IBER GT: Team Novadriver 2013 season review

By Johan Laubscher

Team Novadriver fielded a two-car team in the 2013 Spanish IBER GT Championship. The team raced well during the year, but they narrowly missed out on defending the Spanish GT crown.

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: Portimão

Team Novadriver competed in the Spanish IBER GT Championship this weekend. Round one of the Spanish GT was run together with round two of the International GT Open at Portimao. The team was fast in the sessions and qualified on the GTS (GT3 class) pole for race one. Novadriver took victory in the GTS class for both the Spanish GT and GT Open in race one, also achieving third place overall. The team unfortunately suffered a difficult race two with a DNF and a twenty-third place finish.

Taken from Weekend Round Up - Audi Motorsport Blog (11-12/05/2013)

Round 2: Jerez

The second round for the Spanish IBER GT Championship at Jerez once again coincided with a round of the International GT Open, this being round four. Team Novadriver entered the event with their two-car Audi R8 LMS ultra team. They competed well during the red-flag affected first race. In the end they finished fifth overall with the #81, second in the GTS and Spanish GT category, whilst their teammates finished in eleventh overall. Race two saw the #80 Audi finishing third overall and second amongst the GTS competitors, but they did take the win within the Spanish GT category. Their teammates in the #81 had a hard race and finished in thirteenth.

Taken from Weekend Round Up - Audi Motorsport Blog (15-16/06/2013)

Round 3: Catalunya

The Spanish IBER GT Championship season concluded at Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona this weekend. Two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars were entered for the IBER GT finale. The IBER GT finale was held alongside the finale of the International GT Open, with both series running together on track.

Both championships are split into two categories: the SGT class for GTE specification vehicles and GTS for GT3 specification vehicles. Three Audi R8 LMS ultra cars were on the grid, of which two were IBER GT entrants.

Team Novadriver had entered both of their Audi R8 LMS ultra cars this weekend. The first car from Team Novadriver was the #81 Audi R8 LMS ultra with drivers Cesar Campanico and GT Open GTS class (GT3) title hopeful, Rafael Hideo Suzuki. This #81 car was entered for both the Spanish IBER GT and GT Open. Team Novadriver was aiming for the Spanish IBER GT title and Suzuki was aiming to become the GT Open GTS champion. Team Novadriver’s second car was the #81 Audi R8 LMS ultra driven by Manuel Gião and Lourenço Da Veiga, who were only entered in the IBER GT. A third Audi was also on the grid, but it was only entered in the GT Open class, the car entered by Belgian Audi Club Team WRT, the #88 Audi R8 LMS ultra of Filipe Albuquerque and Yves Weerts.

Qualifying for race one saw the #81 of Campanico and Suzuki taking seventh on the overall combined grid and second within the combined GTS (GT3) class. Thus they took fourth overall within the IBER GT and pole position in the IBER GT GTS (GT3) class. Their teammates qualified eighteenth on the overall combined grid, taking fifth within the IBER GT GTS (GT3) class.

The first race was held late on Saturday and concluded with the #81 Audi R8 LMS ultra placing fourth within the overall combined results. This was enough to take third overall within IBER GT and second place within the IBER GT GTS class. Their teammates in the #80 Audi finished fifteenth overall in the combined results.

Qualifying for race two saw the #81 Audi in ninth place overall in the combined results. This was a third place starting position within the IBER GT GTS class. Their teammates qualified twenty-third overall.

The second and final race got underway on Sunday. This final race of 2013 saw the #81 Audi R8 LMS ultra of Campanico and Suzuki finishing seventeenth overall, after a huge time handicap penalty during the pitstop. They took fourth within the IBER GT GTS class. Their teammates in the #80 Audi were involved in the start-line crash and they suffered damage while trying to avoid the incident. They ultimately finished further back in twenty-seventh position overall.

The final results unfortunately revealed that Cesar Campanico was not crowned as the 2013 Spanish IBER GT champion. He finished third overall in the standings and second in the GTS points. He missed both the overall and GTS titles by a mere three points. This weekend concluded the 2013 Spanish IBER GT season.

