ELMS: No Audi R8 LMS ultra for Sébastien Loeb Racing at Imola

There will be no Audi effort in the second round of the Europan Le Mans Series. Sébastien Loeb Racing will not enter their Audi R8 LMS ultra at Imola this upcoming weekend.


The French Audi Sport customer racing team will field only their Oreca 03/Nissan LMP2 class in the four-hour endurance race.

Last time out at Silverstone, the only Audi in the field finished sixth within the GTC class (26th overall). The #51 R8 LMS ultra was driven by Oliver Lombard, Henry Hassid and Mike Parisy

Photo credit: Sébastien Loeb Racing / V-Images.com

ELMS: Sébastien Loeb Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra Top 6 at Silverstone

By Johan Laubscher

The opening round of the European Le Mans Series was also held at Silverstone this weekend, alongside the FIA World Endurance Championship. The four hour race on Saturday saw the participation of one Audi Sport customer racing team.

Sébastien Loeb Racing entered their #51 Audi R8 LMS ultra in the GTC class with drivers Henry Hassid, Mike Parisy and Olivier Lombard.

They qualified seventh in class and finished the race in twenty-sixth overall, sixth in class.

Round two of the ELMS will be heading to Imola, 17-18 May.

Photo credit: Audi Communications - Motorsport

GT Tour: Sébastien Loeb Racing testing Audi R8 LMS ultra at Nogaro

By Johan Laubscher

Sébastien Loeb Racing was out testing at Nogaro on Wednesday.

The teams was testing their Audi R8 LMS ultra at the French circuit. They are currently preparing for a two-car assault on the French GT Tour and a single car entry in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS).

Photo credit: Mike Parisy

ELMS: Sébastien Loeb Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra at Paul Ricard test days

By Johan Laubscher

The European Le Mans Series hosted two days of official testing at Paul Ricard this week, Tuesday to Wednesday.

One Audi Sport customer racing team entered the event and are also entered for the 2014 ELMS season.

Sébastien Loeb Racing is running a single Audi R8 LMS ultra in the GTC class, alongside an Oreca 03 Nissan in LMP2.

For the testing, the #51 Audi R8 LMS ultra was driven by Henry Hassid, Mike Parisy, Anthony Beltoise and Roland Bervillé.

Five test sessions were spread across the two days at Paul Ricard, morning and afternoon sessions on both days, including a night session on Tuesday.

The #51 Audi R8 LMS ultra was driven to a 1:59.546 lap time on Tuesday morning, the fastest set by the Sébastien Loeb Racing R8 LMS ultra during the two days of testing. They were classified thirty-seventh fastest in the combined classification, last in GTC.

The results from the two-day test can be seen HERE.

Silverstone will be hosting the opening round of the ELMS, from 18-19 April.

Photo credit: v-images.com via Sébastien Loeb Racing

GT Tour: Sébastien Loeb Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra livery revealed + more drivers

By Johan Laubscher

Sébastien Loeb Racing revealed their 2014 Audi R8 LMS ultra livery in full on Friday.

The French team acquired two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars for the 2014 season and they are currently preparing for a two-car assault on the French GT Tour and a single car entry for the European Le Mans Series GTC class.

Mike Parisy was announced as one of the team's drivers earlier this week and two further drivers were announced on Friday. Roland Berville and Anthony Beltoise will be piloting the #50 Audi R8 LMS ultra in the GT Tour. Parisy will be one of the drivers behind the wheel of the team's other R8 LMS ultra in the GT Tour and also their single car entry in the ELMS.

The European Le Mans Series will be getting under way at Silverstone from 18-19 April, followed by the opening round of the French GT Tour round at the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans from 26-27 April.

Photo credit: GaazMaster Motorsport / Sébastien Loeb Racing

GT Tour: Sébastien Loeb Racing tease Audi R8 LMS ultra livery and first driver announced

By Johan Laubscher

On Monday Sébastien Loeb Racing revealed a teaser of their Audi R8 LMS ultra livery and also announced their first confirmed driver. 

The team is currently preparing for a two-car Audi R8 LMS ultra entry in the French GT-Tour and also a single car entry in the European Le Mans Series.

The first confirmed driver for Sébastien Loeb Racing is Mike Parisy. He will be behind the wheel of one of the team’s two R8 LMS ultra entries in the French GT Tour and also in the ELMS.

The European Le Mans Series will be getting under way at Silverstone from 18-19 April, followed by the opening round of the French GT Tour round at the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans from 26-27 April.

