Circuit Nogaro is hosting the sixth meeting of the 2014 FFSA GT Tour season. Race 1 held yesterday gave great satisfaction to the Audi Sport customer racing squad.
The #42 Audi R8 LMS utra from Sainteloc Racing finished in a strong second place narrowly missing race victory. The car in the hands of David Hallyday and Gregory Guilvert was right behind the winning #1 Ferrari 458 GT3.
Third place went to the #51 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Sébastien Loeb Racing with drivers Mike Parisy and Henry Hassid. Their team-mates Anthony Beltoise and Roland Berville with the sister #50 Audi were fourth.
The #44 Audi R8 LMS from Sainteloc Racing finished tenth overall and second within the Coupe de France class with drivers Gilles Lallement and Jean-Paul Buffin.
Team Speed Car entered a single Audi R8 LMS ultra at Nogaro, their #36 car driven by Vincent Abril and Nicolas Metairie was eleventh.
Race 2 is set for tomorrow with an all Sebastien Loeb Racing Audi front row followed by the #42 entry from Sainteloc Racing.
Update: The winning #1 Ferrari 458 GT3 from Sofrev-ASP has been excluded by race officials for technical infringements, however the Ferrari team appealed the decision and the race results are still pending.
The Belgian Audi Club Team WRT won a thrilling second race in the French GT Tour at Spa-Francorchamps. After an unlucky race 1 yesterday André Lotterer and Enzo Ide scored a fine victory beating the full season regulars.
André Lotterer crashed yesterday with the #5 Audi R8 LMS ultra at the very fast Raidillon corner, the three-time Le Mans winner finished the race in twelfth place. Today along with team-mate Enzo Ide it was a very different story. The WRT run Audi dominated the race and took the checkered flag victorious ahead of the second placed #76 Porsche 997 GT3-R from IMSA Performance Matmut.
Third place for the #51 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Sébastien Loeb Racing. The car is shared by Mike Parisy and Henry Hassid and they finished 3.122s behind the winning Audi.
David Hallyday and Gregory Guilvert ended in a strong fourth place with their #42 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Sainteloc Racing.
Two other Audis made it into the Top 10. The #50 R8 LMS ultra from Sébastien Loeb Racing was ninth and the #43 car from Sainteloc Racing was tenth.
Bad luck hit the second Belgian Audi Club Team WRT car. The #6 Audi R8 LMS ultra in the hands of Benoit Tréluyer and Yves Weerts was a lap down in fifteenth place.
The French GT Tour series is at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend. The local Belgian Audi Club Team WRT is entering the event with a pair of Audi R8 LMS ultra cars and two fresh Le Mans 24 Hours winners, André Lotterer and Benoit Tréluyer.
André Lotterer and Benoit Tréluyer are driving two different Audi R8 LMS ultra cars and both crashed yesterday at the very fast Raidillon. First it was the turn of André Lotterer with the #5 Audi R8 LMS ultra. Then it was Benoit Tréluyer with the sister #6 machine.
Fortunately the two drivers were unharmed and both were able to rejoin and finish the race respectively in twelfth and thirteenth places.
A very positive day 1 for the Audi teams at Spa-Francorchamps, round 3 of the French GT Tour series. Pole postion and three cars within the Top 4 in Race 1
The #5 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Belgian Audi Club Team WRT took a great pole position earlier today. The car is shared by last weekend Le Mans 24 Hours winner André Lotterer joined by Enzo Ide.
Next, the Audi Sport customer racing squad performed very well in the 1-hour sprint event in the Ardennes. The #51 from team Sébastien Loeb Racing finished in a strong second with drivers Mike Parisy and Henri Hassid. The twi drivers ended right behind the winning #1 Ferrai 458 GT3 from Team Sofrev ASP.
The #42 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Sainteloc Racing was third overall, the car in the hands of David Halliday and Gregory Gulivert.
The #36 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Team Speed Car had a strong race and narrowly missed the podium ending in a positive fourth place with Vincent Abril and Jérôme Demay.
Both Audis from the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT were outside the Top 10. The #5 Audi R8 LMS ultra of André Lotterer and Enzo Ide was twelfth. The sister #6 machine driven by Benoit Tréluyer and Yves Weerts was thirteenth.
It was good weekend for the Audi teams at the Lédenon circuit in the second round of the French FFSA GT Tour. Pole position and a race win for the Audi R8 LMS ultra.
