VLN: Perfect lap record - Basseng/Stippler in Audi R8 LMS ultra in third place

Phoenix Racing Press Release

7m 57.474s – with a dream lap Frank Stippler in the Audi R8 LMS ultra has set a new unofficial lap record on the Nordschleife, taking the pole position for round nine of the VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring in the process. Despite a puncture and a penalty Marc Basseng and Frank Stippler clinched third place in the four-hour race, marking the fourth podium finish for Phoenix Racing in this season.

Frank Stippler in the morning’s qualifying session managed a perfect lap. The external conditions were ideal, the Phoenix Audi was superbly set up and ‘Stippi’ caught a relatively clear lap. As a result, the clocks of the electronic time measurement system stopped at 7m 57.474s – a new best mark for the 24.358-kilometre configuration of the legendary Nordschleife in combination with the short version of the Grand Prix circuit. “Everything fit,” said an obviously pleased Frank Stippler.

From the pole position Stippler entered the race with the traditional flying start and was initially able to maintain his position at the front. However, the forward thrust of the R8 LMS ultra of Phoenix Racing based in nearby Meuspath was massively slowed on lap five due to a puncture. A piece of debris that was apparently on track as a result of one of the numerous incidents was identified as the cause. The way back to the pits across the Nordschleife was far and, accordingly, took a long time. Over three minutes were lost due to this puncture. To make things worse, the stewards of the meeting imposed a stop-and-go penalty against the #5 Audi for jumping the start, which cost another more than 40 seconds.

While this frustrated all hopes for victory, the Phoenix squad headed by team boss Ernst Moser, as well as Frank Stippler and Marc Basseng, would not give up. The two ‘ring’ specialists started a bold recovery and subsequently made up ground. In the end the Phoenix Audi crossed the finishing line in third place overall. Basseng/Stippler well deserved the place on the podium.

For Phoenix Racing, the winners of the Nürburgring 24 Hours with the Audi R8 LMS ultra and drivers Christopher Haase, Christian Mamerow, René Rast and Markus Winkelhock, this marked the fourth podium finish – including a victory by Basseng, Stippler and Laurens Vanthoor – in this year’s VLN Endurance Championship. Due to the preparations for the race of the Blancpain Sprint Series in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 01/02 November Phoenix Racing will not participate in the VLN season finale on 25 October.

Photo credit: Phoenix Racing

VLN: Double podium for Audi R8 LMS ultra teams at round 9

By Johan Laubscher 

The penultimate round of the 2014 VLN Endurance Series took place at the Nürburgring on Saturday. A total of fourteen Audi race cars were entered this weekend.

Four Audi R8 LMS ultra cars were fielded by three different teams. The headline news was Audi race experience, run by TKL Motorsport, who entered two star driver line-ups. The first car was #22 with Audi drivers: Markus Winkelhock, Marco Werner and Christopher Haase. The second car was #11 which had an all-Chinese driver crew, including: Franky Cheng, Shaun Thong and Marchy Lee.

Phoenix Racing performed very well this weekend and Frank Stippler claimed pole position with the #5 Audi R8 LMS ultra, setting a blistering time of 7:57.474. The team also displayed fighting spirit during the race and recovered from a puncture and claimed a very well deserved third place overall with Marc Basseng and Frank Stippler.

Audi race experience finished second overall with their #22 Audi R8 LMS ultra, wherein Marco Werner was celebrating his thirtieth anniversary in motorsport, whilst the sister #11 car finished eighteenth overall.

Twin Busch Motorsport finished fourth with their #44 Audi R8 LMS ultra, thus ensuring that Audis filled positions two through four.

The SP3T class saw an Audi 1-2 for LMS Engineering, with their #303 Audi TT RS winning the class, ahead of their teammates in the #302 TT RS.

Møller Bil Motorsport unfortunately suffered a crash during practice on Friday. Atle Gulbrandsen was behind the wheel of the team’s #334 Audi TT RS when the rear brakes locked into Aremberg. The car was not repairable in time for the race, but most fortunately Gulbrandsen was unharmed.

