Phoenix Racing Press Release
Only eleven days after its world debut, the new Audi R8 LMS thrilled a trackside audience for the first time. In the VLN Test and Set-up Session on the Nürburgring, Frank Stippler and Markus Winkelhock shared Audi’s test vehicle attended by Phoenix Raxing on Saturday.
The two winners of the Nürburgring 24 Hours drove 424 kilometers and worked out a set-up for the new GT3 sports car for the 25-kilometer track in the Eifel. The model will make its racing debut in the VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring season opener on March 28.
"The first public run on the Nordschleife this weekend was important for our further preparation. We had previously been on the Nürburgring only once and the weather was bad at that time. We’ve now obtained further important findings for optimizing our a set-up", said Romolo Liebchen, the Head of Audi Sport customer racing. "This should provide a good basis for the VLN Endurance Races on March 28 and April 25. With that, we should be among the first manufacturers to test their new models for 2016 in racing conditions. We’re aiming to have developed a fully matured car by the time of the Nürburgring 24 Hours on May 16 and 17 that fits the requirements of the Nordschleife well and will be competitive as soon as possible. In the intervening period there’s still an endurance test on our agenda as well. We’re going to contest further races during the course of the season. The resulting findings will – to the extent this may be necessary – be fed into the customer cars. We’re on the right track."
Photo credit: Audi Communications - Motorsport
