Blancpain Sprint Series: Christopher Mies and WRT Audi take pole position at Portimao

Blancpain GT Series Press Release

Christopher Mies proved to be quickest in the qualifying session of the Algarve round of the 2015 Blancpain Sprint Series. With his #2 Audi Sport Team WRT R8, the German was almost four tenths quicker than Vincent Abril in the #84 Bentley Team HTP Continental, with Series leader Laurens Vanthoor in the #1 Audi Sport Team WRT car only four hundredths of a second behind the Frenchman.

All through qualifying lap times were cancelled for not respecting track limits. That nearly caused the #88 Reiter Lamborghini - one of the fastest cars in free practice - to drop out of the top-8 going to Q3, but Nick Catsburg just managed to go through. In the decisive part, the Dutchman had to settle for eighth due to problems with the engine.

With five Audi's in the top-8, there was not much room for other cars in Q3. Beside Abril's Bentley and Catsburg's Gallardo only Craig Dolby got his Nissan into the final part, eventually qualifying in sixth.

Just outside the decisive part was the #333 Rinaldi Ferrari and both the Brazilian BMW's. Max Van Splunteren set the fastest time in the Silver Cup with the #83 Bentley Team HTP car, while Marko Asmer took pole in Pro-Am, driving the #71 GT Russian Mercedes.

The Qualifying Race of the fifth round of the Blancpain Sprint Series starts this afternoon, at 14:15 local time.

Christopher Mies (#2 Audi Sport Team WRT Audi): "We had a hard time to get a good time in Q2, but after small adjustments all fell into place for Q3. Now we're on the grid with the Series leader right behind us, and one of the contenders next to us on the front row. This is a very competitive Series, so it will not be easy to keep that first position, but we will certainly try our best."

Photo credit: Blancpain GT Series / W Racing Team

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Blancpain Sprint Series: Six Audi R8 LMS ultras ready for the Portimao round

By Tarek Ramchani

Portimao will play host to the fifth round of the 2015 Blancpain Sprint Series. Following an unlucky Russian round at the Moscow Raceway, the Audi teams will be eager to take victories and big points in the Algarve.

Belgian Audi Club Team WRT will fied a total of the four cars in Portugal. Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns will share the #1 Audi R8 LMS ultra. The two drivers are leading the overall standing with 109 points each. Christopher Mies and Enzo Ide will drive the #2 Audi. Stéphane Richelmi and Stéphane Ortelli will share the #3 R8 LMS ultra. James Nash and Frank Stippler will be behind the wheel of the #4 machine.

Phoenix Racing from Germany is fielding a single Audi. The #6 car will be Niki Mayr-Melnhof and Markus Winkelhock will share the #6 R8 LMS ultra. Last time out in Russia the team performed very well with Markus Winkelhock the only driver behind the wheel.

The ISR Racing Team from the Czech Republic will enter one car at Portimao. The #75 Audi R8 LMS ultra will be driven by Filip Salaquarda and Marco Bonanomi. The two drivers will hunt some strong results in the sprint series after some unlucky rounds this year.

Portimao Entry List

Blancpain Sprint Series action will start on Friday with two practice sessions. the three qualifying sessions and the qualifying race will be held on Saturday. The warm-up and the main race will be held on Sunday.

Photo credit: Blancpain GT Series

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Blancpain Sprint Series: Audi teams at Moscow Raceway - Weekend round-up

By Tarek Ramchani

The Moscow Raceway played host to the fourth round of the 2015 Blancpain Sprint Series last weekend. Three Audi Sport customer racing teams took part in the 2-day action in Russia with some strong performances but also a lot of bad luck too.

Audi Motorsport Blog had detailed coverage of the event. Here is a complete round-up:

Preview: Six Audis for the Moscow Raceway round

Spotter Guide: Moscow Racing Spotter Guide

Practice session report: 1-2 Audi in Moscow Raceway second practice

Qualifying session report: Front row for Phoenix Racing at Moscow Raceway

Qualifying race report: Extremely unlucky qualifying race for Audi teams at Moscow Raceway

Main Race report: Late penalty denies Phoenix Racing from second place in Moscow Raceway main race

Photo credit: Blancpain GT Series

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Blancpain Sprint Series: Late penalty denies Phoenix Racing from second place in Moscow Raceway main race

By Tarek Ramchani

Following an unbelievable unlucky qualifying race earlier today, the Audi teams were able to bounce back in the Blancpain Sprint Series main race at the Moscow Raceway showing great performances. Yet bad luck hit again the Four Rings with Phoenix Racing denied from a strong second following a late penalty.

