IMSA CTSCC: Positive Performance for Kyle Gimple at Road America‏

Kyle Gimple Press Release

The IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge Series staged Round 7 of the championship at Road America on Saturday and it was another positive outing for Kyle Gimple and his Compass360 Racing squad. Since debuting the new No. 75 Advanced Paint Technology/Children’s Tumor Foundation Audi S3 at Sebring International Raceway earlier this year, the team has worked to improve the car and has seen marked progress through the past few races.

Despite minimal practice time during the weekend, Gimple and co-driver Paul Holton drove to a 14th place finish in the race after starting 15th when qualifying was washed out and the grid was set by championship point order. That result is the team’s best finish this year in the Audi machine.

An issue with the car during the first practice and then a long red flag period during the second practice, saw the No. 75 Audi only take six laps around the Road America circuit prior to the drop of the green flag. But even without the full allotment of practice time, Gimple was happy with the set-up on the car and pleased with the improvements the team has made.

“The car was good - much better this weekend than we've had in the past,” said Gimple. “It's a good sign that we're accelerating our development with the car, getting faster each weekend. It's the second weekend in a row we're leaving basically happy with where we finished. We ended up 14th, and a top-15 this weekend is really good. It's the best finish we've had all year in the Audi. We'll go to VIR (Virginia International Raceway), where we've tested before, and just improve from there. I'm expecting by the time we go to Road Atlanta we'll be on the box. We'll see how it goes, it's definitely promising. But there is some stuff we have to work on to get the car to the next level, so we'll try to get it to that point by VIR.”

Gimple will next be in IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge action on August 20 at VIR for the Oak Tree Grand Prix event.

Photo credit: Sideline Sports Photography

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TUSC: Double duty for Compass360 Racing with Audi at Lime Rock

By Tarek Ramchani

The Compass360 Racing team will have a very busy racing weekend at Lime Rock. The Canadian squad will be competing in two different series with two different Audi race cars.

Compass360 Racing will debut with their Audi R8 LMS in the demanding TUDOR United SportsCar Championship at Lime Rock Park. The #76 car will be driven by Ray Mason and Pierre Kleinubing competing in GT Daytona (GTD) class. The two drivers are eager to perform well in the 2h45 endurance event. Compass360 Racing will join another Audi team in the series, Paul Miller Racing.

The Lime Rock TUSC round will feature only GT Daytona and Prototype Challenge classes.

Compass360 Racing will have a presence in the other IMSA run series. Two Audi S3 quattros will compete in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. The #74 Audi will be shared by  Jim McGuire and Nico Rondet. Their team-mates Paul Holton and Kyle Gimple will be behind the wheel of the sister #75 S3.

Last time out in Canada, the Compass360 Racing performed very well in practice and qualifying sessions but had an unlucky race. At Lime Rock the team will try to battle for the top spots in the shortest track of the CTSCC calendar.

Photo credit: Compass360 Racing

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IMSA CTSCC: Kyle Gimple bound for Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

Kyle Gimple Press Release

Kyle Gimple returns to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) this weekend with Compass360 Racing. Though the track isn’t new to Gimple, it is a challenging one and the weekend marks his first driving an Audi S3 at the track.

The CTMP event is the fifth round of IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge competition and the fourth outing for the all-new Compass360 Racing prepared Audi S3.

Last year at CTMP – which is known for its very fast pace – the track proved a strong one for Gimple and his former co-driver Ryan Eversley when the duo drove to a fourth place finish while racing with a Honda Civic. Gimple showed quick speed at the track, qualifying the car third on the grid.

And though quick at the Canadian circuit in the past, arriving to the track with a new car, the No. 75 AERO Advanced Paint Technology/Children’s Tumor Foundation Audi S3, presents a bit of the unknown.

“The team tested at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park a few weeks ago and they found some things that really improved the car with speed,” said Gimple. “So from hearing their feedback, I think we should do well at Mosport (CTMP). We're definitely catching up on the new Audi. So we'll see how it goes. We were decent there in the Honda last year, so we'll just have to see what happens. I’m looking forward to it.”

Gimple and his co-driver Paul Holton will get their first chance to test out the Audi at the 10-turn, 2.459-mile road course on Thursday during a promoter test day.

