Thursday, July 4, 2013

Super Taikyu: 2004 Le Mans winner Seiji Ara tests Audi R8 LMS ultra at Twin Ring Motegi


By Johan Laubscher 

Nova Engineering took part in a test session at Twin Ring Motegi today. The test forms part of the team's preparation for round three of the Japanese Super Taikyu Endurance Championship. The big news was the addition of 2004 Le Mans winner, Seiji Ara. 

Seiji Ara was part of the three-year Audi Sport Japan Team Goh project at Le Mans, which was highlighted by a Le Mans victory in 2004, when Ara won in an Audi R8 alongside Dindo Capello and Tom Kristensen.

The test at Twin Ring Motegi today included Ara testing the team's 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra. This is by no means Ara's first experience with the R8 LMS. He has once previously raced an Audi R8 LMS, when he competed for WRT at the 2011 Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race, at Sepang in Malaysia. 


The final driver line-up has not yet been confirmed, but it is expected to see this Audi at round three of the Super Taikyu. The last time an Audi competed in this championship was during 2011 when Hitotsuyama Racing fielded a single R8 LMS entry. Nova Engineering has been included on the 2013 Super Taikyu season entry list since the beginning of the year, but this is the first appearance of the team in the series so far during 2013.

The third round of the Super Taikyu will take place at Twin Ring Motegi on the weekend of  20-21 July. 



Photo credit: Twin Ring Motegi on Facebook