Photo credit: 

Sébastien Loeb Racing

Mike Parisy

GT Tour: Sébastien Loeb Racing testing Audi R8 LMS ultra at Magny-Cours

By Johan Laubscher

Sébastien Loeb Racing Team was out testing at Magny-Cours on Monday.

The teams was testing their two white Audi R8 LMS ultra cars at the French circuit. They are currently preparing for a two-car assault on the French GT Tour and a single car entry in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS).

Photo credit: Sébastien Loeb Racing

GT Tour: Sebastien Loeb Racing testing the Audi R8 LMS ultra at Estoril

By Tarek Ramchani

New comer to the big Audi Sport customer racing family, Sebastien Loeb Racing is in Portugal testing their brand new Audi R8 LMS ultra.

The team co-owned by World Rally Championship legend Sebastien Loeb and by Dominique Heintz recently received the Audi GT3 racer and had a successful shakedown. At Estoril the French team is testing the car ahead of a very busy season.

Sebastien Loeb Racing will enter two Audi R8 LMS ultra in the French GT Tour with the drivers line-ups expected to be announced very soon. The team will also compete in the European Le Mans Series with a single car effort within the GTC class.

Photo credit: Sebastien Loeb Racing

Sébastien Loeb Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra shakedown

By Johan Laubscher

Sébastien Loeb Racing held their first shakedown with their new Audi R8 LMS ultra cars today. 

The team has began their on track preparation for the 2014 season. Sébastien Loeb Racing will be entering a two-car team in the French GT-Tour and a single car entry in the European Le Mans Series GTC class.

The ELMS gets underway at Silverstone from 18-19 April, followed by the first French GT-Tour round from 26-27 April.

Photo credit: Sébastien Loeb Racing

Audi R8 LMS ultra cars arrive at Sébastien Loeb Racing

By Johan Laubscher

Sébastien Loeb Racing received their Audi R8 LMS ultra cars on Tuesday this week.

They are one of the newest Audi Sport customer racing teams for 2014 and will be competing with a two-car team in the French GT Tour and a single car entry in the European Le Mans Series.

Photo credit: Sébastien Loeb Racing Team 

FIA WEC, Le Mans 24 Hours and ELMS entry lists revealed by the ACO

By Johan Laubscher

The annual ACO press conference was held in Paris on Thursday. The entry lists for the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship, the Le Mans 24 Hours and the European Le Mans Series were all revealed on the day.

Audi cars will again be seen in both the FIA WEC and ELMS this year.

FIA WEC and Le Mans 24 Hours:

Audi Sport had already announced its 2014 entry last week, but now it has officially been confirmed for the 2014 season, with the release of the entry lists today. Two Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars will be contesting the entire FIA World Endurance Championship season and a third car will be entered for the 6 Hours of Spa and the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Audi #1: Lucas di Grassi, Loïc Duval and Tom Kristensen

Audi #2: Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer

Audi #3: Filipe Albuquerque, Marco Bonanomi and Oliver Jarvis*

The Audi squad joins a field of thirty-one FIA WEC entries, nine of which are LMP1 competitors. The full season LMP1 runners include six factory cars in LMP1-H and three privateer cars in LMP1-L.

LMP1-H:

#1 Audi Sport Team Joest – Audi R18 e-tron quattro

#2 Audi Sport Team Joest – Audi R18 e-tron quattro

#3 Audi Sport Team Joest – Audi R18 e-tron quattro*

#7 ToyotaRacing – ToyotaTS040 Hybrid

#8 ToyotaRacing – ToyotaTS040 Hybrid

#14 Porsche Team – Porsche 919 Hybrid

#20 Porsche Team – Porsche 919 Hybrid

LMP1-L:

#9 Lotus – Lotus T129 AER

#12 Rebellion Racing – Rebellion R-One Toyota

#13 Rebellion Racing – Rebellion R-One Toyota

*Audi #3 is only entered for the 6 Hours of Spa and the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The 2014 FIA WEC entry list can be seen HERE.

The 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours entry list can be seen HERE.

ELMS:

A few weeks ago Sébastien Loeb Racing announced that they will be running Audi R8 LMS ultra cars this year and last week they confirmed a two-car entry in the French GT Tour. They will be running two cars in the 2014 ELMS, which includes one of their Audi R8 LMS ultra cars, alongside an Oreca 03 – Nissan in LMP2.

A total of forty-two entries will be taking part in the 2014 ELMS, sixteen of which are entered in GTC.  