Official practice begins on Friday with two sessions ahead of a 15-minute qualifying session in the evening. The 2.5-hour race is set to go green at 1:25 PM ET with LIVE coverage on IMSA.com.

Photo credit: Compass360 Racing

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Challenging weekend for North American Audi teams - Watkins Glen and Road America

By Tarek Ramchani

The Audi brand will have a very busy and challenging racing weekend in North America. Audi teams will compete in three different series on two different locations, Watkins Glen and Road America.

The Watkins Glen event will feature two races. The famous 6 Hours of the Glen, one of the stellar events in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

An Audi R8 LMS from Paul Miller Racing will compete in the 6-hour endurance race. The #48 Audi R8 LMS will fight for GT Daytona class victory with drivers Dion von Moltke, Christopher Haase and Bryce Miller.

The Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge will feature two Audi S3 Sedans. The cars will be entered by Compass360 Racing and they will compete in the ST (Street Tuner) class.

The #74 Audi will be shared by Jim McGuire and Nico Rondet. The sister #75 S3 will be driven by Paul Holton and Kyle Gimple.

The other major event for Audi will be held at Road America. The famous Elkhart Lake circuit will play host to no less than three Pirelli World Challenge races this weekend. A total of six Audi R8 LMS ultra cars will take part in the event.

Mike Skeen will be behind the wheel of the #2 R8 LMS ultra from CRP Racing. James Sofronas the GMG Racing team owner will drive the #14 Audi. Both Skeen and Sofronas will compete in the upper GT class.

The lower GTA class will feature four Audis. Drew Regitz will drive the #19 car from Stephen Cameron Racing. Walt Bowlin will race the #23 R8 LMS ultra from M1 Racing LLC. Alex Welch will be behind the wheel of the #76 car from GMG Racing. Jeff Courtney will enter the #99 machine from JCR Motorsports

Photo credit: IMSA / Pirelli World Challenge

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IMSA CTSCC: Kyle Gimple returns to site of first IMSA victory at Watkins Glen

Kyle Gimple Press Release

After an eight week break in IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge action, Kyle Gimple is looking forward to beginning a busy stretch of racing at a place where he has a strong record of success. Watkins Glen begins a span of five races in eight weeks for Gimple and his Compass360 Racing team as he pilots the No. 75 AERO Advanced Paint Technology/Children’s Tumor Foundation Audi S3.

Another good finish at historic Watkins Glen would be just the way to jumpstart the run of races
coming up on the IMSA calendar.

Watkins Glen International is an historic American racing facility that has hosted sports cars, NASCAR, and even Formula 1 events in its storied past. A win at the 3.4-mile, 11-turn circuit is extra
special for drivers and teams alike.

Gimple and Compass360 Racing experienced the joys of victory at the Glen in 2014 when Gimple
and former co-driver Ryan Eversley stormed from 28th on the grid to take victory. The win marked the
pairing’s second podium in a row at the historic track, a streak Gimple and the team would like to
continue for 2015.

“For whatever reason, we always seem to do well at the Glen,” said Gimple, who helped raise money
for NF at the San Jose NF Walk last weekend as part of ‘Team Checkered Flag’. “The win last year
was absolutely awesome. This year is a new venture though with a new co-driver (Paul Holton) and a
new car. We have the Audi S3 this year and we’ve had some good tests with it so we’re looking
forward to seeing what the weekend holds for us.”

The Children’s Tumor Foundation is a cause very close to the hearts of the Gimple family as well as the entire Compass360 Racing team.

Gimple will begin on track action at Watkins Glen on Thursday, June 25 with an afternoon practice session. Practice 2 and qualifying will take place on Friday, June 26.

The 2.5-hour Continental Tire 150 At The Glen race is set to go green on Saturday at 12:25 PM EST.
IMSA.com will stream LIVE coverage of the event.

Photo credit: Compass360 Racing

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IMSA CTSCC: Kyle Gimple ready for Laguna Seca with Compass360 Audi S3

Kyle Gimple Press Release

IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge driver Kyle Gimple won’t have far to travel this weekend for the next race on the calendar as the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca stop is the only one of the year in which the West Coast racer won’t have to travel across the country. Located just five hours Southwest of Gimple’s Minden, Nevada home, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is the third round of the 2015 championship and is a highly anticipated event for drivers, teams and fans alike.