After dominating all the practice session and taking a pole position Freiday, the Audi squad had a hard and unlucky Race 1. Best ranked R8 LMS ultra was only fifth with #42 Sainteloc Racing of David Hallyday and Gregory Guilvert. The two Sébastien Loeb Racing Audis were very unlucky, the #50 Audi ended in eighth place while the sister #51 car was forced to retire. Team Speed Car's Audis were unlucky too, with tenth (#30 Audi) and eleventh (#36 Audi) places in the end.
Things were much better for the Audi camp in the second race of the day. Sébastien Loeb Racing won the 1-hour sprint race ahead of Sainteloc Racing for a fine 1-2 Audi R8 LMS ultra. Race victory went to the #50 Audi driven by Anthony Beltoise and Romain Berville. The #42 Audi from Sainteloc Racing driven by David Hallyday and Gregory Guilvert finished in third place but the car was promoted to second after the exclusion of #9 Ferrari 458. The #51 Audi from Sébastien Loeb Racing ended in seventh place with drivers Mike Parisy and Henry Hassid. Team Speed Car two Audis made it into the Top 10, the #30 car was ninth and the #36 car was tenth.
Overall it was a very strong weekend for the French Audi Sport customer racing teams at the Lédenon. The Audi R8 LMS ultra proving again to be one of the strongest and most successful cars in GT3 racing.
The Lédenon is hosting the second round of the FFSA GT Tour series this weekend . A record number of eight Audi R8 LMS ultra cars entering the event.
The cars are coming from three Audi Sport customer racing teams. Sainteloc Racing is fielding no less than four Audi R8 LMS ultra cars. Both Sébastien Loeb Racing and Team Speed Car with two Audis each.
The Audi squad performed very well today in all free practice sessions and did the same in the two qualifying sessions.
In the first qualifying session the #42 Audi from Team Sainteloc qualifing in a very strong place with drivers David Hallyday and Gregory Guilvert. The #51 Audi from Sébastien Loeb Racing made it into the Top 5 with a fifth place in the end for Henry Hassid.
Even better results came from the second qualifying session. Sébastien Loeb Racing scored a sensational 1-2 in the session after an emotional in house battle for pole. Anthony Beltoise with the #50 Audi took a great pole position ahead of his team-mate Mike Parisy with the sister #51 R8 LMS ultra.
The two races are set for tomorrow at the Lédenon circuit. Race 1 at 13:00 and Race 2 at 18:35 local time.
A perfect start for the Audi Sport customer racing squad in the 2014 French GT Tour Series. The Audi teams performed very well today at Le Mans in race 1 with a sensational 1-2 victory.
The short permanant Bugatti circuit hosted a great GT race today. New comers to Audi from Sebastien Loeb Racing took a great race win ahead of another Audi team, Sainteloc Racing.
Both teams battled very well for race win. After an amazing 1-hour sprint event, the #50 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Sebastien Loeb Racing won the race. The car in the hands of Mike Parisy and Heni Hassid took the race lead only five mintues before the checkered flag.
In a very strong second the #42 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Sainteloc Racing. David Hallyday and his team-mate Gregory Guilvert were impressive. Both drivers are familiars with the Audi R8 LMS ultra.
Race 2 is set for tomorrow. We wish the best of luck to all Audi teams and their drivers.
The 2014 FFSA French GT Tour series kicks off this weekend at Le Mans. The Audi Sport customer racing squad is very well represented with no less than seven R8 LMS ultra cars.
The seven Audis came from three diffrent teams. Sainteloc Racing a regular in the French GT will field three cars. One in the main "Championnat de France" with a very strong driver line-up made. fans' favourite David Hallyday is sharing the #42 Audi R8 LMS ultra Gregory Guilvert . The other two Audis are competing in the lower "Coupe de France" open for old spec GT3 cars and Gentlemen drivers. The #43 Audi will have Jean-Paul Buffin and Jacques Wolf as drivers. The #44 Audi will be shared by Gilles Lallement and Fabrice Rossello.
Team Speed Car is back with Audi and a two-car effort. The #30 Audi with drivers Pascal Destembert and Rémy Deguffroy. The #36 car will be driven by Mathieu Lecuyer and Vincent Abril. Last year Team Speed Car scored three race wins all of them with Vincent Abril.
