N24: Rotek Racing takes double victory in 'Ring' 6 Hours assault

Rotek Racing Press Release

Rotek Racing celebrated a double class victory in the ADAC Nürburgring 6 Hours with the increasingly notable Audi TTRS SP4T car and the debuting Audi RS4 SP8 machine at the legendary German track on Sunday (6 April).

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N24: Seven Audi race cars entered for the Nürburgring 24 Hours Qualifying Race

By Johan Laubscher

The ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours Qualifying Race is coming up this weekend. A total of seven Audi race cars are included on the entry list, with five Audi R8 LMS ultra cars.

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Audi RS4 returns to Superstars

By Johan Laubscher

The Audi RS4 has always been a favourite in the Italian Superstars Series. Audi Sport Italia debuted the RS4 in the championship during 2006 and went on to win multiple titles and races. A total of four cars were built and used by Audi Sport Italia. During 2012 the now ageing RS4 race cars were replaced by the brand new Audi RS5, which went on to claim championship victory.

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World’s Fastest Audi RS4 with 1200+ HP is FOR SALE

By Johan Laubscher

Finland is a very special place for Audi fans. The country has produced some of the craziest Audi race cars the world has ever seen, ranging from Super Saloon racers to drag racing monsters.

For Audi cars in Finland the engine of choice has always been the legendary turbocharged Audi five cylinder unit. The glorious engine notes of these engines and the wonderful turbos are well known at Finnish events where Audis are competing.

Among all the monstrous Audis from Finland there is a real gem. A very special Audi RS4 B7 exists which was developed to devour the quarter mile. Built by the 4WD Drag Race Team in co-operation with APR Finland, this RS4 is armed with a very potent five cylinder engine.

The cars story began in 2006 when Tomi Paavola began racing and modifying his red Audi Coupe with the 4WD Drag Race Team. The car was developed and improved during the 2007-2008 seasons. Finally it was decided to move onto a new platform, a new Audi racer. The team acquired an empty Audi RS4 B7 sedan shell and got to work developing the new car. The engine came from the older Coupe and was improved even further. Many months past and the finished product was a masterpiece. The beautiful silver machine was ready to hit the track. 2009 saw the debut of the Audi which comfortably run sub 9 second quarter-mile passes. After 2009 the Audi was temporarily retired as Paavola tried other forms of motorsport.

Fast forward to 2012 and the car is back on the strip, faster and more powerful than ever before. The team are competing in select events during 2012 as they try to find a buyer for the car. They have already achieved a great milestone so far. A new record run was achieved recently during a night time solo run at Parnu, the video is included below. The performance figures of the car are staggering. Approaching 1200+ Hp coupled with over 900 Nm of torque is produced by the five cylinder engine.  

A few months ago QuattroWorld.com published a detailed story about this Audi RS4. It is a great read and also includes all the technical details. It is well worth a look via the link HERE. 

We at the Audi Motorsport Blog were contacted and informed recently that this unique Audi RS4 is still for sale and ready to race in Finland. The APR Finland team have been busy upgrading the car during 2012. The car is ready to race and they would be delighted to find a buyer for their special Audi RS4. 

Price tag is 70 000 euro, delivered, and it includes an introduction to the car on strip in Finland, or with travel cost, at buyer's destination.

Prospective buyers can contact "J" from APR Finland (Mr Jyrki J Repo) at repo@aprfinland.fi

More information:
APR Suomi Finland FB website

APR Suomi Finland FB page

Photo Gallery of the RS4

QuattroWorld.com feature on the RS4

Thanks to 4wd drag race/Heikki Heineken Malinen for the photos.

A selection of videos and photos have been included below:

Videos: 

 

Photos: 

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Video: Mattias Ekström Audi RS4 hotlap in Austria

By Johan Laubscher

Everyone’s favourite Swede, Audi DTM star Mattias Ekström, has a look at the new B8 generation Audi RS4 Avant and takes it for a hot lap around the Red Bull Ring in Austria. The 4.2 normally aspirated V8 revving to over 8000 rpm sounds glorious, enjoy the video: 

Mattias Ekström in the Audi RS4

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Audi Sport Italia RS5 - positive debut at Monza

 By Johan Laubscher

The debut of the Audi RS5 in the Italian Superstars championship has been one that the fans have been waiting to see for a very long time. Two of the new RS5 race cars debuted at the first round of the 2012 Superstars season at Monza and the cars did not disappoint.

The first long awaited photos of the car landed on the internet on the Friday of the race weekend and there was immediately a buzz surrounding the look of the new RS5. Some love it, some hate it, but you have to admit it has an extremely aggressive appearance. Two of the new cars were ready and were driven by Italian Gianni Morbidelli (Audi Sport Italia) and Swede Johan Kristoffersson (Kristoffersson Motorsport). The third RS5 was not ready in time for the Monza event and the third driver Thomas Schöffler (MTM Motorsport) drove one of the older RS4 cars.

The weekend got off to a rocky start in practice with the new cars having quite a few problems. Johan Kristoffersson did show the potential of the car in free practice 2 by setting the third fastest time. Thomas Schöffler had strong showings in the old car an even qualified 11th. Qualifying was a disaster for the RS5s with no Audis in the top 10, both RS5 cars had difficulties.

Johan Kristoffersson #46 RS5 leads Gianni Morbidelli #45 RS5 during race 1

As race day dawned Audi fans feared for a bad day, but these fears were unnecessary. All three Audis stormed into the top 10 in race 1. The Audi front being led by Johan Kristoffersson and a charging Gianni Morbidelli who had started at the back of the grid. Johan held his own in his debut race to finish fifth and Morbidelli finished in seventh. Schöffler was in the top 10 for most of the race but dropped to twelfth in the closing laps.