The finale of the VLN season will be taking place at the Nürburgring on 25 October.

Photo credit: Audi Communications - Motorsport

VLN: New customer Audi TT RS arrives at Raeder Motorsport

By Johan Laubscher

A new Audi TT RS has arrived at Raeder Motorsport. The car belongs to one of the German team’s customers.

This specific TT RS has been converted to the 2.0T four cylinder layout, a popular choice for teams running these Audi Sport customer racing built TT RS cars as it allows the car to be entered in the VLN Endurance Series SP3T class.

It has not yet been announced where Raeder Motorsport’s customer team is intending to enter and run the car, but the VLN is a distinct possibility.

Photo credit: Raeder Motorsport

 

Felix Baumgartner to drive Audi R8 at Nürburgring 24 Hours

Audi Press Release

•                                 Austrian extreme athlete starts racing career
•                                 Audi race experience as seasoned campaign team
•                                 Le Mans winners as prominent team-mates

Ingolstadt, March 7, 2014 – Following his stratosphere jump in 2012, extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner is tackling his next big challenge on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring. The Austrian will obtain a racing license and become a race driver with the Audi race experience team on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. 

The Audi race experience makes it possible for Audi’s customers with sporting ambitions to enter racing. But never before has the program, which the Audi driving experience has been running since 2010, had as prominent a driver as this one. “It’s fantastic that we’re cooperating with Felix Baumgartner this year,” says Klaus Demel, the head of the Audi driving experience. “As an extreme athlete, Felix Baumgartner has been thrilling millions of fans around the world with his daring actions that combine ingenuity and exceptional technical demands. Now we’re familiarizing him with our sport, offer him a professional environment with our team, and are very excited about this new, joint challenge.”

As a guest entrant, Baumgartner has been gathering some racing experience in recent years during occasional runs in the one-make cups of the Volkswagen Group. The big difference in the 2014 season: the Audi R8 LMS ultra provides him with a 419 kW (570 hp) ‘pure-bred’ GT3 race car. The 44-year-old is completing an extensive preparation program before competing in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring on June 21/22, 2014. His team-mates are equally prominent: The five-time Le Mans winner Frank Biela (D), the three-time Le Manswinner Marco Werner (D) as well as the GT and sports car pro Pierre Kaffer (D) will be his colleagues in the cockpit.

“This task is totally exciting and I’m looking forward to driving races in an Audi,” says Felix Baumgartner. “During initial tests in the road-going Audi R8 I got to know the Nürburgring, and in the Audi R8 LMS ultra I’ve clocked a few kilometers on various tracks as well. I regard this task as one of the major projects in my life. The environment is perfect, the atmosphere is fantastic, and I feel really well taken care of by the Audi race experience. But it’s also clear that I’m basically starting from scratch because this sport is new for me.”

Former professional rally driver Josef ‘Sepp’ Haider, now the Audi race experience’s sporting director, is one of the instructors of his Austrian compatriot. “Felix is approaching his new task in exactly the manner that is the hallmark of a pro,” says Haider. “He’s eager to learn, has good judgment of the physical conditions, and is totally motivated. All team members have come to respect him in the initial tests. I’m very much looking forward to our joint journey.”

The team will be fielding another R8 LMS ultra in the 24-hour race. The drivers of this car have already been confirmed. Already last year, Dominique Bastien (USA), Rahel Frey (CH) and Christian Bollrath (D) formed a team. Christiaan Frankenhout (NL) will be supporting the Audi race experience as a driver for the first time.

Felix Baumgartner’s 2014 Nürburgring program:
March 21–22 VLN, test and setup runs
April 05–06 Qualification race, Nürburgring 24 Hours
April 26 VLN, 56th ADAC ACAS H&R Cup
May 17 VLN, Adenauer ADAC Simfy-Trophy
June 21–22 Nürburgring 24 Hours

Photo credit: Audi Communication - Motorsport

VLN: Duo of Audi TT RS SP3T cars for LMS Engineering

By Johan Laubscher

LMS Engineering will be fielding two Audi TT RS cars in the VLN Endurance Championship this year.

