APR Motorsport Press Release
For the First Time, an Audi R8 Will Race in Canada As Grand-Am Visits Montreal
August 16, 2012 (Opelika, Ala.) -The Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series annual visit to Montreal will finally give Canadian race fans their first chance to see and hear the Audi R8 Grand-Am. It will also give APR Motorsport’s Dr. Jim Norman and Dion von Moltke a chance to finish what they started last week in Watkins Glen.
This weekend’s Montreal 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is the tenth of twelve rounds in the 2012 Rolex Series, and sees the APR Motorsport team enter the weekend with lots of momentum from last weekend’s Continental Tire 200 at Watkins Glen International Speedway. With less than 30 minutes remaining at Watkins Glen, the no. 51 APR Audi R8 Grand-Am was in sixth position – with von Moltke at the wheel after a strong opening stint by Norman – but was sidelined with a mechanical failure.
Site of the Canadian Grand Prix since 1978, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a favorite of most drivers. Featuring several long straightaways, low-speed and technical corners, and surrounded by barriers – including the world-famous Wall of Champions – it will present a challenge for both von Moltke and Norman, as well as the engineering staff of APR Motorsport.
Von Moltke, who previously raced at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in a Daytona Prototype, is looking forward to racing the no. 51 APR Audi R8 Grand-Am in front of the Canadian fans.
“Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal is one of my favorite tracks and it is near the top of the list for almost every driver,” said von Moltke. “Montreal is a very different track than any other track we race on and presents a very difficult challenge to get a good car all the way around the lap. The combination of long, high-speed straightaways, high load on the brakes and quick chicanes make it important to find the right compromise. I know we have some of the best engineers in the paddock and they will give Jim and me a great car for the race. Every race we are getting closer to the leaders and we are working hard to continue that positive streak and keep our development path of our no. 51 APR Audi R8 Grand-Am in the right direction.”
One week after his strongest run yet in the no. 51 APR Audi R8 Grand-Am, Norman is excited to step back into the car at Montreal.
“Montreal is one of my favorite tracks,” said Norman. “The progress that we’ve made with the APR Audi R8 Grand-Am is now becoming apparent and I expect us to have a great run this weekend. The work the APR team of engineers and mechanics have put into the car all year has made the car more competitive and fun to drive. The rest of the GT field is going to have their hands full of a big black and red Audi this weekend!”
Canadian fans will get their first glimpse of the no. 51 APR Audi R8 Grand-Am during two Thursday practice sessions. Qualifying for the Rolex Series GT class will be on Friday at 4:20 PM ET. The Montreal 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is this Saturday, August 18 and will be shown at 7:00 PM ET on SPEED Channel.
ABOUT APR
APR LLC is an automotive engineering firm operating a 36,000 sq. ft. performance campus in Opelika, Ala. APR was founded in 1997 with a corporate philosophy of Integrity, Excellence and Innovation. APR’s sole mission is to provide the highest quality and most highly engineered aftermarket performance parts available for Audi, Volkswagen, SEAT and Skoda vehicles. Learn more at www.goapr.com, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/APRMotorsport, and on twitter (@GoAPR).
