Thunderhill 25 Hours: GMG Racing testing Audi R8 LMS at Thunderhill Raceway

By Johan Laubscher

GMG Racing took part in testing with one of their Audi R8 LMS cars at Thunderhill Raceway this week.

GMG Racing has entered two Audi R8 LMS cars for the 2013 25 Hours of Thunderhill, which will take place from 7-8 December.

The #08 Audi R8 LMS of Alex Welch was wheeled out at Thunderhill Raceway for testing yesterday. GMG Racing will be entering their #8 and #14 Audi R8 LMS cars this year. The entry list currently lists the drivers for the #8 as: Alex Welch, James Sofronas, Alexandra Sabados, Drew Regitz and Michael McGrath. No drivers are currently listed for the #14 R8 LMS.

It is interesting to note that the #08 R8 LMS at the test was in the FIA GT3 specification aerodynamic package, which differs from the package required to be used on the Audis in the Pirelli World Challenge during 2012 and 2013. This FIA GT3 specification will be allowed in the Pirelli World Challenge from 2014 onward. 

Three Audi race cars will be lining up on the 25 Hours of Thunderhill grid this year, based on the current entry list. GMG Racing’s pair of R8 LMS cars will be joined by the SP4T VLN Audi TT RS from Rotek Racing, with Robb Holland as the only listed driver so far.

Photo credit: Alex Welch

Thunderhill 25 Hours: Audi count up to three cars as Rotek Racing confirmed with Audi TT RS entry

By Johan Laubscher

The 25 Hours of Thunderhill will be taking place in December. A third Audi entry has been included in the latest update of the provisional entry list.

The first draft of the provisional entry list was revealed on 24 September and that list included two Audi entries. The original two entries were both from GMG Racing, who are entering two Audi R8 LMS cars in the ES class.

At the time Rotek Racing mentioned their intention to compete in the race on their Facebook page, but they were not listed on the entry list as of yet. Rotek Racing has been campaigning an Audi TT RS (VLN SP4T) car in the German VLN Endurance Championship this year, the very same car that was used by 034 Motorsport at the 2012 25 Hours of Thunderhill. The latest update of the provisional entry list was published last night and it now officially includes the Rotek Racing TT RS, also entered in the ES class, thus upping the Audi count to three cars in total.

No driver line-ups have been announced yet, but it is very exciting to see three factory built Audi Sport Customer Racing cars already on the grid. The 2013 25 Hours of Thunderhill is scheduled to take place from 7-8 December.

The provisional entry list can be seen HERE.

Audi teams on the provisional entry list (as of 28/10/2013):

GMG Racing:

#8 Audi R8 LMS - GMG Racing

#14 Audi R8 LMS - GMG Racing

Rotek Racing:

#24 Audi TT RS SP4T - Rotek Racing

Photo credit: 
Roger Mecking

Audi Sport Communication / Media
Rotek Racing

Thunderhill 25 Hours: Two GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS on the provisional entry list

By Johan Laubscher

The last big daylong endurance race of the year has always been the 25 Hours of Thunderhill in North America. Audi R8 LMS entries will be debuting at the event this year.

Last year there was a single Audi on the 25 Hours of Thunderhill grid, the 034 Motorsport Audi TT RS (VLN SP4T). After much build-up the car did not disappoint and was battling for the overall lead during the race. Unfortunately a rare gearbox problem sidelined the Audi last year, whilst it was leading overall.

Looking ahead at the 2013 edition: the provisional entry list with the current registered entrants was released this week. A total of two Audi cars are included thus far. The two cars are Audi R8 LMS vehicles, both entered by GMG Racing in the ES class.

GMG Racing has been campaigning Audi R8 LMS cars in the Pirelli World Challenge during 2012 and 2013. They are currently involved in the GT title fight, as team co-owner and star driver, James Sofronas, is battling for the driver’s title.  

So far three GT3 cars have been entered for Thunderhill, the two Audis and one Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG from Black Swan Racing, also from the Pirelli World Challenge.

Currently no driver line-ups have been included. However, John Watson made an interesting comment during the Blancpain Endurance Series Nürburgring 1000 race broadcast. He mentioned that Bernd Schneider will be taking part in the 25 hour race in North America, behind the wheel of a SLS. This has not yet been confirmed, but it is great news that big names will potentially be taking part and also the addition of GT3 race cars.