Their second Audi TT RS has arrived at the LMS Engineering workshop and it will also be converted to the two litre version of the TT RS five cylinder power plant, allowing it to compete in the SP3T class. The new engine debuted with the LMS Engineering team last year, when they won the SP3T class on their debut with the new 2.0 SP3T class TT RS.

Their driver line-up will be announced soon.

LMS Engineering is also busy preparing their primary TT RS for the 12H Italy-Mugello, which will be held from 14-15 March.

The VLN test day will be taking place from 21-22 March and the opening round of the season a week later on 29 March.

Photo credit: 

LMS Engineering

QuattroWorld.com [Roger Mecking]

VLN: Phoenix Racing overall victory and TT RS class victories at the Nürburgring finale

By Johan Laubscher

The 2013 VLN Endurance Championship came to a close at the Nürburgring this weekend. Many Audi teams competed and performed very well with more victories.

A total of nine Audis were entered. The SP9 class (GT3) included three Audi R8 LMS ultra cars. The #44 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Twin Busch Motorsport was back after their victory at the previous round with Marc and Dennis Busch. They were joined by a two-car entry from Phoenix Racing. The #15 Audi R8 LMS ultra was driven by Frank Stippler, Ferdinand Stuck and Johannes Stuck, and their #37 entry by Marc Basseng, Laurens Vanthoor and Christian Mamerow.

Four Audi Sport customer racing / Raeder developed Audi TT RS cars were entered. One of these cars was entered in the SP4T class, the #249 entry with Robb Holland, Ng Charles and 2012 WTCC champion, Rob Huff. The remaining three TT RS cars were all entered in the SP3T class: the #331 from Raeder Motorsport, the #334 from Møller Bil Motorsport and the #290. Two more Audi TTS cars were also entered in SP3T.

Qualifying saw an Audi on pole position. The #37 Audi R8 LMS ultra took pole with Marc Basseng behind the wheel, followed by the #15 Phoenix Audi in third. Twin Busch Motorsport qualified sixteenth with their #44 R8 LMS ultra. Rotek Racing took pole in the SP4T class and Raeder Motorsport took pole in SP3T, with Rotek and Raeder placing seventeenth and eighteenth overall respectively.

The race itself got underway with tricky wet conditions, but it soon began to dry. Phoenix Racing led from the front with the #37 Audi. By the end of the four hours the #37 Phoenix Racing crew brought their Audi across the line for victory at the final 2013 VLN race. They were followed by the #44 Twin Busch Motorsport Audi R8 LMS ultra in fourth place. The #15 Phoenix Racing Audi finished twenty-fifth, after loosing time in the pits, whilst they had been battling up at the front of the race.

The #290 TT RS took the SP3T victory and Rotek Racing was the highest placed SP4T runner, despite retiring from the race.

This VLN round concluded the 2013 VLN Endurance Championship, a season which saw class and overall race victories for the Audi teams. 

Photo credit: 
JS Photography [Julian Schmidt]

Raeder Motorsport

Stuck³

Twin Busch Motorsport

VLN: Huffy takes on The Green Hell with Rotek Racing Audi TT RS

Rob Huff Press Release

Rob Huff is set to make a one-off appearance in the VLN Endurance Championship on the legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife with a Rotek Racing-prepared Audi TTRS Special (Saturday 26 October).

The eighth and final round of the VLN will be run over four hours on the daunting Nurburgring Nordschleife, which stretches for 14 miles through Germany’s Eifel Mountains and has earned a notorious reputation as the world's most demanding race track.

However, Huff – the 2012 FIA World Touring Car Champion – will partner Robb Holland as Rotek Racing attempts to conquer “The Green Hell” using its spectacular and unique TTRS racer.

The Oakley-backed TTRS – a 2.5 litre, front-wheel-driven, ultra-high downforce version of Audi’s TT – has been specifically derived to compete in the VLN and other selected events.

