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

 

VLN: Hard sixth round for Audi R8 LMS ultra teams at the Nürburgring

By Tarek Ramchani

The sixth round of the VLN Endurance Championship turned to be a very disappointing event for the Audi R8 LMS ultra in the upper SP9 class.

Two cars entered the 37. RCM DMV Grenzlandrennen and both cars faced a lot of bad luck and issues.

The #5 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Phoenix Racing finished down in fifty-sixth overall, three laps down to race winners. The car was driven by Marc Basseng, Frank Stippler and Roman Rusinov who qualified in fifth place earlier this morning. Their Audi was hit by technical issues in the very first lap of the race preventing them from battling for race lead and top spots.

The #44 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Twin Busch Motorsport was unlucky as well. The car in the hands of the Busch brothers, Dennis and Marc did not finish the 4-hour event and was forced to retire on lap 14.

Overall race victory went to the #30 Porsche 997 GT3 R from Frikadelli Racing. Second place went to the #20 BMW Z4 GT3 from BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert. The #6 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 from Rowe Racing was third.

VLN round 6 results can be seen here.

Photo credit: VLN Endurance Championship

VLN: Two Audi R8 LMS ultra in VLN round 6 at the Nürburgring

By Tarek Ramchani

The Nürburgring Nordschleife will play host to the sixth round of the VLN Endurance Championship this weekend. Two Audi R8 LMS ultra will compete in the upper SP9 class in the 37. RCM DMV Grenzlandrennen.

Phoenix Racing who won the prestigious Nürburgring 24 Hours is back to VLN after skipping the fifth round due to a clash with the Blancpain Sprint Series. The Erst Moser team will enter a single Audi and will target to achieve a new overall victory. The #5 R8 LMS ultra will be in the hands of team's regulars Frank Stippler and Marc Basseng, the two Audi GT works drivers will be joined by Roman Rusinov.

The second Audi is from Twin Busch Motorsport. Their yellow and blue #44 R8 LMS ultra will be driven by the borthes Dennis and Marc Busch.

The Audi teams will have to fight against strong rivals from BMW, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche teams.

Audi privateer teams will fight for SP4T and SP3T class victories with their Audi TTS and Audi TT RS cars.

Both qualifying and the four-hour race will be held on Saturday.

Photo credit: VLN Endurance Championship

VLN: Frustrating fourth round for the Audi teams at the Nürburgring

By Tarek Ramchani

The legendary Nürburgring Nordscheleife hosted today the fourth round of the VLN Endurance Championship.The Ergebnis Rennen - 45. Adenauer ADAC simfy-Trophy turned to be a frustrating event to the Audi squad.

Five Audi R8 LMS ultra cars have entered the event with some bad luck and mixed results in the end. None of the five Audis made it into the Top 10.

Best ranked Audi ended in twelfth position with a car from Prosperia C. Abt Racing. The #16 R8 LMS ultra was shared by Christopher Mies, Richard Westbrook, Christer Jöns and Marco Seefried.

The #11 R8 LMS ultra from Audi race experience was fourteenth with drivers Marco Werner, Christian Frankenhout and Christian Bollrath. The sister #22 from Audi race experience was twenty-fourth with Audi legend Frank Biela and The Red Bull Stratos legend Felix Baumgartner.

The Twin Busch Motorsport #44 Audi R8 LMS ultra was thirtieth overall with borther Dennis and Marc Busch, they were joined by Christian Mamerow.

Unfortunately, the second entry from Prosperia C. Abt Racing was not classified. The #17 Audi R8 LMS ultra in the hands of Dominik Schwager, Niclas Kentenich , Alexander Müller and Luca Ludwig was forced to retire seven laps into the race.

Overall race win went to the #3 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 from Black Falcon. Second was the #25 BMW Z4 GT2 from BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS. Third place for #30 Porsche 997 GT3 R from  Frikadelli Racing Team. VLN Round 4 results can be seen here.

Today's 4-hour race was the last event before the big Nürburgring 24 Hours. The VLN Endurance Championship will resume July the 5th with the 54. ADAC Reinoldus-Langstreckenrennen.

Photo credit: VLN Endurance Championship

VLN: Møller Bil Motorsport domintated an all Audi TT RS battle at the Nürburgring

By Tarek Ramchani

The Audi teams performed very well in the VLN Endurance Championship season opener. Not only Phoenix Racing took a sensational outright victory with their Audi R8 LMS ultra, the Audi TT RS teams too did great at the Nürburgring.