Current GT3 entries in the ES class:

#8 Audi R8 LMS - GMG Racing

#14 Audi R8 LMS - GMG Racing

#54 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 - Black Swan Racing

The provisional entry list can be seen HERE.

The 2013 25 Hours of Thunderhill is scheduled to take place from 7-8 December.

Update: Rotek Racing have mentioned on their Facebook page that they will be at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill this year. Rotek Racing has been campaigning an Audi TT RS (VLN SP4T) car in the German VLN Endurance Championship this year, the very same car that was used by 034 Motorsport at the 2012 25 Hours of Thunderhill. Their Audi TT RS entry is expected to appear on the provisional entry list very soon, thus taking the current Audi count up to three cars.

Photo credit:
Roger Mecking 
Audi Sport Communication / Media

Video: Onboard the 034Motorsport TT RS - POV

By Johan Laubscher

The 034 Motorsport TT RS competed in the 2012 Thunderhill 25 Hours this weekend. It was the race debut of the VLN TT RS in North America. The car had great pace and attracted a lot of attention during the weekend.

Here is a very unique onboard video. The camera is mounted on the driver’s helmet and it gives us a point of view (POV) experience of the TT RS with the car arriving, the driver change and then a few laps onboard the car. Enjoy the glorious sound of that five cylinder turbo. 

Photo by: 034Motorsport

Unlucky 034Motorsport Audi TT RS at Thunderhill 25 Hours

By Tarek Ramchani

Thunderhill Raceway in California hosted the 10th edition of the 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance event last weekend. The race marked the debut of the VLN Audi TT RS in North America. It was in the hands of local team, 034Motorsport with some great performances and bad luck as well during the race.

The TT RS is a VLN based model, designed to race in the German Endurance Series run at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. It is a factory built racer from quattro GmbH. 034 Motorsport took charge of entering the Audi in this hard and long endurance challenge. Right from start in the free practice and qualifying sessions, the TT RS proved to very fast and a serious challenger for the overall victory. The team qualified in the top five overall.

On race day things started very well for Audi and the 034Motorsport squad. The car immediately jumped up to third and battled its way into second overall. A spin in during the first hour dropped them back to fifth with a minute deficit to the leader, a gap which was diminished by the first safety car. As the afternoon progressed the TT RS made its way into the overall lead. Quite amazing first time out and against some lighter and more powerful prototypes and GT3 Cup Porsches. However bad luck hit the team whist they were leading. A very rare gearbox issue forced the TT RS to come a halt. This signalled the end of the race and retirement for Audi and 034Motorsport while strongly leading the race.

It was a hard blow for the 034 Motorsport team, but their performance during the week was brilliant. So far it is unknown if we will see more North American races for the TT RS. It is reported that this TT RS will soon be heading back to Germany where it will compete in the 2013 VLN Championship with November Racing.

Photo credit and more information:
034Motorsport website

Follow the 25 Hours of Thunderhill LIVE

By Johan Laubscher

As we head deeper into December the motorsport off-season is becoming apparent, however there is a very popular endurance race this weekend. It is the tenth running of the Thunderhill 25 Hours held in North America.

034 Motorsport have entered the event with an Audi TT RS which is well known for competing in the German VLN series (SP4T class). The team is ready for the race and aiming for overall victory.

The event is North America's longest endurance race and has been described by some as a scaled down version of the legendary Nürburgring 24 Hours. With a huge entry list and an Audi team to support, the race is not to be missed. Bellow we have included all the links you will need to follow the race live, ranging from available live radio, information links and a live onboard video feed directly from the Audi TT RS during the race. 

The event is taking place in California which is nine hours ahead of Central European Time (CET). The race is scheduled to start at 11:00 am local time which is 20:00 pm CET on December 8. The race will finish at 12:00 am on December 9, 21:00 pm CET. 

Live Onboard Video 
Live Onboard Video Link                 (Onboard with the 034 Motorsport TT RS)
Live Onboard Video Link on FB

Live Radio

Live Radio Link

Live Timing 

Live Timing Link

Twitter

034Motorsport on twitter

Thunderhill on twitter

NASA Pro Racing on twitter

Audi Motorsport Blog on twitter

Facebook

034Motorsport on Facebook

25 Hours of Thunderhill on Facebook

NASA Pro Racing on Facebook

Websites

034motorsport official website

Thunderhill 24 Hours official website

Info regarding the Live feeds on the forums

Photos by 034 Motorsport