It’s been six weeks since the previous Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge outing at Sebring International Raceway but Gimple and his Compass360 Racing team haven’t taken much time to rest.

The squad completed a test at VIR during the break in race action as the group works to further develop the new No. 75 AERO Advanced Paint Technology/Children’s Tumor Foundation Audi S3 which debuted at Sebring. Unfortunately, contact took the car out of the race prior to Gimple’s stint, so he is more than ready to get back to it this weekend.

Gimple introduced his Audi S3 and brought attention to the Children’s Tumor Foundation, an important cause for Compass360 Racing, in Reno, Nevada last weekend. Gimple signed autographs and visited with customers at the local Audi Reno/Tahoe dealership. He also appeared on KTVN News to discuss his racing endeavors. (WATCH CLIP HERE)

“We had a great time at the Audi dealership in Reno and I think we got a few more sportscar racing fans out of it!” said Gimple, who finished seventh at Laguna Seca last year while driving a Honda Civic with Ryan Eversley. “It feels like a really long time since we were last racing in Sebring so I’m really eager to get going again. We’ve been pretty busy doing media and getting the Audi S3 fine-tuned, I’m ready to get back into race-mode and see what we can do at Laguna. It’s such a beautiful track, I always enjoy racing there.”

The weekend will also see the partnership with Bayliss & Associates that was forged as part of the Audi event last weekend continue on into the Continental Tire event weekend. The Caron City-based Certified Public Accounting firm will have an on site-presence, with some key contacts getting a once-in-a-lifetime experience and behind the scenes access.

Gimple and his Compass360 Racing co-driver Paul Holton will see a quick two-day event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with two practice sessions and qualifying on Friday. The 2.5-hour race is set to go green on Saturday at 1:00 PM PST. IMSA.com will carry LIVE video streaming of the event.

Photo credit: Compass360 Racing

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IMSA CTSCC: Kyle Gimple Introducing his Audi S3 race car‏ at Audi Reno Tahoe

Kyle Gimple Press Release

Reno’s Kyle Gimple is ready to show off a little bit, and he has found the perfect place to do it.

This Saturday, Gimple’s incredible Audi S3 race car, which is prepared by Compass360 Racing to compete in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge championship, will be on display at the Audi Reno/Tahoe dealership. The event is sponsored by Bayliss & Associates, Certified Public Accountants based in Carson City, and will give the public a firsthand look at the Audi S3 racer that made its competition debut in March.

The Audi Reno Tahoe dealership will provide hospitality, coffee and donuts in the morning and will serve lunch in the afternoon for dealership visitors. Bayliss & Associates is adding interest in the visit by offering two (2) three-day passes to the upcoming IMSA race at Laguna Seca (Monterey, California) in a raffle for guests who visit the dealership between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

The Audi S3 racecar, which made its first-ever start at Sebring International Raceway driven by Gimple last month, will be on display. The Audi S3 is an all-new car for IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge competition and features paddle shifters as well as Audi’s renown all-wheel drive system.

The Compass360 Racing team, which fields the Audi S3 for Kyle Gimple, has won championships in IMSA, World Challenge, and Canadian Tire Touring car competition, and will display its transporter at the dealership. The transporter not only travels across the country in order to get the racecar to and from each track, but it also serves as the home away from home for the drivers and crew members, with all the tools needed to support the cars through the race weekend as well as an office for engineering meetings and data evaluation.

Gimple will be on hand to sign autographs and discuss the differences between his Audi S3 race car and the Audi S3 production car as well as any other questions guests may have.

“I’m very excited about having the chance to talk to people from my own home town about this Audi that I get to race for Compass360,” said Gimple. “It is great to have the support that we have from Audi Reno Tahoe and Bayliss & Associates to make this happen. This is a great way to get ramped up for Laguna Seca. The Audi S3 has created a lot of new interest in the series from Audi fans and it will be cool to show them how the race car is similar to the street car that you can buy in the showroom.”