The 2014 ELMS entry list can be seen HERE. 

Photo credit: Audi Communications - Motorsport

ELMS: MOMO Megetron DF1 2013 season review

By Johan Laubscher

The European Le Mans Series allowed FIA GT3 specification machinery to compete in the GTC class for the first time during 2013. One Audi Sport customer racing team took the opportunity to race in the ELMS. MOMO Megetron DF1 fielded their Audi R8 LMS at the opening two rounds of the series.

The season review has been compiled from the 2013 Audi Motorsport Blog Weekend Round Up posts. Each round has been added as was seen in the individual Weekend Round Up posts during 2013, which can be accessed via the links throughout the review below:

Zolder Test

The Belgian BRCC held an official test day at Zolder on Friday. Two Audi R8 LMS cars took part. The PK Carsport R8 LMS is a full season BRCC competitor, whereas the Belgian Racing Team (MOMO-Megatron-dF1) R8 LMS used the test day to prepare for the upcoming ELMS season.

Taken from Weekend Round Up - Audi Motorsport Blog (6-7/04/2013)

Round 1: Silverstone

Silverstone also hosted the European Le Mans Series this weekend, with the three hour race taking place on Saturday. The ELMS has introduced the GTC class this year, which allows FIA GT3 cars to take part. One Audi R8 LMS was entered by MOMO Megetron DF1. They qualified on pole, but suffered issues during the race. Ultimately they were classified third in class.

Taken from Weekend Round Up - Audi Motorsport Blog (13-14/04/2013)

Round 2: Imola

The European Le Mans Series held round two at Imola in Italy. The MOMO Megatron DF1 Audi R8 LMS took part in the event. They qualified third in class, but unfortunately they retired from the race.

Taken from Weekend Round Up - Audi Motorsport Blog (18-20/05/2013)

Photo credit: Audi Sport Communication / Media

ELMS: No podium for MOMO Megatron Audi R8 LMS at Imola

Momo Megatron Press Release

The second round of the European Le Mans Series was held last weekend on the Italian circuit of Imola. During the previous race held over 3 hours on the British Silverstone circuit the Dylan Derdaele (B), Raffi Bader (CH), Kuba Giermaziak (PL) trio had claimed a first podium place in the GTC class. Despite the good prospects of clinching a second podium place in a row the Audi R8 LMS of the MOMO-Megatron-DF1 Team experienced a technical problem with its brakes. Everything was running smoothly up until the 60th lap! The front brake lining literally went up in smoke and the American Audi-Team was then confronted with a leaking oil line.

With a starting grid of 28 cars the GTC class was strongly represented with seven top cars. In varying weather conditions the MOMO-Megatron-DF1 Team concentrated on the set-up of the Audi R8 LMS for this difficult circuit. Their efforts were finally rewarded with an excellent third best time in GTC during the qualifying. It was once more to be a challenge for the young Derdaele, Giermaziak and Bader trio.

Raffi Bader: "After Silverstone we experienced a fair amount of bad luck during the race here in Imola. The brake cooling was set at "shortrun". This resulted in the brakes not being ideally cooled".

Kuba Giermaziak: "Unfortunately up against the new Ferrari and Lamborghini our Audi R8 LMS was no match regarding lap times".

Also Dylan Derdaele was not really satisfied with the performance of the Audi R8 LMS as compared to the competition: "There is work to be done. Through some heavy test sessions we need to improve the performance of the Audi R8 LMS before the next round of the ELMS on the Austrian Red Bull Ring in order to take on our rivals ", the fast young Belgian concluded.

Photo credit: European Le Mans Series

Single Audi R8 LMS ultra in European Le Mans Series

By Tarek Ramchani

The 2013 European Le Mans Series entry list was released by the ACO and Le Mans Endurance management. 29 cars have applied as full season competitors. The Audi brand will be back in the series for the first time since the R10 TDI era, this time in the GT division.

After a disastrous 2012 season with some races being cancelled and very poor grid numbers, the ELMS seems to be heading in the right direction again. One of the major changes for the competition this year is the addition of FIA GT3 cars. This category has long since been disallowed in Le Mans style racing, but now the GT3 cars will finally debut in the ELMS, racing in a special GTC class. Five GT3 cars have committed and will fight for the title, among them a single Audi R8 LMS ultra from Momo Megatron DF1. The Austrian team are debuting with Audi in international sportscar racing. The driver line-up is yet to be known. The rivals are two Ferrari 458, a Lamborghini Gallardo and a Porsche 911 GT3 R. The GTC series winner will be awarded by an automatic entry for the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours in GTE Am class.