It all started very well for the Phoenix Racing team with Markus Winkelhock behind the wheel of the #6 Audi R8 LMS ultra. The German driver managed to overtake several cars showing an impressive pace.

At halfway mark, Markus Winkelhock headed to pitlane for the mandatory pit-stop. It was a perfect one by the Phoenix Racing crew members and the #6 Audi rejoined to track in second place behind the leading Bentley. With less than ten minutes left the Phoenix Audi was hit by a drive through penalty for unsafe release. Markus Winkelhock was back on track in sixth place and had a great battle for position five with another Audi, the #1 car of Laurens Vanthoor.

All of the four Belgian Audi Club Team WRT cars made it inside the Top 10. Stéphane Ortelli and Stéphane Richelmi (#3 Audi) were the best drivers within the Belgian Audi squad taking fourth place.

Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns (#1 Audi) who were forced to retire in the qualifying race were fifth . Both drivers managed to bounce back but in the closing stages of the race, Laurens Vanthoor had a spin, dropped from fifth to sixth place and then took back position five following the Phoenix Racing's penalty.

Christopher Mies and Enzo Ide (#2 Audi) were seventh. Frank Stippler and James Nash (#4 Audi) were eighth.

Bad luck hit again the ISR Racing entry. The #75 Audi R8 LMS ultra driven by Marco Bonanomi and Filip Salaquarda did not finish the race and retired after 16 laps.

Photo credit: Blancpain GT Series

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Blancpain Sprint Series: Extremely unlucky qualifying race for Audi teams at Moscow Raceway

By Tarek Ramchani

The Audi teams had a disappointing and frustrating Blancpain Sprint Series qualifying race at the Moscow Raceway. The R8 LMS ultras faced an unbelievable bad luck with contacts, punctures, spins, a stop and go penalty and even a DNF.

Right at the start of the 60-minute race two front running Audis were involved in incidents. Markus Winkelhock who started from the front row with the #6 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Phoenix Racing lost several positions following some contacts. Laurens Vanthoor was unlucky as well behind the wheel of #1 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Belgian Audi Club Team WRT. The Belgian ace had a puncture and the car did not finish the race.

The best Audi entry was the #2 R8 LMS ultra from Belgian Audi Club Team WRT in fifth place. The car driven by Enzo Ide and Christopher Mies. The latter had a great opening stint and proved again to be one of the fastest GT drivers in the field.

Behind there was train of Audi R8 LMS ultras. Stéphane Ortelli and Stéphane Richelmi (#3 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT) were ninth. Markus Winkelhock (#6 Phoenix Racing) was ninth after spinning in the closing stages of the race. James Nash and Frank Stippler (#4 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT) were eleventh. Marco Bonanomi and Filip Salaquarda (#75 ISR Racing) were fourteenth, they served Stop & Go penalty for exceeding the speed limit in pitlane.

Race victory went to the #88 Lamborghini Gallardo from Reiter Engineering. The #333 Ferrari 458 GT3 from Rinaldi Corse was second. Third place went to the #84 Bentley Continental GT3 from HTP Motorsport.

The main race will follow next.

Photo credit: Blancpain GT Series

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Blancpain Sprint Series: Moscow Raceway Spotter Guide

A brilliant and detailed Spotter Guide for Blancpain Sprint Series round four at the Moscow Raceway. A must have to follow today's qualifying and main races.

Photo credit: Blancpain GT Series

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Blancpain Sprint Series: Front row for Phoenix Racing at Moscow Raceway

By Tarek Ramchani

The Audi Sport customer racing entries had a strong Blancpain Sprint Series qualifying at the Moscow Raceway this morning. A front row and a total of the four Audis inside the Top 10. The session has been red flagged in Q3 after an incident involving a McLaren.

Markus Winkelhock and Niki Mayr-Melnhof were the fastest within the Audi squad. They qualified in a strong second place with the #6 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Phoenix Racing. This is the best qualifying result this season so far for the Nurburgring based team. The two drivers were right behind the pole setting Lamborghini Gallardo from Reiter Engineering.