Taken from Weekend Round Up - Audi Motorsport Blog (9-10/11/2013)

Photo credit: Team Novadriver

IBER GT: Cesar Campanico Novadriver Audi narrowly missed Spanish GT title in Barcelona race two

By Johan Laubscher

The Spanish IBER GT Championship season finale concluded with the second and final race at Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona today. Two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars were entered for the IBER GT finale.

The IBER GT finale was held alongside the finale of the International GT Open, with both series running together on track. Both championships are split into two categories: the SGT class for GTE specification vehicles and GTS for GT3 specification vehicles.

Three Audi R8 LMS ultra cars were on the grid, of which two were IBER GT entrants. Team Novadriver had entered both of their Audi R8 LMS ultra cars this weekend. The first car from Team Novadriver was the #81 Audi R8 LMS ultra with drivers Cesar Campanico and GT Open GTS class (GT3) title hopeful, Rafael Hideo Suzuki. This #81 car was entered for both the Spanish IBER GT and GT Open. Team Novadriver was aiming for the Spanish IBER GT title and Suzuki was aiming to become the GT Open GTS champion.

Team Novadriver’s second car was the #81 Audi R8 LMS ultra driven by Manuel Gião and Lourenço Da Veiga, who were only entered in the IBER GT. A third Audi was also on the grid, but it was only entered in the GT Open class, the car entered by Belgian Audi Club Team WRT, the #88 Audi R8 LMS ultra of Filipe Albuquerque and Yves Weerts.

The first race was held late on Saturday and concluded with the #81 Audi R8 LMS ultra placing fourth within the overall combined results. This was enough to take third overall within IBER GT and second place within the IBER GT GTS class. Their teammates in the #80 Audi finished fifteenth overall in the combined results.

Qualifying for race two saw the #81 Audi in ninth place overall in the combined results. This was a third place starting position within the IBER GT GTS class. Their teammates qualified twenty-third overall.

The second and final race got underway on Sunday. This final race of 2013 saw the #81 Audi R8 LMS ultra of Campanico and Suzuki finishing seventeenth overall, after a huge time handicap penalty during the pitstop. They took fourth within the IBER GT GTS class. Their teammates in the #80 Audi were involved in the start-line crash and they suffered damage while trying to avoid the incident. They ultimately finished further back in twenty-seventh position overall.

The final results unfortunately revealed that Cesar Campanico was not crowned as the 2013 Spanish IBER GT champion. He finished third overall in the standings and second in the GTS points. He missed both the overall and GTS titles by a mere three points. This weekend concluded the 2013 Spanish IBER GT season.

Photo credit: Team Novadriver

GT Open: Rafael Suzuki narrowly missed GT Open GTS title with Novadriver Audi in Barcelona race two

By Johan Laubscher

The International GT Open season finale concluded with the second and final race at Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona today. Two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars were entered for the GT Open finale.

The GT Open finale was held alongside the finale of the Spanish IBER GT Championship, with both series running together on track. Both championships are split into two categories: the SGT class for GTE specification vehicles and GTS for GT3 specification vehicles.

Three Audi R8 LMS ultra cars were on the grid, of which two were GT Open entrants. The first car was from Team Novadriver, who had entered their #81 Audi R8 LMS ultra in GT Open with drivers Cesar Campanico and GT Open GTS class (GT3) title hopeful, Rafael Hideo Suzuki. This #81 car was also entered for the Spanish IBER GT. Team Novadriver also entered a second Audi in the event, but this #80 car was only entered in the Spanish IBER GT class. Team Novadriver was aiming for the Spanish IBER GT title and Suzuki was aiming to become the GT Open GTS champion. The second GT Open entered car was entered by Belgian Audi Club Team WRT, the #88 Audi R8 LMS ultra of Filipe Albuquerque and Yves Weerts.

The first race was held late on Saturday and concluded with the #81 Audi R8 LMS ultra finishing fourth overall within the combined standings. They took third place within the GT Open GTS class. The WRT Audi was running at the back of the field, but Albuquerque was able to recover during his stint and the #88 WRT Audi finished in twenty-eighth place.

