Team Audi France ends GT Tour efforts

By Tarek Ramchani

Very sad news from France today. Team Audi France have ended their efforts in the FFSA GT Tour series. The official French Audi dealer team has been racing with the WRT team the last couple of years. Team Audi France entered a single new spec Audi R8 LMS ultra in 2012. It was a very mixed year as bad luck hit the team at various rounds. By the end of the season the French squad improved a lot as the #32 Audi of Stéphane Ortelli and David Hallyday won the finale at Paul Ricard.

Before the WRT years, Audi France supported Team ORECA with their Audi R8 LMS cars between 2009 and 2010. Audi France will really be missed in the paddock and by the fans. However the GT Tour will again have multiple Audi R8 LMS cars on their grid. The cars will come from the privateer teams which include:  Sainteloc Racing, JWS Racing and the new comers from Speed Car.

Photo credit: GT Tour

Team Audi France won GT Tour season finale

By Tarek Ramchani

The Paul Ricard track in southern France hosted the finale of the FFSA GT Tour Series. No less than seven Audi R8 LMS and ultra cars were there, and they did really well this weekend.

Team Audi France, the official national dealer team had a mixed 2012 season in the French series. They were always fast with their #32 Audi R8 LMS ultra shared by Stéphane Ortelli and David Hallyday, yet they had a lot of bad luck in many rounds. At Paul Ricard the team added a second car, the #31 for Audi DTM works driver, Adrien Tambay and rookie Karim Doguet. The team achieved a storming pole position for Race 1, but was only able to finish in fifth place after a chaotic start and a long period behind the safety car.

Things turned out to be a lot better during Race 2 on Sunday. Both Ortelli and Hallyday fought very hard on track, including a fair battle against the sister WRT car of the Belgian Audi Club driven by Laurens Vanthoor. After the mandatory pit stops the #32 Audi was able to improve and pass some of its rivals. In the closing stages the two leading Ferraris made mistakes at the same time, thus allowing Hallyday to take race lead and he later crossed the finish line victorious. The other Audis finished in sixth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth.

2012 was a hard year for Audi in the French GT series, however the finale was a very positive weekend. Team Audi France ended the year off very well after chasing race wins all season long. Credits also go to both Sainteloc Racing and JWS Racing, two privateer efforts who did well this year.

Photo credit: Patrick Hecq / W Racing Team

Video: Two Exceptional Audi R8 LMS videos from Audi France

By Johan Laubscher

Audi France provided a special live broadcast of the French GT Tour races during last weekend. The Facebook page of Audi France had been promoting the broadcast during that week with a special trailer video. The video has beautiful images mixed with an excitement building soundtrack. After the weekend Audi France uploaded another video similar to the trailer, this video being two minutes long continuing with the theme of man and machine. Both videos are well worth watching. The video's slogan is "50 % adrenalin, 50% technology and 100% Audi", enjoy:  

Symbiosis film trailer 

Symbiosis film feature

More information: 

Link to Audi France live broadcast page

Audi France FB page

Video: Exceptional Audi R8 LMS trailer from Audi France

By Johan Laubscher

Audi France will have a special live broadcast of the French GT Tour races this weekend. The Facebook page of Audi France has been promoting this broadcast all week with a special trailer video. The video has beautiful images mixed with an excitement building soundtrack. Even if you are not interested in the Live broadcasts this weekend you still really need to watch this trailer, it is well worth it. Turn up your speakers and enjoy: 

More information: 

Link to Audi France live broadcast page

Audi France FB page

Audi teams seeking strong results at Magny-Cours

By Tarek Ramchani

The French GT Tour is heading to Magny-Cours this weekend for the fourth round of the season. The three regular Audi teams will be there aiming for strong performances and results.