The SP3T division was an all Audi affair with various customer teams battling each other for class honors.

After a thrilling 4-hour race, The #334 Audi TT RS from the Møller Bil Motorsport took a brilliant class win. The victorious TT RS from Norway was driven by Håkon Schjærin, Atle Gulbrandsen and Kenneth Østvold.

LMS Engineering cars finished in second and third within the class with their #303 and #302 Audi TT RS cars. VLN regulars from Raeder Motorsport finished fourth with their #331 Audi TT RS.

In SP4T class only one car entered the event, the #264 Audi TTS taking home an easy win.

Photo credit: Norbert Kratz

VLN: Phoenix Racing Audi won the season opener at the Nürburgring

By Tarek Ramchani

Perfect day for Phoenix Racing at the Nürburgring. The Audi Sport customer racing team dominated the VLN Endurance Championship season opener.

Earlier this morning Phoenix Racing took a sensational pole position in the first event of the season, the 60. ADAC Westfalenfahrt.

Phoenix Racing battled very hard in the 4-hour endurance event and won against strong GT3 rivals from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. The winning Audi was shared by Frank Stippler, Laurens Vanthoor and Marc Basseng, all of them factory quattro GmbH drivers.

Unfortunately the #44 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Twin Busch Motorsport was forced to retire.

Photo credit: VLN

VLN: Pole position for Phoenix Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra at the Nürburgring

By Tarek Ramchani

The legendary Nürburgring  Nordschleife is playing host to the VLN Endurance Championship season opener today.

It started very well for the Audi squad in the first event at the Green Hell. The #5 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Phoenix Racing took a sensational pole position in the qualifying session held this morning. The car is shared by Audi GT factory drivers trio of Marc Basseng, Frank Stippler and Laurens Vanthoor. Racing at home, Phoenix Racing set the fastest time in the session with an impressive 8:11.400

A second Audi R8 LMS ultra is taking part in the event, the #44 from Twin Bush Motorsport. The car in the hands of the Bush brothers Dennis and Marc qualified thirteenth overall with a best time of 8:17.928

Various Audi cars are entering the 4-hour event today in diffrent classes. The race will start at 12:00, we wish the best of luck to all Audi teams.

Photo credit: Laurens Vanthoor

VLN: Audi teams preparing the 2014 season at the Nürburgring

By Tarek Ramchani

The legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife hosted the traditional VLN test day this weekend. A selection of Audi teams in various classes were on site preparing the 2014 season.

Among the Audi R8 LMS ultra teams there were Audi race experience (TKL Motorsport), Prosperia C.Abt Racing and the Belgian WRT team.

Our friend Julian Schmidt from JS Photography was on site and provided a great photo coverage of the event. You can see JS Photography coverage HERE (Friday) and HERE (Saturday).

The 60. ADAC Westfalenfahrt 4-hour race will kick off the 2014 VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring, March 29th.

Photo credit: JS Photography

VLN: First 2014 test for Twin Busch Motorsport Audi R8 LMS ultra

By Johan Laubscher

Twin Busch Motorsport was out testing at the Nürburgring Nordschleife on Monday.

The team was running their Audi R8 LMS ultra for their first test of 2014, preparing for the 2014 VLN Endurance Series.

The 2014 VLN Endurance Series will be hosting the official test days this weekend, 21-22 March, followed by the opening round on 29 March.

Photo credit: Twin Busch 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]

Video: Møller Bil Motorsport Audi TT RS ready for the 2014 VLN

By Tarek Ramchani

The 2014 season for the VLN Endurance Championship will start next month. The series is exclusively run on the legendary and demanding Nürburgring Nordschleife.The VLN is a successful mix GT, touring and production cars. Various Audi cars are taking part in the events including a selection of Audi TT RS.

Below a nice new video from our friends at Møller Bil Motorsport. The Audi Sport customer racing team from Norway is getting reading for a challenging new year and aiming to fight for class honors.

Photo credit: Norbert Kratz

Q&A: Interview with Christopher Haase - Audi GT factory driver

By Tarek Ramchani

Christopher Haase had a busy and very strong 2013 season, racing for different Audi Sport customer racing teams in different series and endurance events in Europe. From the Blancpain Endurance Series with Phoenix Racing to the ADAC GT Masters with Prosperia C.Abt Racing and appearances in selected endurance events, as well as testing the GTD spec Audi R8 LMS in America.

We were pleased to have an interview with Christopher Haase. A very interesting Q/A about his debut with the Audi brand in GT racing, the 2013 season and his expectations for 2014.

