By Johan Laubscher
Two Audi teams were seen testing at Zolder on Thursday, Phoenix Racing and PK Carsport. The big news on the day was the
presence of the car from Phoenix Racing, a 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra (car #5 on the day). It was
revealed this week that Anthony Kumpen and Enzo Ide will be driving for
Phoenix in the Blancpain Endurance Series and the FIA GT Series. Kumpen will
also be diving an older Audi R8 LMS (car #7 on the day) for PK Carsport in the BRCC this year, thus
both cars were testing at Zolder. The Phoenix R8 LMS race-taxi (car #3 on the day) also took part in the test session.
This was not the first publically known test for a new 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra. Hitotsuyama Racing was the first when they tested at Fuji Speedway last weekend. A number of pitlane photos were posted by the team and RacerLink, which can be seen HERE. However, no on-track photos were posted from the Fuji test, thus the photos from the test at Zolder are some of the very first on-track photos available of a new 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra.
The Phoenix Racing car looks beautiful, and these testing photos give us a glimpse into the future, as a number of these new specification cars will be racing all over the world this year. The new car looks very much the same as the previous ultra, but various alterations have been made, you can read more about that HERE.
Exciting times lie ahead as more new Audi
R8 LMS ultra cars are expected to emerge as the 2013 season finally begins to
pick up speed.