Race two saw Gianni Morbidelli charging at the front in a battle for the lead. He held second position for the closing phases of the race, but right at the end of the race Gianni Morbidelli lost second place and eventually finished in fifth. However he was clearly one of the fastest cars on the track, backed up by his lap time figures. Both his teammates unfortunately retired from race 2.

The new RS5 has silenced the critics, the car clearly has potential and its 4.2 V8 engine can more than hold its own with the big V8 monsters in the Italian Superstars series. A very strong race debut and Audi fans are looking forward to the next round of the series set for Imola on the 22^nd of April.

Cover photo by Stefano Ciabattoni
All other photos are hosted at Superstars.it

More Information:

Audi Sport Italia FB fans page 

Superstars Series FB page 

Superstars Series website 

Video highlights of race 1

Video highlights of race 2

Gianni Morbidelli #45 RS5 (Audi Sport Italia)

 Johan Kristoffersson #46 RS5 (Kristoffersson Motorsport)

Thomas Schöffler #47 RS4 (MTM Motorsport)

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The Audi RS5 Joins International Superstars Series

By Tarek Ramchani :

After many years racing with the Audi RS4 (based on the B7 generation model), Audi in Italy will enter the 2012 International Superstars Series with the brand new Audi RS5. The old RS4 gave Audi Sport Italia two drivers championship titles with Gianni Morbidelli in 2007 and 2008. It won also the teams title in 2008.

The RS4 was clearly outpaced last year but now Audi is bringing the Audi RS5 to the growing International Superstars Series. The racing car has to be closely related to its road version, so it will have a big V8 producing around 450 bhp. Three new Audi RS5 cars are set to join the 2012 season from three diffrents teams. Italian touring car specialist and two time Superstars Series champion Gianni Morbidelli will be the leading driver with Audi Sport Italia. In 2011 Morbidelli raced with the team during the second half of the season, showing very strong performances with an inferior older car. The program is of course backed by Audi Italia the official Italian dealer. The other two drivers aren't Italians. Johan Kristofferson from Sweden will race for Kristofferson Motorsport (KMS) a Swedish team and Audi long time partner in the STCC. While Thomas Schoeffler from Germany, will race for MTM Motorsport the world famous German Audi tuner.

The 2012 season will be very close more than ever, with no less than 34 cars on the full season competitors list. Audi will face strong competition from world class marks such as the 2011 BMW, AMG Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac, Chevrolet and more. In addition to the top three Audi Italia supported RS5 there will be no less than three old RS4 in hands of the privateer Durango Motorsport team. And of course we hope that the Audi RS5 and the drivers will be among the ones battling for the overall championship title. Gianni Morbidelli is one of the strongest drivers on the grid. With a slower RS4 he was amazingly fast last year, so we except a great 2012 from the Italian ace.

Nine races are scheduled for the 2012 season. Hankook will be the new exclusive tire supplier for this unique touring car series open for big V8 sedans. The Season opener and RS5 debut is set at Monza on April 1st.

For more :

Facebook page of Audi Sport Italia 

International Superstars Series

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Audi Privateer Monsters at the Nordschleife

By Tarek Ramchani

The VLN Langstreckenmeisterschaft Nürburgring or simply VLN, is the German Endurance Series racing exclusively on the legendary Nordschleife. Big entry lists at each round and a great mix between super fast GTs and Touring Cars. Various Audis are there as well, both factory supported teams running the works Audi R8 LMS and the Audi TT RS (quattro GmbH) and also true independents ones who built their own racing cars. Here is a quick look at the different privateer exotic Audi machines from the Green Hell.

Audi RS4 - Goetz Motorsport (SP8T class) :

Audi TTS - Raeder Motorsport (SP3T class) :

Audi TTS - Scuderia Colonia e.V. I ADAC (SP3T class) :

Audi S3 - MSC Adenau e.V.I. (SP3T class) :

Audi TT RS - Brandl Motorsport (SP4T class) :

Audi TT - Team Haakon Schjaerin (SP3T class) :

Audi A4 quattro - Tuning Akademie (AT class) :

Audi TTS - Pro Handycap e.V. Wolfgang Muller (SP4T class) :

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Farewell Audi RS4 quattro Superstars 2006-2011

By Tarek Ramchani

The Audi RS4 from Audi Sport Italia raced in 2011 its last season ever, after a long and successful career in the Italian based Superstars Series, a touring car championship open for big V8 sedans. The car based on the B7 model is the only AWD racer of the field with its quattro, and powered by a 4.2L FSI producing around 420bhp.

Introduced in 2006 replacing the old at that time Audi RS6. Tthe car was immediatly winning, enough to give Audi Sport Italia the teams title. Drivers were  Dindo Capello, Giorgio Sanna and female Tamara Vidali. The following year the team signed touring car ace Gianni Morbidelli. He won in the end the drivers championship title and did the same in 2008 dominating the BMW M5 and Jaguars S-Type. From the 2009 season, the car started to struggle, against new models from BMW and AMG Mercedes-Benz. Worst in 2010, only the drivers skills pushed the car to some good results and few victories, with young Alberto Cola and Audi star Filipe Albuquerque. For 2011, the RS4 was completely outpaced. Gianni Morbidelli who rejoined the team in the second half of the season, was able to push the RS4 to its limits. Some good results come  as at Vallelunga where he narrowly missed the victory in the final race of the season, the last one for the Audi RS4 after 6 long seasons.

For 2012, Audi Sport Italia is set to join the Superstars Series with a brand new Audi RS5, more news on that very soon.

Photo credit : Superstars Series

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