Five rounds are planned for 2013, with a new three hour race format. The season opener will be at Silverstone. Another Audi team has also shown interest in the British round. DragonSpeed from America are expected to field their Audi R8 LMS ultra, but this is yet to be confirmed. We also regret that the European Le Mans Series opener is clashing with another major series, the Blancpain Endurance Series at Monza. A clash preventing more possible Audi R8 LMS cars to join.

Photo credit: Downforce1

First Audi team in the European Le Mans Series

By Tarek Ramchani

It has been known since the end of 2012 that the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) would be welcoming FIA GT3 spec cars in the series. The cars will compete in a special GTC class (Grand Touring Challenge). Of course one of the stars of the GT3 class is the Audi R8 LMS ultra.



Now the first full season competitor in is known. It is team Momo Megatron DF1 from Austria. The team is also known as Downforce1 and is strongly linked to the famous American actress, Pamela Anderson. The Austrian squad will enter a pair of Audi R8 LMS ultra cars and will target an invitation for the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours. The cars will be in full 2013 specification.

The team is evaluating a possible entry in the ADAC GT Masters in Germany and the International GT Open. On their website they also list the logos of the Blancpain Endurance Series and the FIA GT Series, which may hint to further possibilities.

Photo credit and more information:
Downforce1 official website

GT3 cars in European Le Mans Series 2013

By Tarek Ramchani

It's no secret that the GT3 class is booming worldwide at the moment. The formula has proven to be a great success in many international and national series. Now it's the turn of the European Le Mans Series to welcome the class.

In 2012 the ELMS field faced a dramatic collapse in numbers, especially in the Grand Touring division, where both GTE Pro and GTE Am failed to attract competitors. As a result the ACO have granted GT3 cars access to the ELMS series. With this move the ACO wanted to increase the amount of cars next year, with a large field of GT3 races cars around Europe. The all conquering Audi R8 LMS ultra is part of the GT3 class of course and we hope to see some cars in this top level sportscar series.

For 2013 the GT3 cars will compete in a special GTC class (Grand Touring Challenge), a class which is very different from the GTC class in ALMS where only GT3 Cup Porsches are allowed to compete. To make sure the GTC cars won't challenge the top GTE ones, the ACO will impose more restrictors on GTC cars. So do not expect the possibility of Audi R8 LMS cars there fighting against the GTE cars.

The Audi R8 LMP 63 Outright Victories in Photos

By Tarek Ramchani

5 Le Mans 24 Hours outright victories, 6 straight American Le Mans Series championship titles, 2004 Le Mans Endurance Series title. Great wins and trophies for the Audi R8 LMP. Here is the full 63 overall wins for the legendary Le Mans racer :

March 18th 2000, 12 Hours of Sebring : Frank Biela - Tom Kristensen - Emanuele Pirro

June 18th 2000, 24 Heures du Mans : Frank Biela - Tom Kristensen - Emanuele Pirro

July 23rd 2000, Grand Prix of Sonoma : Allan McNish - Dindo Capello

August 6th 2000, Grand Prix of Mosport : Allan McNish - Dindo Capello

September 2nd 2000, Grand Prix of Texas : Frank Biela - Emanuele Pirro

September 10th 2000, Grand Prix of Portland : Allan McNish - Dindo Capello

September 30th 2000, Petit Le Mans : Allan McNish - Dindo Capello - Michele Alboreto

October 15th 2000, Monterey Sports Car Championships : Allan McNish - Dindo Capello

October 29th 2000, Grand Prix of Las Vegas : Frank Biela - Emanuele Pirro

December 31st 2000, Race of a Thousand Years : Allan McNish - Dindo Capello

March 4th 2001, Grand Prix of Texas : Dindo Capello - Tom Kristensen

March 17th 2001, 12 Hours of Sebring : Dindo Capello - Michele Alboreto - Laurent Aiello

April 14th 2001, ELMS race at Donington Park : Dindo Capello - Tom Kristensen

May 20th 2001, ELMS race at Jarama : Dindo Capello - Tom Kristensen

June 17th 2001, 24 Heures du Mans : Frank Biela - Tom Kristensen - Emanuele Pirro