WHO: Kyle Gimple, driver of the No. 75 Audi S3 racecar in IMSA SportsCar Challenge
WHAT: Gimple and his Audi S3 racecar will be visiting the Audi Reno Tahoe dealership where he will sign autographs and answer questions about the Audi S3 and his racing endeavors. The Audi Bike Team will also be on site for the day with several bikes on display.
WHEN: Saturday, April 25, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
WHERE: Audi Reno Tahoe dealership located at 9190 S. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89511

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IMSA CTSCC: Learning curve for Compass360 Racing Audi S3s at Sebring during practice and qualifying

By Johan Laubscher

Compass360 Racing is debuting its two brand new Audi S3 race cars in the ST class of the Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge this weekend. It is round two of the series at Sebring Raceway.

The team's stunning Audi S3s are being driven by the pairings of Jim McGuire and Nico Rondet (#74 Audi), and Paul Holton and Kyle Gimple (#75 Audi).

Proceedings got underway with two practice sessions on Wednesday and qualifying on Thursday. It was a learning curve for the C360R Audi squad. The new cars peaked in the lower half of the top twenty in class during practice and qualifying saw the #75 Audi S3 taking twenty-first on the class grid, followed by their teammates in twenty-ninth.

The 150-minute race will be taking place on Friday afternoon. We wish the best of luck to Compass360 Racing and its drivers.

Photo credit: Motorsport.com

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IMSA CTSCC: Kyle Gimple Ready for Audi Debut at Sebring International Raceway‏

Kyle Gimple Press Release

The IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge stages Round 2 of the 2015 championship at Sebring International Raceway this weekend and Kyle Gimple is eager to get underway. He and his Compass360 Racing co-driver Paul Holton will debut the team’s Audi S3 at the 3.74-mile airport circuit located about 90 miles south of Orlando, Florida.

The move is a significant change for the championship-caliber Compass360 Racing squad, which has long been synonymous with Hondas and victory lane.

Gimple spent two years driving a Honda Civic for Compass360 Racing and enjoyed an outstanding run to the vice championship in 2013 as well as earning poles and more victories with the Civic in 2014. He brought the car home a stout seventh at Daytona to open the season with a solid points start to the year.

While Sebring marks the first competitive outing for Compass360 Racing with the No. 75 AERO Advanced Paint Technology/Children’s Tumor Foundation Audi S3, Gimple will arrive with some familiarity with the machine, having tested the car with the team in two separate tests at Homestead-Miami Speedway as well as in a recent test at Road Atlanta.

“The tests went really well and we learned a lot about what the car likes as far as set-up,” said Gimple, who recently launched an all new website (http://kylegimpleracing.com). “We made big gains on the car and I think we can get even more out of it. The car is really fun to drive. It's a comfortable car to drive, very forgiving and easy to control. It’s an honor to be involved in the development of the Audi so I’m excited to get going at Sebring!”

Compass360 Racing Team Owner Karl Thomson is equally enthusiastic about the potential of the Audi S3.

“This new S3 program gives us the opportunity to forge a strong relationship with Audi, and our long-term plan is to run Audi products in multiple classes in multiple series, including the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge GS class, and the PWC GTS and GT classes,” explained Thomson of the new venture. “So far, the car has performed the way we were hoping and expected it to. This is just the start of the development curve for us, so it is very exciting to be preparing for that first public step to be going racing with the new car this weekend."

Gimple and the Compass360 Racing team are hopeful of a solid outing at Sebring after having performed well at the track in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge’s debut there last year. Gimple and then co-driver Ryan Eversley had strong pace in the race, but a broken axle during Gimple’s stint saw the team fighting back after falling several laps down.

The Sebring event is held as part of the iconic Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring which hosts some of the most passionate sports car fans in the country who are no doubt anticipating the debut of the Audi in Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge action.

Live timing and scoring can be followed throughout the weekend at IMSA.com which will also have a LIVE video broadcast available for the 2.5-hour race set to begin at 1:05 PM ET on Friday, March 20.

Photo credit: Compass360 Racing

  

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IMSA CTSCC: Compass360 Racing testing Audi S3 at Homestead-Miami

By Tarek Ramchani

Compass360 Racing is busy preparing the brand new Audi S3 racer. The Canadian based team was at Homestead-Miami testing their Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge ST class S3.

