GT Asia: Hitotsuyama Racing looking for drivers to compete in GT Asia Series in Japan

By Johan Laubscher 

Hitotsuyama Racing in Japan is currently evaluating the possibility to compete in selected rounds of the 2015 GT Asia Series and is currently looking for interested drivers.

Audi Team Hitotsuyama will be focusing its efforts on a single-car entry in the Super GT this year. The Japanese Audi Sport customer racing team will be supported by W Racing Team (WRT) with engineer and mechanic support at all of the events. Its Audi R8 LMS ultra will be piloted by the duo of Richard Lyons and Tomonobu Fujii, who will be joined by Stéphane Ortelli for the two endurance events.

Currently two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars are in Hitotsuyama Racing's workshop in Japan. The team's old Audi R8 LMS ultra that was used in the Super GT from 2013-2014 now stands alongside an ex-WRT Audi R8 LMS ultra that arrived in Japan during January. This ex-WRT chassis will be the primary car in the Super GT.

The team's older car is still being prepared for 2015, but with no formal plans for it as of yet. Hitotsuyama Racing is looking for drivers interested in contesting the Japanese rounds of the 2015 GT Asia Series. The Japanese rounds include Okayama (26-28 June) and Fuji Speedway (17-19 July 2015), rounds two and three of the 2015 GT Asia Series.

Photo credit: 
Audi Communications - Motorsport
Hitotsuyama GmbH

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GT Asia: Jacky Yeung Tiger Racing Team Audi R8 LMS wins the GTM class title at Macau

By Johan Laubscher

The 2014 GT Asia series held its final round with the Macau GT Cup this weekend. A large number of entrants in the GT Cup race were also entered to score points in the GT Asia finale.

A total of seven Audi R8 LMS and ultra cars were entered for the Macau GT Cup two from Audi race experience and five from Absolute Racing. Three of the Absolute Racing entries were also entered as GT Asia entries. These included the Audi R8 LMS ultra cars of Jeffrey Lee (Audi #7) and Philip Ma (Audi #98), and the Absolute Racing run #77 Tiger Racing Team R8 LMS of Jacky Yeung.

Yeung arrived in Macau as the GT Asia GTM class championship leader, after having won his class in both of the races held at the penultimate round at Shanghai. His main opposition in the title chase, Thomas Fjordbach, withdrew from the event during the week leading up to the Macau Grand Prix. This meant that Jacky Yeung had an unassailable lead in the GTM class standings and was crowned as the class champion in Macau.

At the front of the overall field it was a case of Audi domination with Edoardo Mortara and Laurens Vanthoor locking out the front row by the end of the two qualifying sessions. Within the GT Asia field it was a fourth and fifth place for Absolute Racing with Philip Ma and Jeffrey Lee. The pairing were twenty-second and twenty-third overall. Jacky Yeung qualified fourth within the GT Asia GTM class, eleventh within the GT Asia field and thirty-first overall.

The race got underway at 9h00 local time. Philip Ma (#98) was the highest Audi finisher within the GT Asia field. He finished fifth, twenty-third overall. Jeffrey Lee (#7) finished sixth, twenty-fourth overall. Jacky Yeung piloted his #77 Audi R8 LMS to fifth position within the GT Asia GTM class, thirty-first overall.

Up front it in the overall standings it was a dominant display by the Mercedes-Benz duo of Maro Engel and Renger van der Zande. They grabbed the lead at the start and took a 1-2 result for Mercedes-Benz. Audi race experience finished third and fourth with Mortara and Vanthoor.

Well done to Absolute Racing and Jacky Yeung for winning the 2014 GT Asia GTM class title.

Photo credit: 

GT Asia
AFOS

Audi R8 LMS Cup

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Audi R8 LMS Cup: Audi starts racing program for young Asian drivers

Audi R8 LMS Cup Press Release

• Young Driver Development Program supports Hong Kong youngster Shaun Thong, who joins the Audi China driver team
• New program builds on existing support for young talents like Audi R8 LMS Cup driver Aidan Wright
• Rene Koneberg: “Young driver support is a key element to further develop motorsport in Asia”

Beijing, October 16, 2014 - Audi has established a new racing program to develop young Asian drivers. Hong Kong youngster Shaun Thong is the first regional talent to join the Young Driver Development Program of Audi Sport customer racing Asia. The 18 year-old started with training at the legendary Nürburgring circuit in Germany during the first half of October. In addition to receiving training, Thong joins the driver team of Audi China.