The Huff-Holland driver pairing is gunning for top honours in the SP4T class, which has been dominated by the Rotek Racing Audi in the hands of Holland and Huff’s WTCC counterpart Charles Ng.

“When I was offered the opportunity to race with Robb Holland in such an extraordinary car and at such an extraordinary venue, I was more than delighted to accept,” said Huff. “It’s always a privilege to race on the Nurburgring Nordschleife and, while we’re going for the class victory, winning the race outright could be possible if the region’s unpredictable weather comes into play.

“What’s nice is that Rotek’s Audi TTRS is similar in power to the 2014-spec World Touring Cars, so it will be an interesting comparison ahead of next year’s programme, which I hope to announce after the next round of the WTCC in Shanghai.”

Holland added: “I’m really excited about having Rob Huff alongside me for the VLN. I’ve known him for a couple of years now and have a huge amount of respect for his talent. I’m really looking forward to seeing what he’s capable of in the TTRS, but I have no doubt that he’ll be instantly on the pace and will have a blast driving the car.

“Our main objective is to win our class, although the TTRS has the pace to match the GT3-spec cars in the right conditions. It will come into its own if the circuit’s damp or wet, with its high levels of downforce and front-wheel-drive configuration allowing you to be more aggressive.”

For more information on the VLN Endurance Championship, visit the www.vln.de website.

And for more on Rob Huff's racing activities, please visit the official www.robhuff.com website, 'like' his Facebook page or follow @Huffsport on Twitter.

Photo credit: 
Rotek Racing
RobHuff.com

VLN: Phoenix Racing again with no racing luck at the penultimate VLN round

Phoenix Racing Press Release

Just like two weeks before, fortune again failed to smile on Phoenix Racing at the penultimate round of the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring.

The driver trio of Frank Stippler and the brothers Johannes and Ferdinand Stuck that has scored a previous VLN race win this season in the Audi R8 LMS ultra finished in a disappointing 27^th place overall in the field of 165 vehicles that had started the race. Suspension damage had caused the team to suffer a two-lap gap.

After qualifying was started with a delay due to morning fog and reduced to 60 minutes Frank Stippler in the white-blue TÜV-Rheinland R8, because of long yellow periods, did not find a clear lap on the Nordschleife for setting a top time so that Stippler/Stuck/Stuck had to start the race from an unusual position 19 on the grid.

However, after the start the seasoned Nordschleife campaigner Stippler managed to battle his way forward to fourth place, with a gap of just two seconds separating him from the front runners. “That shows that we were absolutely in contention,” said the former DTM driver. On lap six though his quick drive was stopped by a suspension defect and a lot of time was already lost on the slow drive back to the pits. Despite the swift action by the Phoenix mechanics, following the repair the Audi went back out with a gap of about two laps, the chances of clinching a top position having vanished into thin air. “We’ve got to analyse this damage now,” commented Stippler. “At the season’s finale we’re going to give our best again once more.”

The Stuck brothers were naturally disappointed as well. “We’d have had good chances of winning this race or at least finishing on the podium because our car had superb performance just like the whole team. Now we need to fully concentrate on the last VLN race,” said Ferdinand Stuck. And his brother Johannes added, “Of course, we’re not happy on the whole. But looking at the race from the driver’s perspective and seeing the lap times puts a smile on our lips after all. This minor defect had a major effect and robbed us of all chances. That was really a bitter pill. At the finale we need – and are determined – to do better.”

The last VLN race of the 2013 season will be held on Saturday, 26 October.   

Photo credit: Phoenix Racing

VLN: Victory for Twin Busch Motorsport Audi R8 LMS ultra and LMS Engineering TT RS

By Johan Laubscher

The penultimate VLN round, the ROWE DMV 250-Meilen-Rennen, was held at the Nürburgring. It was a very successful weekend for the Audi Sport customer racing teams.