The team just tweeted about these tests mentioning that the car is improving and progressing well. The Audi S3 will have its racing debut at Sebring International Raceway, round two of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge competing with the Street Tuner class (ST).

We recently had an interview (thanks to our friends at Sunday Group Management) with Compass360 Racing driver Kyle Gimple about the new Audi S3 ST. You can read the interview right here.

Photo credit: Compass360 Racing

  

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Q/A: Interview with Kyle Gimple - Compass360 Racing Audi S3 driver in IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge

By Tarek Ramchani

The Audi brand is about to return to the demanding IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (CTSCC). Canadian team Compass360 Racing will field a pair of Audi S3 cars in the Street Tuner class (ST) starting from round two at Sebring (supporting the TUSC 12-hour race). One of their leading drivers will be Kyle Gimple.

We were pleased to have an interview with Kyle Gimple following recent tests at Homestead-Miami. A very interesting Q/A about the brand new Audi S3 ST and his expectations for the 2015 IMSA Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge season.

You can follow  Kyle Gimple on his official website here on Twitter here and on Instagram here

Special thanks goes to our friends at Sunday Group Management.

What was the biggest thing you learned in the Homestead test?

One of the biggest things we learned would have to be what the car likes when it comes to setting it up.

How was the Homestead test? Any surprises/anything unexpected?

The test went really well. We made really big gains with the car and we feel there is still more we can get out of the car. There wasn't anything unexpected which was good.

The Audi has DSG, what is that like out on the track? Is it a lot easier? What do you think benefits of it will be?

The DSG transmission is pretty easy to use. The benefit with this transmission is that there won't be any turbo lag between shifts which will be nice.

What are your initial thoughts on the Audi S3?

My initial thoughts are that this is a fun car to drive. It's a comfortable car to drive, very forgiving and easy to control. The Quattro system is a big factor with this because having power being put to the ground with four tires really stabilizes the car.

What tracks on the IMSA schedule this year do you think will especially favor the Audi? Why?

It is hard to tell right now but I feel after having two test weekends under our belt that there could be a few tracks that the S3 could have some strong potential like at Laguna Seca, COTA, Road Atlanta, Watkins Glen, and Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. A big factor at these tracks will be the Quattro system. It really helps with tire degradation as opposed to just having the car as a FWD car. But these are just ideas, we won't know for sure until the race weekends come around.

Dd you feel more pressure this year, being the closing driver and helping with the development work on the new Audi?

No I don't really feel more pressure being the closing driver. I more so feel that it is an honor to be helping with the development of our Audi.

How does your approach to each race this year change, now that you're the closing and mentoring driver?

My approach this year at each race doesn't really change. My approach last year was in preparation for this year so my mindset hasn't really changed this season.

Photo credit: Compass360 Racing

  

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IMSA CTSCC: Compass360 Racing completed first Audi S3 test at Miami

By Johan Laubscher

Compass360 Racing (360R) has quietly completed their first test session with one of their two brand new Audi S3 race cars.

During November it was announced that C360R will be developing two Audi S3 sedans for the 2015 IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. They have been hard at work finishing the build of the cars and conducted their first test session last weekend. The team's driver line-up includes Paul Holton and Kyle Gimple (#75 Audi S3) and Jim McGuire and Nico Rondet (#74 Audi S3).

The team chose a Chin Motorsports track day weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway for their roll out test. A total of three Audi race cars were on site last weekend for the track days from 3 to 4 January. ANSA Motorsports also fielded Eric Johnson's two Audi race cars, an Audi A4 DTM (2006 R12 plus) and an Audi R8 LMS.

Compass360 Racing will continue to develop and fine tune the Audi S3 race cars aiming to debut them at Sebring in March, round two of the 2015 IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge season.

More photos can be seen at photosbyjuha.com HERE.

Photo credit: Compass360 Racing

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IMSA CTSCC: McGuire and Rondet join C360R Audi program with Aero

Compass360 Racing Press Release

COLUMBUS, OH — Jim McGuire and Nico Rondet have been signed to drive the one of C360R (Compass360 Racing)’s brand new Audi S3’s for the 2015 IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge season, with AERO Advanced Paint Technology™ becoming a technical partner of the team.
“We are beyond thrilled to welcome AERO to our squad as a technical partner,” said Team Principal Karl Thomson. “Having seen teams in IndyCar, IMSA’s DP and GTLM classes use AERO, we think their technology is simply amazing and look forward to rolling it out across our fleet.”