“Audi is committed to developing motorsport in Asia, and one key element of this is to support and train young talents. Audi Sport customer racing Asia offers upcoming prospects a broad platform, including GT3 training and the option to participate in high-profile race events in both Asia and Europe”, says Rene Koneberg, Director of Audi Sport customer racing Asia. “Shaun Thong has proven that he is both very talented and determined. We welcome him to the Audi China driver team and we look forward to supporting his career development.”

Since the start of activities in 2012, Audi Sport customer racing Asia has been playing an active role in nurturing local prospects. The Asia-based Audi R8 LMS Cup has attracted some of the hottest talents from the region, including Aidan Wright from Australia. The 2013 champion of the Formula Masters China Series (FMCS) joined the 2014 season of the Audi R8 LMS Cup as a member of the Audi China driver team. With Hong Kong’s rising star Matthew Solomon, who drives for Audi Hong Kong in the first ever brand cup of Audi worldwide, another youngster made the step from Volkswagen Group's FMCS to intense GT3 competition.

In August this year, Audi and the FMCS cooperated on a special test session for young drivers. Rewarded for their strong results in the first half of the 2014 season, FMCS Driver Classification leader James Munro (17 years old) of New Zealand and Indonesia’s Andersen Martono (17 years old), received instruction from former F1 driver Alex Yoong and had their first test runs in an Audi R8 LMS Cup car.

Shaun Thong had also made his mark in the Audi R8 LMS race car before. The participant of the new Young Driver Development Program had achieved a fifth place finish in Sepang, Malaysia as a guest driver in the 2013 Audi R8 LMS Cup.

Shaun Thong

During his first 30 months of competitive racing, Thong, born in 1995, has achieved an impressive 22 podium finishes, including 9 wins. After starting in karting aged 8, he has since competed in various levels of motorsports in Asia. In 2013, he was 2nd runner up in his first ever Formula Master China Series race at the famous and demanding Guia circuit in Macau. He also achieved a LMP2 race win with his team in South China's Zhuhai, and competed in European Formula competitions. In 2014, as a rookie, he won the winter series of the European F3 Open Copa.

Photo credit: Audi R8 LMS Cup

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GT Asia: Highs and lows for Audi in Shanghai

Audi R8 LMS Cup Press Release

• Jacky Yeung and Matt Solomon take double victory in GTM Class
• Wins see Jacky Yeung top of GTM class rankings
• Unlucky weekend in GT3 for Jeffrey Lee and Christopher Mies

China, October 13, 2014 – The Hong Kong pairing of Jacky Yeung and Matt Solomon scored back-to-back victories in the GTM class of Rounds 11 and 12 of the GT Asia series at the Shanghai International Circuit on October 11-12. After youngster Solomon clocked the fastest time in qualifying, the pair held onto pole position throughout the two races to pick up maximum points.

In Round 11, Matt Solomon, one of Asian motorsport’s most talented young drivers, got off to a flying start, pulling away from the rivals in the GTM class. This blistering pace gave Jacky Yeung a massive 16-second lead, who then drove even faster during his stint, recording a lap time a full second quicker than their qualifying time on the way to victory for the Audi R8 LMS #77.

Starting from pole-position for Round 12, Solomon and Yeung once again flew around the Shanghai International Circuit for their second start-to-finish victory of the weekend. Having secured maximum points for the weekend, Yeung moves to the top of the GTM class leaderboard heading into the finale in Macau next month. A good result in the final race will see Yeung crowned GT Asia GTM class champion for a second time.

In the GT3 class, the pairing of Jeffrey Lee and Audi factory driver Christopher Mies, endured a tumultuous weekend. In the first race, their Audi R8 LMS ultra #7 was hit by another driver, before suffering a puncture, which forced an extra visit to the pits. However, strong driving from the pair reduced the earlier delay and they finished in eighth. Unfortunately, there was more bad luck in store, as Lee was nudged in the opening laps of the second race, causing him to crash into the barriers, ending the race prematurely for the pair.