But the main story this year in GT Tour is all about Sebastien Loeb Racing. The team managed by the WRC legend switched to Audi and is fielding two very strong Audi R8 LMS ultra cars. The #50 Audi shared by Anthony Beltoise and Roland Berville. The sister #51 Audi is driven by Mike Parisy and Heni Hassid.
19 cars will enter the Le Mans opener. The Audi teams will have to fight against a field of six Ferrari 458 GT3s, three Porsche 997 GT3 Rs, a McLaren MP4-12C, a BMW Z4 GT3 and a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3.
GT Tour teams will have two races at the short Bugati circuit. Race 1 will be on Saturday at 18:20, Race 2 will be on Sunday at 14:10. We wish the best of luck to all three Audi teams and their drivers.
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.
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.
Two French Audi Sport customer racing teams recently tested at the Ledenon circuit preparing the upcoming French FFSA GT Tour series.
Sainteloc Racing and Team Speed Car were present at Lédenon with a single Audi R8 LMS ultra each. At Team Speed Car, Matthieu Lécuyer took charge of driving the silver livered Audi. This was the first test for Matthieu Lécuyer with the R8 LMS ultra, he will partner with team's regualt Vincent Abril this season in GT Tour.
At Sainteloc Racing, two drivers tested the Audi R8 LMS ultra, Renaud Derlot and Grégory Guilvert. Sainteloc Racing is expected to field Audi R8 LMS ultra cars in both GT Tour and the Blancpain Endurance Series.
The French GT Tour gets underway at Le Mans (short Bugatti circuit from 26-27 April.
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
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.
Sébastien Loeb Racing Press Release The Sébastien Loeb Racing team will carry out a double programme in GT this season and has now confirmed its first part. The Alsatian team will take part in the FFSA French GT Championship with two Audi R8 LMS ultra. The drivers line-up, to be revealed later on, will be made up so as to battle for victory.
Third place in 2012 with six podiums on its first year of existence, second in 2013 with three wins and two podiums… For the third year in a row, Sébastien Loeb Racing will be on the French GT Championship’s starting line with one aim in mind : trying to climb on to the last step toward the title ! In order to do so, the team co-founded by Sébastien Loeb and Dominique Heintz will rely on the Audi R8 LMS ultra, over fifty times a winner last year ! The team is currently finalising its two tandems. They will consist of leading drivers, with a great experience of the GT and particularly of the French Championship. Sébastien Loeb Racing wishes to create two pairs of drivers able to rival for the win and the national crown.
« In 2013 we fought for the title up to the last race. Our ambition today is obviously to do better.» confides Dominique Heintz, team manager. «Historically, the French Championship is among the hardest GT championships. Therefore we are approaching this programme with humility, all the more as we have to get familiar with our new car. We are convinced that we will have all the pieces of the puzzle in order to shine : a very competitive car and drivers, professionals or gentleman drivers, who absolutely know both the GT and the management of a championship. « We have been enjoying the GT Tour since 2012 and it has not been limited to the competitive aspect. The atmosphere is friendly and that programme is also important for the events projects directed by Loeb Events. We have seen it during the final at the Castellet. It was a great success. » Apart from the French GT Championship, Sébastien Loeb Racing will also take part in the Porsche Carrera Cup France. A second GT programme is currently being finalised, while the team is looking into a possible participation in one or several endurance races with the Audi R8 LMS ultra. Photo credit: Audi Communications - Motorsport Sébastien Loeb Racing
Sébastien Loeb Racing Press Release For its third season in existence, the Sébastien Loeb Racing team will remain in GT racing. As details of the program are being finalised, the team co-founded by Sébastien Loeb and Dominique Heintz has already chosen its weapon. In 2014, the team will race with the Audi R8 LMS ultra. Runners up in the French GT championship and second in the FIA GT Series, Sébastien Loeb Racing had several successes in GT in 2013. The Alsacian team will be looking to continue to fight for wins this year and has decided to rely on a new package. After running the McLaren MP4-12C GT3, and following serious reflection with the technical team during the off season, Sébastien Loeb and Dominique Heintz have opted for the Audi R8 LMS ultra. With 210 victories for the R8 LMS since its debut in 2009, including