You can follow Christopher Haase on Facebook here and his official website here.

1) Please tell us how it all started for you with Audi in GT racing.

Oh yeah, good story. I try to make it short. :-)

I never did karting in my live but driving a race car was my dream. So I was track marshal in some hill climp races.

I am a member of an automobil club in my home town. I was 18 years old when the organisation team had founded together with flatex a motorsport programm for young people in the ADAC Dacia Logan Cup in 2006. I won my fist race and from that point my carreer has been started. 2007 I directly switched into GT Racing with Lamborghini in ADAC GT Masters. Start of a great championship triple. 2007 champion ADAC GT-Masters, 2008 champion as KTM factory driver in FIA GT4 SL, 2009 champion in FIA GT3 with the Audi R8 LMS of Phoenix Racing. Severall class victories in VLN, victory at the 12h of Sepang Malaysia and a good season in the FIA GT1 World Championship where I have earned a lot of experience in 2010. 2011 I came back to my lovely Audi R8 LMS. I had good results which showed my talent. From this moment I have become member of the Audi family, and I love it :-) .

Since that time we had some great results together (for example the victory 24h of Nürburgring 2012) I enjoy the great team atmosphere. Already now I am looking forward to the next season.....I can´t wait. :-)

2) Back in 2009 you gave the Audi R8 LMS an emotional winning debut in FIA GT3 with Phoenix Racing, tell us more about that title.

Difficult season, but we did it. In GT-Racing you always have to find out your own benefit. And this we did really great. In all races where we could see some chances to use our own advantage to beat our competitors, we used it nearly perfect. And that was the key to win it. If you earn poinst constantly you are going to be the champion in the end.

3) In 2013 you entered two competitive championships, the Blancpain Endurance Series and ADAC GT Masters, tell us more about your season?

I had a lot of fun. :-)

I don´t talk about "balance of performance". You always find someone who is crying. The best thing is to concentrate on yourself. Blancpain Endurance Series is a long distance championship. I drove together with Oliver Jarvis and Harold Primat for Phoenix Racing. We were a great team and we worked great together. Unfortunately we never had a good race and quali luck. But still we earned points and at the 24h of Spa we finished on 4th position. Nothing to be disappointed. Racing at the Blancpain is fun over 6h.

ADAC GT Masters togehter with Prosperia C.Abt Racing and my teammate Rahel Frey. I missed the first two events. So I wasn´t able to fight for the campionship. Rahel and me we worked very good together. We have the same car feeling. The competion at the GT Masters is incredible. For a good position everything has to be perfect. But I love that kind of racing. It makes you just harder and better.

4) Sprint vs Endurance, which style do you prefer in GT racing?

I am a GT racer, I like both. It makes the GT sport unique.

I don´t believe that a Formula One car can run 24h in a row. :-)

5) You have already won prestigious titles and races with Audi, which one was the best for you?

Victory 24h of Nürburgring Nordschleife in 2012.

6) A few years ago you competed with a Reiter Lamborghini Murcielago in the FIA GT1 World Championship. How different were those GT1 cars in comparison to today’s GT3 cars?

Quiet a lot. The GT1 car had more power, less weight, no ABS, no TC, more Setup ajustments. You have to be sensetive by driving but still you have to push on the edge. One mistake and the race is done. In GT3 racing, we have a race ABS, a TC as well as a car which forgives you some little mistakes. Anyway to stay in front in both categories, it is always a challenge because everybody is fighting with the same regulations.

7) You have recently been at Daytona for the TUSC test days. How does the driving experience differ between the FIA GT3 R8 LMS ultra and the IMSA GTD R8 LMS?

First of all I like that kind of racing. In comparison to the Audi R8 LMS ultra the R8 Grand AM Version hasn´t any ABS, TC and much less downforce. Both cars have their own setup. To be honest the racing in the IMSA with the Audi R8 Grand AM remembers me to the FIA GT1 cars. Okay the car has less downforce but you need so much feeling to be quick. One slide then you are off time.

8) Which race track is your favourite?

I have three. Nürburgring Nordschleife, Zandvoort, Spa.

9) What are your targets for the upcoming 2014 season?

Great results and hopefully winning a championship again.

10) What are your dreams for the future within your motor racing career?

If you had ask me this questions 6 years ago I had given you the same answer. My target is to win the 24h of Le Mans! I hope to get the chance to drive an Audi LMP car anytime. Thats my dream. :-)

Photo credit:
Christopher Haase
ADAC GT Masters