Flying Lizard Motorsports Press Release
January 5, 2015 - Sonoma, California - After a controversial second place finish at the 2014 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, Flying Lizard Motorsports has announced the driver lineup for their fight for the 2015 endurance event title. The #45 Audi R8 LMS will be driven by Japan's Tomonobu Fujii and Satoshi Hoshino, American Robert Thorne and German Markus Winkelhock.
In the final lap of the 2014 event, the No. 45 Flying Lizard Audi and the Level 5 Motorsports Ferrari were involved in an intense battle for the lead position. Given a 75 second penalty for avoidable contact, the Ferrari dropped to fourth place in the provisional results. Five hours after the Lizards celebrated their class win, the penalty was reversed, naming Level 5 as the winners.
Hungry to reclaim the top step in 2015, the team heads to Daytona International Speedway January 9-11 to participate in the first official test of the season at the Roar Before the 24. Like the rest of the team, Program Manager Darren Law feels the events of 2014 provide even more motivation for the 2015 effort.
No stranger to endurance races, Audi Japan Super GT driver Tomonobu Fujii holds the 2007 Japan Le Mans Challenge LMGT1 title, the 2011 Super Taikyu Endurance Japan Champion title, and a podium at the 2013 Dubai 24 Hours. In his past ten years of experience in Super GT, Fujii picked up 8 wins and 21 podiums. After finishing 3rd and 2nd at the Super GT Sprint Grand Prix in 2010 and 2011, Fuji went on to win the event in 2012. 2015 will mark the 34-year old's first Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.
Also new to the Rolex 24, Satoshi Hoshino brings experience of the Audi R8 LMS GT3 in GT Asia, as well as the 2014 class champion title in the Porsche Carrera Cup Japan. A professional fencer for 30 years, Hoshino is relatively new to racing, but has proven to be a quick study. In the past four race seasons, Hoshino earned 18 wins in a variety of many races around Japan.
Perhaps more hungry than anyone for the win is Markus Winkelhock, the driver who completed those intense final laps in the No. 45 Flying Lizard Audi in the 2014 Rolex 24. In his other run at the event in 2013, Winkelhock was running second in the final lap, close behind the class leader when his car ran out of fuel, resulting in a frustrating 15th place finish.
"We have a renewed energy this year, even bigger than last," said Law. "We're fully confident in the effort we'll put forth for this event. Each of the drivers brings unique expertise to the table, and an event of this scale is undoubtedly a team effort. As a former driver and winner of the 24, my new management roll gives me the unique opportunity to also contribute additional insight that will prove beneficial to our success as a team. With our drivers, crew, and engineers, I feel we have a real advantage. We're excited to finally get back to the track and get testing started."
Tomonobu Fujii
"I am really excited with this announcement. 24 Hours of Daytona has been my big dream. I am really thrilled to be able to work with the world-famous team "Flying Lizard Motorsport". Of course, I know a lot about their history. I would like to thank my team, sponsors and all the fans for giving me such a great chance. I well understand the great career of the team whom I race together, including Hoshino's experiences whom I join together from Japan. I have never been to Daytona International Speedway, but I really can't wait to run on the test days. I know the high performance of Audi R8 LMS in Super GT and I would like to take advantage of it in the endurance race. Thank you for your continuous support."
Satoshi Hoshino
"I am excited, but at the same time feel the big pressure for the great chance to race in 24 Hours of Daytona which has a long tradition. I am a bit concerned with having the least experiences among the four drivers, regardless of my age. But I am confident that I can concentrate on my job with such a great team like Flying Lizard Motorsport. I have been focusing on Porsche Carrera Cup Japan to accumulate my experiences in Japan. I would like to make the best use of these experiences and coincidentally, I already have the experience of Audi R8 LMS GT3 in GT Asia a half year ago. I would like to execute my mission and enjoy the big stage of 24 Hours of Daytona. Thank you for your continuous support."
"I'm very excited for the opportunity to race with Flying Lizard. They carry an extremely high level of professionalism, success, and respect. I have had the pleasure of running the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona once before in 2008, and at the time I was 17 years old and was just looking to finish. Racers Edge brought their A game, trusted me with the car, and we ran a very successful race. Now partnering with Flying Lizard, I think the goal is very clear: we are all searching for the win. I am very happy they have chosen me to help fight for the top honors and look forward to getting to know them next week at the Roar."
Markus Winkelhock
"After a thrilling final lap last year, unfortunately, we only finished second at the end. I am fully motivated to fight for the victory in 2015. I have great teammates and the perfect team behind me to go for my target. I always love it to come and race in Daytona with that special atmosphere."
Flying Lizard is based in Sonoma, California, and has competed in the American Le Mans Series for ten consecutive seasons, from 2004 to 2012 in the GT class and in 2013 in GTC, along with the inaugural season of the TUDOR United Sportscar Championship in the GT Daytona class in 2014. The Lizards have won two ALMS GT team championships (2008 and 2009), one ALMS GTC team championship (2013), and have secured three ALMS GT Drivers' championships (2008, 2009, and 2010). Flying Lizard has also competed in the 24 Heures du Mans from 2005 through 2012, finishing third in 2005, fourth in 2006, sixth in 2008, sixth in 2011, and fourth in 2012. Please visit the team website at www.lizardms.com and the team store at www.flyinglizardstore.com. Follow Flying Lizard Motorsports on twitter, and like us on Facebook for all team updates.
About Audi of America and the Audi R8 LMS
Audi began a new chapter in 2009 with the introduction of the Audi Sport customer racing program. For the first time it was possible for motorsport customers to acquire a race car designed for customer racing events. Since its inception, the success of the R8 LMS has been significant throughout the GT3 racing format worldwide, including victory in the GT class in the 2013 edition of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The Audi R8 LMS shares more than 50% of its parts with the Audi R8 street car including the naturally aspirated V10 5.2 Liter engine, the Audi Space Frame and a variety of other components.
Audi of America, Inc. and its U.S. dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. AUDI AG is among the most successful luxury automotive brands globally. Audi was a top-performing luxury brand in Europe during 2012, and broke all-time company sales records in the U.S. Through 2016, AUDI AG will invest about $17 billion on new products and technologies.
Visit www.audiusa.com or www.audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicle and business issues.