major endurance races, Audi has shown all the qualities of its GT3. The Audi R8 LMS ultra – it new name since 2012 – claimed no less than 53 wins around the globe in 2013 ! Sébastien Loeb Racing hopes to add to the already impressive track record for the GT developped by the German marque with a multi-faceted program which will be unveiled in the coming weeks. « The choice to enter the Audi R8 LMS ultra is the result of a long thought process, » explains Dominique Heintz, team manager. « First of all, we’d like to thank McLaren for their close collaboration which gave us the chance to claim several victories in 2013. Our discussions with Audi were very positive and we were convinced by the Audi R8 LMS ultra’s qualities. The car has good performance but also great reliability, as shown by its successes in some of the biggest endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Spa and Nürburgring. We were also attracted to the philosophy behind the car, which can suite both a professional and gentleman driver. In addition, Audi Sport runs a reknown customer racing program in all series in which it takes part, not forgetting that they are based closests to our own workshops. That’s a detail that could prove to facilitate our team’s work. We look forward now to the start of this new exciting challenge alongside Audi Sport. » Triple champions in the French Porsche Carrera Cup in 2012, and Gentlemen Drivers champions in 2013, Sébastien Loeb Racing will again take part in this season’s cup. Alongside a GT program that could include several different series, the team is currently evaluating the possibility of racing an LM P2. Photo credit:Audi Communications - Motorsport
The French GT Tour saw a number of Audi R8 LMS and ultra entries during 2013. Saintéloc Racing and Team Speed Car both fielded multiple cars during the season, which was highlighted by a number of Audi race victories.
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:
Round 1: Le Mans - Bugatti
The French GT-Tour got underway at Le Mans this weekend. The series competed on the permanent Bugatti circuit. Four Audi R8 LMS ultra cars (all in 2013 specification) took part, three from Saintéloc and one from Team Speed Car. The cars performed well with a fourth in the first race and seventh in the second race. The top placed Audi in both races was the #42 of David Halliday and Gregory Guilvert.
The French GT-Tour held its second round at Imola, a support event for the ELMS. Four Audi R8 LMS ultra cars took part in what turned out to be a very difficult weekend for the Audi teams. The highest Audi finisher this weekend was the Sainteloc entry who finished ninth during race one, this was the only Audi top ten finish this weekend.
The French GT-Tour was in Belgium, running round three at Spa. It was a weekend to remember for the Team Speed Car squad, as they claimed pole position and a dominant race one victory, with Vincent Abril and Dino Lunardi behind the wheel of the #36 Audi R8 LMS ultra. Only two Audis placed within the top ten during race one. The Team Speed Car squad was in top form again during race two, as they recovered to another podium finish, this time in third place.
The French GT-Tour was at Val de Vienne this weekend, with four Audi R8 LMS ultra cars on the grid. Qualifying saw good results for the Audis, two within the top three for race one, and also a third for the race two grid. During the first race the highest Audi was the #42 Sainteloc car which was battling for third, and ultimately finished fourth, the only Audi inside the top ten. Two Audis entered the top ten during race two, with the #42 as the highest Audi once again, finishing in sixth, ahead of the Team Speed Car Audi in seventh.
French GT Tour headed to Magny-Cours for round five this weekend. Four Audi R8 LMS ultra cars were originally entered for the races, three from Sainteloc and one from Team Speed Car. The majority of the Audis were running in the 2012 specification, to take advantage of the improved performance within the current BoP regulations. A second Audi R8 LMS from Team Speed Car was also present, but it was only intended to take part in the sessions for testing. However, Team Speed Car's #007 Aston Martin blew its engine, thus the team used their second Audi R8 LMS to replace that car. Qualifying yielded a race one pole position for the #42 Sainteloc Audi, leading two Audis within the top ten. Three Audis qualified within the top five for race two. The first race finished with Team Speed Car taking a sensational win, their second victory of the season, leading home three Audis within the top ten. Race two saw Team Speed Car taking victory once again, leading home an Audi 1-2 finish, with Sainteloc finishing second with the #42 car. Three Audis placed within the top ten during race two.
