daytona with more Audi cars on track than ever before. Senior Manager of Motorsport and Audi Sport customer racing Tristan Herbert is pleased with the level of progress. “Through tremendous growth over the past three years, the Audi Sport customer racing organization has worked tirelessly to provide the outstanding support for the customer racing teams,” Herbert said. “Success of the Audi R8 LMS effort worldwide built a strong foundation, and we’re excited to see the new GT3, GT4 and TCR platforms grow in race seasons to come.”
2018 promises to be one of the most exciting ever for Audi Sport customer racing in the United States. Attending a race in person is the best way to be part of the action, but you can also follow the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series, the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge series, and all the Audi Sport vehicles on FOX Sports. Check your local listings for broadcast times.
In the stands or your own home, join Audi Sport and experience engineering at its finest.