Team Audi France, the official dealer team improved a lot last time out. At Val de Vienne the #32 WRT run Audi R8 LMS ultra got its first podium of the season. The car shared by Stephane Ortelli and David Hallyday will be among the big favorites at Magny-Cours, a track where the Audi R8 LMS has been always strong in the past three years. In the championship points standing both drivers are sixth with 48 points. WRT is doing really well in both the Blancpain Endurance Series and FIA GT1 World Championship, the Belgian squad wants to now win with Audi France in GT Tour.

Sainteloc Racing had an unlucky weekend at Val de Vienne, the cars were fast yet the team was really unlucky in both races. At Magny-Cours Sainteloc Racing will have two Audi R8 LMS ultra in the main "Championnat de France". The #4 car will be in hands of Gregory Guilvert and Paul Lamic, both are seventh in the points standings. The sister #5 car will be driven by Bruno Hernandez and Renaud Derlot who replaces a busy Dino Lunardi who is busy with the ADAC GT Masters in Germany.

JWS Racing will have a single R8 LMS, the #38 of William David and Jean Marc Quintois. The team is introducing a special livery this weekend celebrating July 14th, the French national day.

Sainteloc Racing is fielding a third Audi R8 LMS in the amateurs based "Coupe de France", a gentlemen trophy open for old GT3 spec cars. The #42 car will have Marc Sourd and Patrice Madelaine as drivers, both are second in the series points standing in their category.

Magny-Cours is a very challenging track, the Audi teams will have to fight hard against the dominant Porsche 997 GT3 R, mainly those from Pro GT the defending champions. As per usual the weekend will consist of two 1 hour sprint races which are scheduled on Saturday and on Sunday. We wish the best of luck for all the Audi teams and drivers.

Photo credit: Jean-Baptiste Lasseaux / IG Autorennsport

Third place for Team Audi France in race 1 at Val de Vienne

By Tarek Ramchani

Round 3 of the French GT Tour is at Val de Vienne this weekend. Team Audi France got a fine third place finish in race 1 today. The official French dealer team had an amazing three-way battle for almost the whole race.

David Hallyday had a great start, moving from third to second with this #32 Audi R8 LMS ultra. Very bad luck hit the #5 Audi of Sainteloc Racing who were immediately out of the race. Hallyday put great pressure on the leading Mercedes-Benz SLS, and for many occasions almost took the race lead. Right behind Hallyday the third placed Porsche was catching fast. Later the three leading cars stopped for the mandatory pit stops. The Audi now in hands of Stephane Ortelli was back on track in second behind the Mercedes. Meanwhile the #38 Audi R8 LMS from JWS Racing stopped and had to retire, the car was running in the Gentlemen's Trophy. Still running in second, Ortelli tried to move to first without success. Minutes later the Porsche who run in third was able to pass the two leading cars and took the race lead. Behind the #4 Audi R8 LMS ultra of Gregaroy Guilvert was flying as the fastest on track. Maybe pushing too far, as the Sainteloc Racing driver had an excursion. However he was able to bring the car home in seventh. The race win went to the #2 Porsche GT3 R, seconds ahead of the #17 SLS AMG and the #32 Audi R8 LMS ultra. Stephane Ortelli and David Hallyday got their first podium finish this season, after frustrating races at Ledenon and Dijon. The #42 Audi R8 LMS from Sainteloc Racing finished in twelfth overall, second in the Gentlemen's Trophy.

Overall it was a good race 1 for Audi. Both Team Audi France and Sainteloc Racing have shown strong pace during race 1. All good for race 2 tomorrow as we are hoping for an Audi victory.

Val de Vienne full race 1 results

Photo credit: Jean-Baptiste Lassaux / www.autorennsport.ch

More information:
GT Tour official website

Audi teams aiming high for GT Tour round 3 at Val de Vienne

By Tarek Ramchani

The French GT Tour series is heading to Val de Vienne this weekend for round three. The regular Audi teams will be there aiming to do well after a disappointing weekend at Dijon last time out.