Elsewhere, the Chinese pairing of Sun Jingzu and Wang Jianwei put in two very good performances in front of their home crowd, finishing in ninth in both races. Johnson Huang of Taiwan, scoring two fourth-place finishes in the GTM class.

“This weekend saw our strongest performances so far this season, with two excellent wins for Jacky and Matt,” commented Fabien Fior, Technical Director of Absolute Racing. “But unfortunately, we had some difficulties with other cars making contact with ours, ruining the races for Jeffrey and Christopher and affecting their results. We were very unlucky in that case, but that’s how racing goes. We are all now looking forward to the season finale in Macau next month, and we will push even harder for the best results.”

The Audi entries head to Macau on November 14-16 for the GT Asia series finale at the Guia Circuit.

Photo credit: Audi R8 LMS Cup

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GT Asia: Double class victory for Yeung and Solomon Audi R8 LMS in Shanghai race 2

By Johan Laubscher

Race two of the GT Asia Series at Shanghai concluded with another class victory for Absolute Racing.

Jacky Yeung and Matt Solomon made it a double for the weekend by winning the GTM class in race two. Yeung handed over the car to Solomon in third place and Solomon was then able to pass both cars to take class victory with the #77 Absolute Racing prepared Tiger Racing Team R8 LMS. The pairing finished tenth overall. Jacky Yeung now has a twelve point lead in the GTM championship standings and the title will be decided at Macau.

Jian Wei Wang and Sun Jing Zu piloted the #17 Absolute Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra to ninth place overall, the highest Audi in the overall results. Johnson Huang repeated his race one result by finishing thirteenth overall, taking fourth in the GTM class with the #26 Absolute Racing R8 LMS.

Jeffrey Lee and Christopher Mies unfortunately retired from race two on lap seven, after having started from third position on the grid.

The finale of the 2014 GT Asia Series will be taking place at Macau with the Macau GT Cup from 13-16 November.

Photo credit: Audi R8 LMS Cup

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GT Asia: Audi eyes podium in Shanghai

Audi R8 LMS Cup Press Release

• Four Audi entries in Rounds 11 and 12 of the GT Asia series
• Team Absolute Racing aims for GT3 podium with the driver pairing of Jeffrey Lee and Christopher Mies
• Jacky Yeung and Matt Solomon to challenge for GTM class

China, October 10, 2014 – Four Audi entries will compete at the Shanghai International Circuit in China for Rounds 11 and 12 of the GT Asia series from October 10-12. Team Absolute Racing aims for a podium finish at the first visit of the GT Asia series to Shanghai since 2009.

In the GT3 class, Jeffrey Lee will once again partner Audi factory driver Christopher Mies in the number 7 Audi R8 LMS ultra. The pair claimed fourth place in the last race at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia and will look to add to their points tally this time round.

“Jeffrey Lee and Christopher Mies are clearly aiming for a podium finish. I wouldn’t be surprised if they finish in the top spot, especially if it is a wet race, as the Audi R8 LMS ultra performs strongly in the rain,” commented Fabien Fior, Technical Director of Absolute Racing. Fior added, “We are definitely expecting another good weekend from all our drivers.”

Jacky Yeung will drive his number 77 Audi R8 LMS Cup car with youngster Matt Solomon, who recently finished on the podium in the Sepang 12h race. The Hong Kong driver pairing’s goal is to win in the GTM class and keep Yeung in line for a shot at the championship. Going into Shanghai, Yeung sits in third place in the GTM class, and a good result could see him climb back to first. In the previous Rounds 9 and 10 at Sepang, Yeung won the first race to move top of the leaderboard, before an early retirement in race two made it a mixed weekend for him.

Local Chinese drivers, Sun Jingzu and Wang Jianwei will compete in front of their home crowd in car number 17. Sun also competes in the amateur category of the Audi R8 LMS Cup and is familiar with both the track in Shanghai, and the GT3 race car. Sun showed a big improvement in his performance in last week’s Boss GP.

Completing the line-up for Absolute Racing and Audi is Johnson Huang from Taiwan in car number 26.

The qualifying sessions will be held on Friday October 10, with Rounds 11 and 12 taking place on Saturday October 11 and Sunday October 12 respectively.