July 22nd 2001, Grand Prix of Sonoma : Dindo Capello - Tom Kristensen

August 5th 2001, ELMS race at Most : Stefan Johansson - Patrick Lemarie

August 19th 2001, Grand Prix of Mosport : Frank Biela - Emanuele Pirro

September 9th 2001, Monterey Sports Car Championships : Frank Biela - Emanuele Pirro

October 6th 2001, Petit Le Mans : Frank Biela - Emanuele Pirro

March 16th 2002, 12 Hours of Sebring : Dindo Capello - Johnny Herbert - Christian Pescatori

June 16th 2002, 24 Heures du Mans : Frank Biela - Tom Kristensen - Emanuele Pirro

June 30th 2002, American Le Mans at Mid-Ohio : Frank Biela - Emanuele Pirro

July 17th 2002, Road America 500 : Dindo Capello - Tom Kristensen

August 3rd 2002, Grand Prix de Trois Rivieres : Dindo Capello - Tom Kristensen

August 18th 2002, Grand Prix of Mosport : Dindo Capello - Tom Kristensen

September 22nd 2002, Monterey Sports Car Championships : Dindo Capello - Tom Kristensen

October 5th 2002, American Le Mans Challenge at Miami : Frank Biela - Emanuele Pirro

October 12th 2002, Petit Le Mans : Dindo Capello - Tom Kristensen

March 15th 2003, 12 Hours of Sebring : Frank Biela - Marco Werner - Philip Peter

June 29th 2003, Grand Prix of Atlanta : J.J. Lehto - Johnny Herbert

August 3rd 2003, Grand Prix de Trois Rivieres : Frank Biela - Marco Werner

August 17th 2003, Grand Prix of Mosport : Frank Biela - Marco Werner

August 24th 2003, Road America 500 : J.J. Lehto - Johnny Herbert

August 31st 2003, 1000Km of Spa-Francorchamps : Tom Kristensen - Seiji Ara

September 7th 2003, Monterey Sports Car Championships : Frank Biela - Marco Werner

September 27th 2003, Grand Prix Americas - Miami : J.J. Lehto - Johnny Herbert

October 18th 2003, Petit Le Mans : J.J. Lehto - Johnny Herbert

November 9th 2003, 1000Km du Mans : Tom Kristensen - Seiji Ara

March 20th 2004, 12 Hours of Sebring : Allan McNish - Pierre Kaffer - Frank Biela

May 9th 2004, 1000Km of Monza : Jamie Davies - Johnny Herbert

June 13th 2004, 24 Heures du Mans : Tom Kristensen - Dindo Capello - Seiji Ara

June 27th 2004, American Le Mans at Mid-Ohio : Marco Werner - J.J. Lehto

July 4th 2004, 1000Km of the Nurburgring : Allan McNish - Pierre Kaffer

July 5th 2004, New England Grand Prix - Lime Rock : Marco Werner - J.J. Lehto

July 18th 2004, Grand Prix of Sonoma : Marco Werner - J.J. Lehto

July 25th 2004, Portland Grand Prix : Marco Werner - J.J. Lehto

August 14th 2004, 1000Km of Silverstone : Allan McNish - Pierre Kaffer

August 22nd 2004, Road America 500 : Marco Werner - J.J. Lehto

September 12th 2004, 1000Km of Spa-Francorchamps : Jamie Davies - Johnny Herbert

September 25th 2004, Petit Le Mans : Marco Werner - J.J. Lehto

October 16th 2004, Monterey Sports Car Championships - Johnny Herbert - Pierre Kaffer

March 19th 2005, 12 Hours of Sebring : Tom Kristensen - Marco Werner - J.J. Lehto

April 17th 2005, Grand Prix of Atlanta : Marco Werner - J.J. Lehto

June 19th 2005, 24 Heures du Mans : Tom Kristensen - Marco Werner - J.J. Lehto

July 4th 2005, New England Grand Prix - Lime Rock : Marco Werner - J.J. Lehto

July 17th 2005, Grand Prix of Sonoma : Frank Biela - Emanuele Pirro

July 30th 2005, Portland Grand Prix : Frank Biela - Emanuele Pirro

August 13th 2005, 1000Km of Silverstone : Allan McNish - Stephane Ortelli

August 21 2005, Road America 500 : Frank Biela - Emanuele Pirro

October 1st 2005, Petit Le Mans : Frank Biela - Emanuele Pirro

May 12th 2006, Houston Grand Prix : Allan McNish - Dindo Capello

July 1st 2006, New England Grand Prix - Lime Rock : Allan McNish - Dindo Capello