Team Audi France the official dealer team has had an unlucky start to the season so far. Two very frustrating rounds at Ledenon and Dijon. The #32 Audi R8 LMS ultra shared by Stephane Ortelli and David Hallyday has always been fast on track, but has never been able to bring strong results. At Val de Vienne the WRT run car will aim for revenge in the French series. Elsewhere the same team racing as Belgian Audi Club WRT is doing really well in both FIA GT1 World Championship and Blancpain Endurance Series. At Dijon Team Audi France finished in a very disappointing tenth in race 1, while in race 2 they got a fourth place finish. In the overall standing Oretlli and Hallyday are only seventh.

Sainteloc Racing has done better, winning the first race of the season at Ledenon. The privateer Audi team has had a quite positive season so far in the FIA GT3 European Championship. The team has two Audi R8 LMS ultras with strong drivers squad. The #4 car with Grégory Guilvert and Paul Lamic were victorious at Ledenon, both drivers are sixth in the points standings. The sister #5 Audi will have Dino Lunardi and Bruno Hernandez, Lunardi is very fast with the R8 LMS and last year he was the ADAC GT Masters champion.

The three Audi R8 LMS ultra cars will have to fight hard against the dominant Porsche 997 GT3 Rs and also the Ferrari 458s. Porsche cars won three races out of four. Audi will try to challenge the sister German brand for race victories and to take vital points for the overall championship standings.

In addition to the three Audi R8 LMS ultra cars, two additional old spec R8 LMS will run the "Coupe de France". The Gentlemen’s trophy which is exclusively open for amateurs drivers and older generation GT3 race cars. Both Sainteloc Racing and JWS Racing will field a single car each.

The Val de Vienne weekend will have two sprint races of one hour each. Race 1 is set for Saturday afternoon, and race 2 for Sunday. The official GT Tour will provide Live Streaming coverage on the internet. We wish the best of luck to all the Audi teams and drivers.

  
Photo credit: GT Tour

More information:
GT Tour official website

Five Audi R8 LMS assault on French GT Tour

By Tarek Ramchani

The FFSA GT Tour series will start this weekend at the Ledenon circuit. Last year Audi missed out the championship title in the very last round. This year no less than five Audi R8 LMS race cars will enter the French national GT series.

Team Audi France:

As in the last couple of years Team Audi France will lead the Audi squad in GT Tour. Last year a single car was entered with support from the Belgians of WRT, this year it's the same again. A brand new Audi R8 LMS ultra for the team's regular drivers: Stephane Ortelli and David Hallyday. In 2011 the two drivers battled for the championship title until the last round at Paul Ricard. The official Audi France dealer team will be among the big favorites fighting for the series crown.

Sainteloc Racing:

Sainteloc Racing is a truly privateer team that has been racing with Audi since 2010. Last year they entered two cars and this year no less than three Audi R8 LMSs are joining the series from Sainteloc. Two brand new Audi R8 LMS ultra models in the "main" GT Championship. Gregory Guilvert and Lamic and Dino Lunardi and Bruno Hernandez will share the cars. Right before the French series starts, the two R8 LMS ultra also raced at an international level, doing quite well in both FIA GT3 European Championship and Blancpain Endurance

The third car is an older spec R8 LMS, it will enter the "amateur" GT Cup. Madelaine/Sourd will be the drivers. This car will be among the big favorites in the GT Cup division.

JWS Racing:

New comers to the series and to Audi, JWS Racing will enter the GT Cup with their old spec Audi R8 LMS. The car will be shared by William David and Jean-Marc Quintois. The team is young, but they are aiming high in the GT Cup battle.

For 2012, the GT Tour has a seven round calendar, with a visit to Navara in Spain. The series is set to use the same Balance of Performance as used by the FIA GT3 European Championship. We are hoping for  strong performances from the three Audi teams with the Audi R8 LMS ultra is being the strongest GT3 racer at the moment.

More Informations:

GT Tour official website

GT Tour official Facebook