Photo credit: Audi R8 LMS Cup

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GT Asia: Unbelievable bad luck hit Audi teams in Sepang race 1

By Tarek Ramchani

The Audi teams faced a very unlucky GT Asia Series race 1 today at Sepang International Circuit. None of the Audi R8 LMS ultra cars finished the 1-hour race.

The first race today is maybe the hardest ever for the Audi brand and team Absolute Racing in GT Asia Series.

It all started very well with a brilliant pole position and even a 1-2 Audi in Qualifying 1. Alex Yoong was the fastest ahead of Audi works driver Christopher Mies. Then all changed in race 1 with an unbelievable bad luck hitting the two ultras. The #7 Audi driven by Christopher Mies and Jeffrey Lee was forced to retire after 23 laps into the race. The sister #98 machine in the hands of Alex Yoong and Philip Ma faced the same fate earlier on lap 15.

Best ranked Audi car, was the #77 R8 LMS Cup from Tiger Racing Team in tenth place overall, however the car was competing in the lower GTM class.

Overall race victory went to the #97 Aston Martin V12 Vantage from Bamboo Craft Racing. Second place for #37 Ferrari 458 GT3 from team BBT. The #32 McLaren MP4-12C from Clearwater Racing was third.

Sepang race 1 results can be seen here.

Race 2 is set for tomorrow. The #7 R8 LMS ultra of Christopher Mies and Jeffrey Lee will start from position eight, the #98 Audi in the hands of Alex Yoong and Philip Ma will start from position nineteen.

Photo credit: GT Asia Series

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GT Asia: The Audi teams aiming high at Sepang

By Tarek Ramchani

The GT Asia Series is heading to Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia this weekend. The Audi Sport customer racing squad will be represented by five Audi R8 LMS and ultra cars.

The Audi teams performed very well last time out at the Fuji Speedway. Audi works driver Christopher Mied along with team-mate Jeffrey Lee were victorious driving an Audi R8 LMS ultra from Absolute Racing.

In Malaysia, three Audi R8 LMS ultra will try to give the Audi brand additional wins and strong results. The Audi drivers including the returning Christopher Mies will have to fight against strong teams representing Ferrari, McLaren, Aston Martin, Porsche and Nissan.

#7 Absolute Racing - Jeffrey Lee / Christopher Mies
#17 Absolute Racing - Sun Jing Zhu / Wang Jian Wei
#98 Absolute Racing - Alex Yoong / Phillip Ma

In addition to the three Audi R8 LMS ultra who will target the outright victories, two Audi R8 LMS cars will compete in the lower GTM class.

#23 Taiwan Top Speed Racing - Sasha Chu
#77 Tiger Racing Team - Jacky Yeung / Ashraff Dewal

The two qualifying sessions and race 1 art set for Saturday, the second race will be held on Sunday.

Photo credit: GT Asia Series

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GT Asia: Audi victorious in Fuji once more

Audi Press Release

• Jeffrey Lee and Christopher Mies win Round 6 of the GT Asia series
• Jacky Yeung takes fourth podium of the season
• Adverse weather conditions added an extra level of difficulty

Japan, July 15, 2014 – The Audi entries achieved great results at the Fuji International Speedway in Japan in Rounds 5 and 6 of the GT Asia series. After good pace was set in qualifying, the pairing of Jeffrey Lee and Christopher Mies finished fourth in Round 5 and then took first in Round 6. Jacky Yeung also maintained form to claim another podium in the GTM class.

“Shortly before the races got underway, rain started to fall very hard and very fast. It was very difficult for all the teams to react in time and make adjustments to the cars to suit the conditions,” commented Fabien Fior, Director of Absolute Racing.

In the wet conditions, winner at last year’s stop at the Fuji International Speedway, Jeffrey Lee, and his partner Christopher Mies, braved the severe weather to put in a great performance in their Audi R8 LMS ultra car number 7 to finish first in Sunday’s race.

Lee started the race several cars behind pole position but held on well to gain position. After the driver swap, Mies drove positively to make steady progress. He achieved some of the fastest lap times and managed to overtake the cars in front one by one, before taking the lead with two laps to go.

Similarly, Alex Yoong and Hong Kong racing driver, Philip Ma, did well to come from the middle of the pack to finish fifth, improving upon their results in qualifying and Round 5, although the torrential rain and slippery surface proved tricky to deal with.