A total of nine Audis were entered this weekend. This included two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars, one each from Twin Busch Motorsport and Phoenix Racing. Three Audi Sport customer racing developed Audi TT RS cars were entered in the SP3T class: the #1 from LMS Engineering, the #331 from Raeder Motorsport and the #290. Four more Audis were also entered in the SP3T class, which included three TTS cars and one TT.

Twin Busch Motorsport qualified in third position followed by the Phoenix Racing entry in nineteenth. SP3T class pole and twentieth overall went to the #1 TT RS from LMS Engineering.

By the end of the endurance race held on Saturday it was a case of double victory for the Audi Sport customer racing teams. Twin Busch Motorsport took the overall and SP9 victory with their #44 Audi R8 LMS ultra driven by Marc and Dennis Busch. In SP3T it was also an Audi victory, as the #1 Audi TT RS from LMS Engineering, driven by Christian Krognes, Constantin Kletzer and Ullrich Andree, took the class honours.

The finale of the 2013 VLN Endurance Championship will be taking place at the Nürburgring on 26 October.

Photo credit: VLN

VLN: Audi TT RS domination in SP3T and SP4T at round seven

By Johan Laubscher

The seventh meeting of the VLN Endurance Championship was held at the Nürburgring this weekend. A total of seven Audis were entered.

Only one Audi R8 LMS ultra was entered this weekend, the #44 Audi entry from Twin Busch Motorsport in the SP9 class.

An army of six Audi TT cars were also entered. Three TT RS cars were entered in SP3T, joined by one TT and one TTS. One TT RS was entered in SP4T. The Audi Sport customer racing developed TT RS entries included Raeder Motorsport, Møller Bil Motorsport and Rotek Racing.

During qualifying the Twin Busch R8 LMS ultra was the highest place Audi in eighth overall. There was an Audi 1-2-3-4 at the top of the SP3T class. The #331 Raeder Motorsport Audi TT RS took pole in SP3T and the #249 Rotek Racing TT RS took pole in SP4T.

The race concluded with the #44 Twin Busch Audi R8 LMS ultra unfortunately running low on fuel during the final lap, while they were running as high as second. The fuel miscalculation cost the team and they were ultimately classified as a non finisher. SP3T was dominated by the Audi TT RS cars, as the #331 Raeder entry won the class ahead of the #334 Møller Bil TT RS and the #290 TT RS in third. Rotek Racing won the SP4T class.

The eighth VLN event will be held at the Nürburgring on the twelfth of October.

Photo credit: VLN

VLN: Audi TT RS victories in SP4T and SP3T at the Nürburgring

By Johan Laubscher

The German VLN Endurance Championship held its sixth meeting of the season at the Nürburgring today. It was an unlucky race for the R8 LMS ultra competitors, but it was certainly a good day for the Audi TT RS entrants.

Only two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars were entered this weekend, a single entry each from Twin Busch Motorsport and Phoenix Racing.

Twin Busch Motorsport was the highest placed Audi during qualifying, having taken fourth place ahead of the Phoenix car in ninth. The #1 LMS Engineering TT RS claimed eighteenth overall and pole in the SP3T class. Rotek Racing and their #249 TT RS was on pole for the SP4T class, twenty-forth overall.

The Audi TT RS teams stole the show for Audi at the four hour VLN race today. LMS Engineering made it a victorious comeback and debut for their #1 Audi TT RS. They achieved class pole position, class victory and they finished in a very impressive sixth overall. It was also an Audi 1-2-3-4-5-6 in SP3T, as the #334 Møller Bil Motorsport TT RS finished second ahead of the Raeder Motorsport #331 TT RS in third and the #290 TT RS in fourth. Audi TTS race cars also finished fifth and sixth in SP3T. The TT RS clean sweep was completed by the Rotek Racing #249 taking victory in SP4T.

Both Audi R8 LMS ultra entries faced problems today. The #15 Phoenix Audi finished twenty-fifth overall and the Twin Busch Motorsport #44 Audi unfortunately retired after running as high as second.

The next VLN round will be taking place on 28 September. 