Belgian Audi Club Team WRT qualified well too. Series points leaders Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns were fifth with the #1 Audi. Christopher Mies and Enzo Ide were sixth with the #2 R8 LMS ultra. Stéphane Ortelli and Stéphane Richelmi were ninth with the #3 machine.

ISR Racing narrowly missed the Top 10, Marco Bonanomi and Filip Salaquarda were eleventh fastest with the #75 Audi. Frank Stippler and James Nash were a position behind, twelfth with the #4 R8 LMS ultra from Belgian Audi Club Team WRT.

The qualifying race will follow next, a 60-minute event with a mandatory pit-stop and driver change.

Update by Blancpain GT Series: Markus Winkelhock put the #6 Phoenix Racing Audi on the front row for the first time since Nogaro 2014. This afternoon, Winkelhock will drive both races alone however, since team-mate Niki Mayr-Melnhof had to leave the circuit immediately due to a private family emergency. For the mandatory pit stop no minimum time is set, but no points will be awarded to either the team or the driver for either race.

Photo credit: Blancpain GT Series

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Blancpain Sprint Series: 1-2 Audi in Moscow Raceway second practice

By Tarek Ramchani

A 1-2 Audi in second Blancpain Sprint Series practice session at the Moscow Raceway. Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns were the fastest drivers in the session.

The overall championship leaders set the best time with a 1:37.501 with their #1 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Belgian Audi Club Team WRT.

Their team-mates Christopher Mies and Enzo Ide performed very well too. They were second fastest in the session with the #2 Audi R8 LMS ultra.

Another car from Belgian Audi Club Team WRT made it inside the Top 5. Frank Stippler and James Nash were fifth with the #4 Audi R8 LMS ultra.

The lone Phoenix Racing entry was seventh with drivers Markus Winkelhock and Niki Mayr-Melnhof  sharing the #6 Audi R8 LMS ultra. Marco Bonanomi and Filip Salaquarda were eighth with the #75 Audi R8 LMS ultra from ISR Racing. The #3 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Belgian Audi Club Team WRT was fourteenth with drivers Stéphane Ortelli and Stéphane Richelmi.

The qualifying sessions, the qualifying race and the main race will be held tomorrow.

Photo credit: Blancpain GT Series

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Blancpain Sprint Series: Six Audis for the Moscow Raceway round

By Tarek Ramchani

The Blancpain Sprint Series is moving to Eastren Europe this weekend. The Moscow Raceway will host the fourth round of the 2015 season.

A total of eighteen GT3 race cars will enter the Russian event including six Audi R8 LMS utlras coming from three different teams.

Belgian Audi Club Team WRT will field four Audi R8 LMS ultras. The #1 car will be driven by series points leaders Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns who won four straight races in BSS. The #2 car will be shared by Christopher Mies and Enzo Ide. The #3 Audi will have Stéphane Ortelli and Stéphane Richelmi behind the wheel. The #4 R8 LMS ultra will be driven by Frank Stippler and James Nash.

Phoenix Racing will be in Moscow with a single car effort. Markus Winkelhock and Niki Mayr-Melnhof will be sharing the #6 Audi R8 LMS ultra.

ISR Racing from the Czech Republic will enter the event with one Audi R8 LMS ultra. The #75 car will be driven by Marco Bonanomi and Filip Salaquarda.

Moscow Raceway Entry List

Action at the Moscow Raceway will start on Friday with two practice sessions. The qualifying session, the qualifying race and the main race will be held on Saturday.

Photo credit: Blancpain GT Series

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Blancpain Sprint Series: The Russian round will be held in Moscow Raceway

Blancpain GT Series Press Release

Due to a decision by the Moscow city authorities important construction work at the site of the Moscow university - which is also the site where the street circuit for the Blancpain Sprint Series event was planned - has been advanced by several weeks and is due to start immediately. All preparations for the race have therefore been ordered to stop.
Since the Blancpain Sprint Series event is only a couple of weeks away, it has been impossible for the promoter to get all the authorisations necessary for another location in the city centre.