Initially, AERO products will be used exclusively on new Audi S3 CTSC Street Tuner-class cars the team will campaign in 2015, with AERO being added to new Audis as they come on line over the next few seasons to compete in CTSC Grand Sports and Pirelli World Challenge GTS and TC classes.

McGuire and Rondet will helm the #74 AERO / Racing4Research Audi S3, joining Paul Holton and Kyle Gimple in the sister #75 CTF.org Racing4Research car.

“This is a very strong driver line-up across both cars,” remarked C360R Technical Director Ray Lee. “We always planned to bring our ‘A’ game to the development of the new Audi, and the arrival of Jim and Nico gives us two good cars for 2015.”

McGuire, CEO & Founder of entrotech, the parent of AERO. Rondet is the Chief Instructor at Simraceway at Sonoma Raceway, which hosts the Audi Driving Experience School featuring a variety of Audi cars including the R8, S- and RS-models.

“We’ve known Nico for many years, and he actually did a one-off race with us back in 2009,” explained Thomson. “It’s taken us a while, but Ray and I are really excited to finally have him with us full time with Jim.”

Testing of the new Audis is progressing well, and the team expects to debut the two cars at Sebring in March. The squad will use its trusted Honda Civic Si platform for the Daytona race, January 21-22, as the track has proven to suit those cars well and will allow additional time to fine-tune the Audis in preparation for the challenging mid-Florida track at Sebring.

Photo credit: Compass360 Racing

  

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IMSA CTSCC: Compass360 Racing Audi S3 build progressing well

By Johan Laubscher

Compass360 Racing (C360R) is hard at work preparing for the 2015 IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. At the beginning of November it was announced that the team would be adding two new Audi S3 sedan race cars to its line-up next year.

They are currently continuing with the build of the two cars. Their first S3 completed its first dyno tuning session on Monday and the team reported that they were very happy with the results.

So far the driver line-up remains unchanged with Kyle Gimple and Paul Holton chosen for the #75 Audi S3 and the line-up for the #74 S3 yet to be announced.

It is very exciting to see the progress of the C360R Audi S3 project. These beautiful cars will be an excellent addition to the IMSA CTSCC grid next year.

Photo credit: Compass360 Racing

  

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IMSA CTSCC: Compass360 Racing launches new Street Tuner program with Audi

Compass360 Racing Press Release

LAS VEGAS, NV — Long-time IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge competitor Compass360 Racing (C360R) today released details of its 2015 sportscar program, which will see the team debuting a Street Tuner-class effort with the recently-launched Audi S3.

“We’re really excited to finally announce this new program,” enthused Team Principal Karl Thomson. “It’s something (Technical Director) Ray Lee and I have been working on since March of last year, when I first sat down with the Audi folks at Sebring.”

The new Audi will bring some new technology to the Continental Tire paddock, with the arrival of both Quattro all-wheel-drive and the DSG S-tronic transmission. “We’ve been looking at bringing technology that is now becoming commonplace on street cars to this series, and the new S3 is a perfect example of a car we feel fits the Street Tuner class well,” remarked CTSCC Senior Technical Manager Jeff Mishtawy.

The team took delivery of two of the first S3’s shipped to North America and is already well into their development. “We expect to be on-track in December with the new cars,” noted Lee. “There’s a lot to learn whenever you develop a new platform, but our success with the GS Subaru last season gives us a lot of confidence with an all-wheel-drive platform like the Audi.”

“We may choose to run the Hondas at Daytona, and debut the S3’s at Sebring, depending upon how early testing goes,” he continued, “as we know the Civics are strong on the high-banks.”

The new Audis will run alongside the single No. 76 Grand Sports-class Subaru WRX STi piloted by returning duo Ray Mason and Pierre Kleinubing, while the squad’s existing Honda Civic Si’s will continue to run in the Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car series. “We’re still a committed member of the Honda camp for 2015,” said Thomson. “but we feel the S3 gives us the opportunity to forge a strong relationship with Audi, and our long-term plan is to run Audi products in multiple classes in multiple series, including CTSCC GS, PWC GTS and GT.”