Qualifying for race two saw the #81 Audi in ninth place overall in the combined results. This was a sixth place starting position within the Open GT GTS class. The #88 WRT Audi qualified eighteenth overall.

The second and final race got underway on Sunday. This final race of 2013 again saw the #81 R8 LMS ultra as the highest placed Audi finisher. Campanico and Suzuki finished seventeenth overall, after a huge time handicap penalty during the pitstop. They finished thirteenth within the GT Open GTS class. Unfortunately Suzuki lost out on the GTS title. The #88 WRT Audi finished further back in twenty-second position overall.

This weekend concluded the 2013 International GT Open season.

Photo credit: Team Novadriver

IBER GT: GT3 class pole and podium for Team Novadriver in Barcelona race one

By Johan Laubscher

The Spanish IBER GT Championship is hosting the season finale at Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona this weekend. Two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars are entered for the IBER GT finale.

The IBER GT finale is being held alongside the finale of the International GT Open, with both series running together on track. Both championships are split into two categories: the SGT class for GTE specification vehicles and GTS for GT3 specification vehicles.

Three Audi R8 LMS ultra cars are on the grid, of which two are IBER GT entrants. Team Novadriver had entered both of their Audi R8 LMS ultra cars this weekend. The first car from Team Novadriver is the #81 Audi R8 LMS ultra with drivers Cesar Campanico and GT Open GTS class (GT3) title hopeful, Rafael Hideo Suzuki. This #81 car is entered for both the Spanish IBER GT and GT Open. Team Novadriver is aiming for the Spanish IBER GT title and Suzuki is aiming to become the GT Open GTS champion.

Team Novadriver’s second car is the #80 Audi R8 LMS ultra driven by Manuel Gião and Lourenço Da Veiga, who are only entered in the IBER GT. A third Audi is also on the grid, but it is only entered in the GT Open class, the car entered by Belgian Audi Club Team WRT, the #88 Audi R8 LMS ultra of Filipe Albuquerque and Yves Weerts.

Qualifying saw the #81 of Campanico and Suzuki taking seventh on the overall combined grid and second within the combined GTS (GT3) class. Thus they took fourth overall within the IBER GT and pole position in the IBER GT GTS (GT3) class. Their teammates qualified eighteenth on the overall combined grid, taking fifth within the IBER GT GTS (GT3) class. 

The first race was held late on Saturday and concluded with the #81 Audi R8 LMS ultra placing fourth within the overall combined results. This was enough to take third overall within IBER GT and second place within the IBER GT GTS class. Their teammates in the #80 Audi finished fifteenth overall in the combined results.

The second and final race is set for tomorrow afternoon.

Photo credit: Team Novadriver

IBER GT: Team Novadriver dominated the GT3 class of race 1 at Portimão

By Johan Laubscher

The Spanish IBER GT Championship got underway at Portimao this weekend. The first round of the Spanish series was held alongside round two of the International GT Open. Team Novadriver entered their two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars at the event.

The Portuguese team were home soil and determined to do well. They showed promise during the practice sessions and performed very well in qualifying. The #81 entry of Cesar Campanico and Carlos Vieira took pole position in the GTS class (GT3 competitors), placing fourth overall as well. The sister #80 R8 LMS ultra driven by Manuel Gião and Lourenço Da Veiga qualified sixth in class, ninth overall.

The first race got underway with a confusing start but the racing was fierce on track. The #81 Audi R8 LMS ultra held its ground very well with a terrific performance. They finished the first race as the winners of the GTS class for both the GT Open and IBER GT, and finished third overall. Their teammates lost time after a spin and they ultimately finished in sixteenth place overall. The results from race one can be seen HERE.

The second race will take place today. The grid will see the two Audis line up close together in eighth and ninth overall. We wish the best of luck to the Portuguese team to repeat the great results achieved yesterday. 