Therefore, the only alternative remaining to maintain the event on the calendar is to move the 2015 event to Moscow Raceway. The program of the race will be compressed into a two-day event (Friday and Saturday), with a Gala dinner and after-party event to be organised in the city centre afterwards. Korsa Media, who has been the promoter of several high level events at Moscow Raceway, is confident they can attract large crowds thanks to a massive promotion.

More information on the change of venue will be given during the Moscow press conference next Tuesday.

Photo credit: Blancpain GT Series

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Blancpain Sprint Series: Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns dominate Zolder main race

By Tarek Ramchani

Audi aces Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns did it again at Circuit Zolder. The Belgian Audi Club Team WRT drivers dominated the Blancpain Sprint Series main race.

It was a clean victory for Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns behind the wheel of their #1 Audi R8 LMS ultra. Robin Frijns started the race and was able to keep the lead.

Behind Christopher Mies had a great start with the #2 Audi R8 LMS ultra. The German driver was even able to take second place after a great battle with a BMW Z4 GT3 from BMW Team Brazil. Unfortunately Mies was given a drive through penalty for jumping the start.

.@enzoide123 gutted when teammate @MiesChris takes the drive through #blancpaingt pic.twitter.com/AZLV2HqzVd

— Blancpain GT Series (@BlancpainGT) June 7, 2015

Following the mandatory pit stops, Laurens Vanthoor took over the #1 Audi R8 LMS ultra and rejoined as leader of the race. The 2014 Blancpain GT Series champion never been challenged in his stint and took the checkered flag victorious. A fourth straight race win for Vanthoor and Frijns in the Blancpain Sprint Series.

Phoenix Racing took a strong fifth place with their #6 Audi R8 LMS ultra driven by Niki Mayr-Melnhof and Markus Winkelhock. The #3 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Belgian Audi Club Team WRT was seventh with Stéphane Ortelli and Stéphane Richelmi. ISR Racing took a strong eighth place with Marco Bonanomi and Filipe Salaquarda driving the #75 Audi R8 LMS ultra. The second ISR Racing entry was twelfth with Anders Fjordbach and Thomas Fjordbach.

Bad luck hit again the #2 Audi R8 LMS ultra. Enzo Ide who took over from Christopher Mies spun into the gravel trap. Ide was able to rejoin but ended the race in fourteenth place.

The next round in Blancpain Sprint Series will be in Moscow, July 3th-5th.

Photo credit: Blancpain GT Series

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Blancpain Sprint Series: Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns win Zolder qualifying race

By Tarek Ramchani

Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns took a fantastic victory in Blancpain Sprint Series qualifying race at Zolder. A lights-to-checkered win for the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT drivers who started from pole position.

Laurens Vanthoor who started the race behind the wheel of the #1 Audi R8 LMS ultra was able to keep the lead ahead. Behind drama hit two other Audis from Belgian Audi Club Team WRT. The #3 car of Stéphane Ortelli and Stéphane Richelmi had a contact with the sister #4 machine of Frank Stippler and James Nash. Both cars were forced to retire.

The incident at the start from another point of view .#BlancpainGT pic.twitter.com/QQFqso0db9

— Blancpain GT Series (@BlancpainGT) June 6, 2015

The #6 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Phoenix Racing took full advantage of the situation and improved its track position, up to fourth place.

After the mandatory pit-stop, Robin Frijns took over from Laurens Vanthoor behind the wheel of the #1 Audi. The Dutch stayed ahead of the second placed Ferrari 458 Italia and the third placed Bentley Continental GT3.

The Phoenix Racing Audi kepts its fourth place with Niki Mayr-Melnhof who took over the #6 R8 LMS ultra from Markus Winkelhock.

Behind, a great batlle raged for ninth place between two Audis. Christopher Mies (#2 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT) and Filipe Salaquarda (#75 ISR Racing) had a breathtaking fight for position nine. After many laps trying to make the decisive move, Christopher Mies managed to overtake the Czech driver.

At the end of the 60-minute sprint race, Robin Frinjs crossed the finish line victorious. This is the third straigh victory for Vanthoor and Frijns in Blancpain Sprint Series following the double victory at Brands Hatch last time out.

Niki Mayr-Melnhof and Markus Winkelhock gave Phoenix Racing a fantastic fourth place. Christopher Mies and Enzo Ideo took the ninth place. Marco Bonanomi and Filipe Salaquarda were tenth.

The main race will be held tomorrow.