Lédenon played host to the sixth and penultimate French GT-Tour round. Five Audi cars were entered this weekend: Sainteloc entered three Audi R8 LMS ultra cars, along with Team Speed Car entering two cars, one Audi R8 LMS ultra and one older R8 LMS. Sainteloc suffered a hard crash with their lead car during the sessions, resulting that their #42 car was out for the remainder of the weekend. Team Speed Car was the only Audi within the top ten during the first qualifying session, their #36 R8 LMS ultra qualified sixth. Qualifying for race two saw the #82 Sainteloc entry taking third on the grid. The first race concluded with the #36 Team Speed Car Audi R8 LMS ultra finishing in ninth, the only Audi within the top ten. The second race again only saw one Audi within the top, the #36 Audi which finished sixth.
Paul Ricard played host to the French GT Tour finale this weekend. A total of six Audi cars were entered. Sainteloc entered four Audi R8 LMS ultra cars and Team Speed Car entered one R8 LMS ultra and one older R8 LMS. The fourth Sainteloc car was the #43 Audi R8 LMS ultra, a once-off entry which included Stephane Ortelli as one of the drivers. The #009 Team Speed Car R8 LMS was on site, but did not take part. Qualifying for the first race only had one Audi within the top ten, with the #43 Sainteloc car placing tenth. The grid for race two saw two Audis within the top ten, as the #43 and #82 Sainteloc cars qualified ninth and tenth respectively. The first race got underway on Saturday and concluded with Team Speed Car as the highest Audi in fourth with their #36 Audi R8 LMS ultra. Two Audis made it into the top ten, as the #82 Sainteloc car finished eighth. The second and final race was very hard for the Audi teams. Only four cars started the race, as the #42 Sainteloc car did not take part. Only one of the four cars finished the race. The #83 Sainteloc Audi R8 LMS ultra finished twenty-first, whilst all three of the remaining cars retired.
The French FFSA GT Tour headed to Ledenon this weekend, for the penultimate round of the 2013 season. A total of five Audi R8 LMS and ultra cars were on site, coming from Sainteloc Racing and Team Speed Car.
Audi teams dominated last time out at Never-Magny-Cours, pole position for Sainteloc Racing and double race victories for Team Speed Car in both race 1 and race 2. The two Audi Sport customer racing teams were eager to perform well again, however it was a difficult weekend for the Audi R8 LMS ultra.
Race 1
The victorious duo at Nevers Magny-Cours last time out, Dino Lunardi and Vincent Abril, were the best ranked Audi drivers during the first race at Lédenon. Their #36 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Team Speed Car finished in ninth place after an eventful 1-hour race. Their sister car #009 finished twelfth with Pascal Destembert and Jimmy Antunes.
It was a much harder race 1 for Sainteloc Racing. The #83 Audi R8 LMS ultra of Emmaunel Rodrigues and Gilles Lallement finished in sixteenth place, third in the Coupe de France GT class, open for Gentlemen drivers. The #82 Audi R8 LMS ultra of Marc Sourd and Mathieu Jaminet failed to finish. Unfortunately the #42 Audi R8 LMS ultra of David Hallyday and Gregory Guilvert was damaged and did not start the race.
Up ahead it was a 1-2 Ferrari 458 GT3 finish. The #20 car from Sofrev ASP won the race in front of the #27 machine from Sport Garage. Third was the #8 McLaren MP4-12C from Sebastien Loeb Racing. Race 1 results can be seen here.
Race 2 The second race, held on Sunday, was slightly better for Team Speed Car. Dino Lunardi and Vincent Abril battled very well against their rivals from McLaren, Ferrari and Porsche. The two drivers came home in sixth place, driving their #36 Audi R8 LMS ultra. The two drivers finished fourteen seconds behind the race winning McLaren.
The two Sainteloc Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra cars were outside of the top 10. The #83 car of Emmaunel Rodrigues and Gilles Lallement finished in nineteenth place. The sister #82 Audi R8 LMS ultra of Marc Sourd and Mathieu Jaminet again failed to finish. The car retired after only two laps into the race.
The #009 Audi R8 LMS from Team Speed Car, driven by Pascal Destembert and Jimmy Antunes, did not start the race. The same case for the #42 Audi R8 LMS ultra of David Hallyday and Gregory Guilvert, the Sainteloc Racing car was not able to take part in either of the two races.
Race victory went to the #8 McLaren MP4-12C from Sebastien Loeb Racing. Second was the #1 Porsche 997 GT3 R from Pro GT By Almeras, ahead of the sister #2 car. Race 2 results can be seen here.
The GT Tour series will head to Paul Ricard in southern France for the season finale, October the 26th and 27th.