Photo credit: LMS Engineering

VLN: Successful rollout for LMS Engineering Audi TT RS

By Johan Laubscher

LMS Engineering conducted a successful rollout at the Nürburgring today. This was the first track test for their #1 Audi TT RS and its two litre five cylinder turbocharged engine.

After overcoming early season setbacks, LMS Engineering completed successful dyno testing this week, followed by a successful rollout. Their SP3T Audi TT RS was seen at the Nürburgring today, where the team tested the car on track for the first time.

LMS Engineering has developed a two litre version of the five cylinder turbo TT RS TFSI engine, allowing it to compete in the SP3T class in the VLN Championship. A few of these Audi Sport customer racing TT RS cars have been converted to run in the SP3T class (two litre turbo) versus the original specification in the SP4T class (two and a half litre turbo). The Raeder Motorsport and Møller Bil Motorsport TT RS cars are current examples of these SP3T versions, which are currently competing in the VLN. The LMS Engineering SP3T version will be the first variant with a five cylinder engine, the other SP3T TT RS examples are based on four cylinder two litre power plants. 

It is great to see the LMS Engineering TT RS progressing well, and the car certainly sounds fantastic in the video embedded below. The team has mentioned their intentions of taking part in the next VLN event, which will be taking place next weekend (14 September).

Photo credit: Mcchip-DKR SoftwarePerformance

VLN: Phoenix Racing with three Audi R8 LMS ultra cars in six-hour race on the Nordschleife

Phoenix Racing Press Release

Phoenix Racing will be competing with three Audi R8 LMS ultra cars in the six-hour-race of the Endurance Championship Nürburgring (VLN) on Saturday (24 August).
“Alongside the traditional 24-hour race this VLN race that lasts six hours is the second highlight of the season on the Nordschleife,” says Phoenix Team Director Ernst Moser.  “We’ve already won two VLN rounds this year but winning this race over the extended distance would be something special. We’re looking forward to this special race very much.”

The driver trio with the ‘Ring’ specialists Frank Stippler (D) and Marc Basseng (D) plus Roman Rusinov (RU), who impressively showed his abilities on the difficult Nordschleife at the 24-hour race in May, has firmly set its sights on the podium. They are driving the white-black #37 Audi R8 LMS ultra of G-Drive Racing by Phoenix. In a G-Drive Racing by Phoenix R8 Frank Stippler and Marcel Fässler (CH) had won the 24-hour ‘dress rehearsal’ at the second VLN round at the end of April.

With the tailwind gained from the victory at the fourth VLN round in June together with Frank Stippler, Ferdinand and Johannes Stuck are contesting the entire VLN season in the white-blue #15 Audi of TÜV Rheinland. The Stuck brothers are supported by Christopher Zoechling (A). The 25-year-old talent is driving for Phoenix for the first time. “Christopher Zoechling convinced us in track tests and we also watched his performances in the Porsche and in the Mercedes on the Nordschleife so that he deserves this opportunity in the R8,” explains Ernst Moser. And Hans-Joachim Stuck (D), who is driving the Phoenix R8 race taxi sporting Red Bull graphics as part of the activities before the VLN race, is ready to actively support his two sons again in the cockpit as a matter of exception.

Taking turns at the wheel of the #5 Audi featuring the white-black Primland graphics will be Christopher Haase (D), Frank Stippler and Harold Primat (CH). At the VLN round in June Haase/Primat, both of whom are driving a Phoenix R8 in the Blancpain Endurance Series with Oliver Jarvis (GB), had achieved a podium position. Ernst Moser: “Harold Primat would like to contest the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in 2014, so this and other VLN races serve as the best possible preparation.”

At this race Phoenix Racing is continuing the development work with the new suspension partner KW. Two R8 cars are equipped with dampers from KW, the third one with the time-tested Bilstein suspension.

Over 210 Teams, including a large number of GT3 sports cars with plenty of horsepower, make for a gigantic field of entrants. After tests on Friday afternoon and the 90-minute qualifying session on Saturday morning, the 6-h race will be started at 12:00.  

Photo credit: Phoenix Racing