Photo credit: Blancpain GT Series

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Blancpain Sprint Series: Audi's Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns on pole at Zolder

By Tarek Ramchani

Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns took a senstational pole position at Circuit Zolder this morning. The Belgin track is hosting the third round of the 2015 Blancpain Sprint Series.

Behind the wheel of the #1 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Belgian Audi Club Team WRT the two drivers were the fastest in the qualifying session with a best time of 1:28.716. Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frinjs will start from P1 in today 60-minute qualifying race.

Their team-mates at Belgian Audi Club Team WRT, Stéphane Richelmi and Stéphane Ortelli qualified in a strong fourth place with the #3 Audi R8 LMS ultra.

The Phoenix Racing entry was sixth fastest, the #6 Audi R8 LMS ultra is shared by Niki Mayr-Melnhof and Markus Winkelhock.

The #4 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Belgian Audi Club Team WRT made it inside the Top 10 in qualifying. The car is driven by Frank Stippler and James Nash.

More to come.

Photo credit: Blancpain GT Series

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Blancpain Sprint Series: The Audi teams chasing victories at Circuit Zolder

By Tarek Ramchani

Circuit Zolder in Belgium will play host to the third round of the 2015 Blancpain Sprint Series. Following a very successful Brands Hatch round last time out, the Audi teams will be eager to perform well again in the Belgian track.

The Audi Sport customer racing squad will be represented by seven Audi R8 LMS ultra cars coming from the three regular teams.

Belgian Audi Club Team WRT will fied a total of the four cars in their home round of Zolder. Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns who dominated the British round will share the #1 Audi R8 LMS ultra. The two drivers are leading the overall standing with 69 points each. Christopher Mies and Enzo Ide will drive the #2 Audi. Stéphane Richelmi and Stéphane Ortelli will share the #3 R8 LMS ultra. James Nash and Frank Stippler will be behind the wheel of the #4 machine.

The ISR Racing Team from the Czech Republic will have two cars at Zolder. The #74 Audi will be driven by brothers Anders Fjordbach and Thomas Fjordbach. The sister #75 R8 LMS ultra will have Filip Salaquarda and Marco Bonanomi who performed well in the Blancpain Endurance Series race of Silverstone and narrowly missed the podium.

Phoenix Racing from Germany is fielding a single Audi. The #6 car will be Niki Mayr-Melnhof and Markus Winkelhock will share the #6 R8 LMS ultra.

Blancpain Sprint Series action will start on Friday with two practice sessions. the three qualifying sessions and the qualifying race will be held on Saturday. The warm-up and the main race will be held on Sunday.

Photo credit: Blancpain GT Series

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Blancpain Sprint Series: Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns dominated Brands Hatch main race

By Tarek Ramchani

A flag-to-flag victory for Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns at Brands Hatch. The two Audi drivers dominated the Blancpain Sprint Series main race with their #1 R8 LMS ultra.

Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns were simply flying today in the British circuit. The Belgian Audi Club Team WRT aces were the fastest in the 60-minute main race and were only challenged at the start of the race when a BMW Z4 was able to catch the Audi. Double race win in the UK and big points collected following the unlucky season opener at Nogaro.

Phoenix Racing had a solid race too. The Nurburgring based squad took a strong seventh place with their #6 Audi R8 LMS ultra. The German car was shared by Markus Winkelhock and Niki Mayr-Melnhof. Unfortunately the team was given a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits.

Two other Audis made it into the Top 10. The #3 car from Belgian Audi Club Team WRT was eighth with Stéphane Ortelli and Stéphane Richelmi. The #4 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Belgian Audi Club Team WRT was ninth overall with drivers James Nash and Frank Stippler.

The #75 machine from ISR Racing was eleventh with Marco Bonanomi and Filip Salaquarda. Marco Bonanomi lost the tenth place in the closing stages of the race.

Unlucky race for #2 Audi R8 LMS ultra driven by Enzo Ide and Christopher Mies. The two drivers were hit by a Drive Through penalty for jumping the start. The Belgian Audi Club Team WRT drivers ended in fourteenth place. Anders Fjordbach and Thomas Fjordbach were fifteenth behind the wheel of the #74 Audi R8 LMS ultra from ISR Racing.

Photo credit: Belgian Audi Club / Patrick Hecq Photography

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