Photo credit and more information:
Team Novadriver on Facebook

Team Novadriver phenomenal 2012 with Audi

By Tarek Ramchani

Team Novadriver had a very successful 2012 season with Audi and their R8 LMS ultra cars. The Portuguese Audi Sport customer racing team was able to clinch four titles with the highlights being the Portuguese GT and Spanish Iber GT titles.

In Portugal, the title went to César Campaniço and Carlos Vieira. In Spanish Iber GT it was Mikko Eskelinen from Finland who gave the team the driver's crown. Team Novadriver also did very well in the FIA GT3 European Championship. A fine fourth place in the final points standings and a race win in Russia. 10 victories out of 34 races, quite remarkable for a truly privateer effort.

For 2013 the team will be back with Audi for the fourth straight year. The big target will be the newly formed FIA GT Series with an R8 LMS ultra. The car will be in hands of the team's star, César Campaniço joined by Carlos Vieira.

Championship titles:
Portugues GT - Cesar Campanico, Carlos Vieira
Spanish Iber GT - Mikko Eskelinen
Iberian Supercars Trophy - Cesar Campanico, Carlos Vieira
Taça de Portugal de Circuitos GT - Cesar Campanico, Carlos Vieira

Team Novadriver has just released a brilliant 15-minute video review featuring their phenomenal 2012 season. All their races are included. Great action on prestigious European tracks and great sound as well from the 5.2L V10 inside the R16 cars. Enjoy.

Photo credit and more information:

Team Novadriver official Facebook

Video: Team Novadriver Audi at Barcelona Spanish GT finale

By Tarek Ramchani

Team Novadriver had an outstanding 2012 season. The Portuguese Audi team was really busy this year, having raced in four different series. They entered their Audi R8 LMS ultra in the Portuguese GT Championship, Iberian Supercars Trophy, Spanish Iber GT series and the FIA GT3 European Championship, all with great results. The team was able to capture both the Portuguese and Spanish GT titles.

Here is a brilliant video featuring Team Novadriver at Circuit Catalunya. Barcelona hosted the sixth and final round of the Spanish Iber GT. The Spanish series raced alongside the very well known International GT Open during the finale. Two Audi R8 LMS ultra were there in the middle of a great quality field of GTS (GT3) cars. The GT Open competitors were in front, however the Novadriver cars were among the strongest of the Spanish GT regulars. Strong performances for the team and the driver's title in the end for Mikko Eskelinen with his #81 Audi.

More information:
Team Novadriver website
Team Novadriver on Facebook

All Novadriver Audi R8 LMS front row at Jarama's Iber GT

By Tarek Ramchani


The Spanish Iber GT is at Jarama near Madrid this weekend for round 2. Team Novadriver is there entering two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars. The Portuguese team is doing great right from the start of the weekend.

Team Novadriver dominated the qualifying session. An all Audi front row for today's race. The team's star Cesar Campaniço with Mikko Eskelinen from Finland in the #81 Audi R8 LMS ultra set the fastest time. The sister #80 R8 LMS ultra had a strong session as well and will start from second place. The #81 car is shared by Manuel Giao and Carlos Vieira.

The second round at Jarama will be a 130 minutes sprint endurance race, the first of the season. The two Audis will have to fight against top quality competitors from Porsche, Lamborghini and AMG Mercedes-Benz. Team Novadriver is having a great start to 2012 in both the Portuguese GT and FIA GT3, and will battle hard to take the overall lead in the Spanish series.

Photo credit: GT Sport

More information:
Spanish Iber GT official website
Team Novadriver official website
Team Novadriver official Facebook

Audi R8 LMS - Team Novadriver

Video: Noisy onboard Novadriver's Audi R8 LMS at Portimao - Pole Position

By Tarek Ramchani

The Spanish Iber GT 2012 season started at Portimao last weekend. Team Novadriver the 2011 series GTS champions raced at home. Team's star César Campaniço pushing the #81 Audi R8 LMS to the limits around the Algarve track.

More Informations:
Team Novadriver official Facebook

A great and noisy video with a stuning pole position in the end. Enjoy.