“It’s exciting to see this program start to come together, and we’re thrilled to add a championship-winning team like Compass360 Racing to the Audi family,” explained Tristan Herbert, Manager of Audi Motorsport and Customer Racing. “Their vision of how they’ll expand their program utilizing our brand is inspiring."

Kyle Gimple will return for his third season with the team as closing driver in the No. 75 Audi S3. “After two full seasons as the first driver in a Honda, Kyle is ready to take the next step in his career and close in an Audi,” noted Lee. “He finished out 2014 in fine style, winning three races, and putting his car on pole at Road Atlanta. Plus, he closed the show at Lime Rock, finishing second in one of our GS Subarus."

Gimple will be joined by CTSCC Rookie Paul Holton, who is moving over after a solid season in Pirelli World Challenge, winning at Road America and finishing 4th in the final standings. “Paul impressed us in his TCB debut season, and he’s the latest shoe to join our driver development program,” explained Thomson. “Like Kyle, we plan to have Paul progress through our ranks to become a paid pro. 2015 marks the first year of that program.”

The driver line-up for the No. 74 Audi is expected to be finalized in the next month.

“We’ve been with Honda since 2006, and we’re extremely proud of the incredible success we’ve had together,” remarked Thomson. “We’ve won three CTSCC Manufacturer titles together, and four consecutively in World Challenge. That’s a big deal and even as we move into the next chapter of our race team, we’re grateful for the support they’ve given us over the years.”

Photo credit: Compass360 Racing

  

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Videos: Supercharged V6 on song in the Audi S4

By Johan Laubscher

Few things in this world sounds as good as a roaring V6. The Audi S4 has a tremendous supercharged 3.0 V6 and these types of Audis are being raced in two countries in the world, one in the northern hemisphere and the other in the southern hemisphere.

APR Motorsport in North America were the first to develop a Audi S4 B8 race car, which debuted in the Continental Tire Sports Cars Challenge during 2010. 

A year later and the S4 model also debuted on race tracks in South Africa, and went on to win the 2011 and 2012 South African Bridgestone Production Car Championships. In total four Audi S4 cars compete in South Africa and one so far in America.

The cars are beautiful and sound even better. Here are two onboard videos from which to sample the sounds of that glorious V6, one from APR and the other from South Africa.

More information: 

APR website

Gennaro Bonafede FB page

Audi Motorsport South Africa FB page

APR Motorsport Audi S4 - Road Atlanta 2011 - Ian Baas

South African Ferodo Audi S4 - Kyalami 2012 - Gennaro Bonafede

Photos by GoAPR.com and Audi Motorsport Blog. 

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APR Motorsport's Audi S4 Challenging Daytona

By Tarek Ramchani :

The new Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge season kicks off this weekend at Daytona. APR Motorsport is entering no less than 5 cars. The Audi S4 in the upper GS (Grand Sport) class, all the others are VWs in the lower ST (Street Tuner) class.

Last year the team raced the Audi S4 in the first rounds of the season. The car being damaged, the team built a new S4, and only returned for the final rounds with some strong performances. It raced also the finale of the SCCA Pirelli World Challenge at Road Atlanta, doing  very well against the series regulars.

For the 2012 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge season, APR Motorsport is fielding the only Audi racer of the series. Team's star and regular Ian Baas will share the #41 machine with new comer and rookie Nelson Canache. Last year Baas raced for APR but in the VW Golf GTI in the ST class, with a fantastic 2011 season. The AWD quattro B8 racer will face strong competitors from Ford, Chevrolet, BMW, Porsche and Subaru. Most of them are factory backed cars, while the Audi S4 is a fully privateer effort and built racer. An amazing 81 cars field is entring the 200 miles round at the world famous Speedway. 40 cars in the top GS class, so hard fight and great battles on track ahead for the Audi S4.

The race is set for this Friday, a day before the 50th Rolex 24 at Daytona. Best of luck for APR Motorsport.

Photo Credits: APR Motorsport

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