In the GTM class, Jacky Yeung battled through the conditions in his Audi R8 LMS Cup car for Tiger Team Racing, coming from eighth place to score a podium, finishing third in Round 5. So far in the series, the Hong Kong gentleman driver has four podium finishes to his name.

“Overall, it was a very satisfying day, in which the team and drivers worked very hard and performed well. Special thanks to Christopher Mies for his amazing driving in the rain. We should be seeing more from him in Asia,” said Fabien Fior.

Next up in the GT Asia series for the Audi entries is Rounds 7 and 8 on August 15-17 at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.

Photo credit: GT Asia Series

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GT Asia: Winning debut for Christopher Mies with Absolute Racing Audi at Fuji

By Tarek Ramchani

A great debut for Christopher Mies in the demanding GT Asia Series. The German Audi factory driver took a great race victory in the Race 2 at the Fuji Speedway.

Christphoer Mies shared the winning R8 LMS ultra with Jeffrey Lee and helped the Audi brand clinch a first victory in GT Asia Series this year.

The #7 Audi R8 LMS ultra from team Absolute Racing won the 30-lap race with style after a great battle with the second placed Ferrari 458 GT3.

Another Audi R8 LMS ultra from Absolute Racing performed well, the #98 car of Alex Young and Philip Ma finished in  a strong fifth.

Race 2 results can be seen here.

Photo credit: GT Asia Series

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GT Asia: Audi returns to Japan

Audi Press Release

• Five Audi entries in Rounds 5 and 6 of the GT Asia series
• Team aiming for improved results
• Audi Factory driver Christopher Mies joins the lineup

Japan, July 11, 2014 – The five Audi entries are hoping for an improved performance at the Fuji International Speedway in Japan for the fifth and sixth rounds of the GT Asia series from July 11-13. Audi took first and second place in Fuji last year and Team Absolute Racing is confident of achieving similar success again.

“The very long straight in Fuji is not to our advantage, with the difference in speed in the competition. But with the weather being unpredictable and counting on our drivers and team putting in good performances all round, we will hopefully have a good weekend and come away with podium finishes and positive results,” commented Fabien Fior, Director of Absolute Racing.

In the GT3 class, Jeffrey Lee, who took first place at the Fuji International Speedway last year, will drive his usual car number 7, partnered by Audi Factory driver Christopher Mies, whose addition strengthens the lineup. Alex Yoong, who came second in Fuji last year, will drive with Philip Ma in car 98. In the GTM class, Jacky Yeung will partner Keith Wong in the number 77 Audi R8 LMS Cup car; Joe Hsu and Han Lin will drive car 22, and Japanese gentleman driver Francis Onda will be in car 86 in front of his home crowd.

Despite putting in great performances last time round at Autopolis in the third and fourth rounds, the drivers suffered from bad luck with accidents which limited their final results. Although the results were disappointing, all the drivers were really good for pace and posted some great lap times. More positively, Jacky Yeung, in his Audi R8 LMS Cup car, finished second in the GTM class in Round 3 for his third podium of the 2014 season in the competition.

In Rounds 1 and 2 of GT Asia at the Korea International Circuit, Jacky Yeung enjoyed the best results, with a win in the GTM class. Elsewhere, Alex Yoong and Matt Solomon endured a tough race in the first round but managed to finish in fourth.

The qualifying sessions will be held on Friday July 11, with Rounds 5 and 6 taking place on Saturday July 12 and Sunday July 13 respectively.

Photo credit: GT Asia Series

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GT Asia: Audi hopeful for GT podium in Japan

Audi Press Release

• Four Audi entries in Rounds 3 and 4 of the GT Asia series

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GT Asia: Fourth place for Absolute Racing Audi in Korea race 1

By Tarek Ramchani

Korea International Circuit is hosting the opening round of the 2014 GT Asia Series this weekend.

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GT Asia: Absolute Racing testing at Sepang

By Johan Laubscher

Absolute Racing is busy preparing for the 2014 GT Asia Series. The team was out testing with two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars at Sepang this weekend.

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Video: Team Audi R8 LMS ultra 2013 GT Asia teams' champions

By Tarek Ramchani

2013 was a great year for the Audi brand in the GT Asia Series. Team Audi R8 LMS ultra (Absolute Racing) won the teams' title after great racing on track all season long.

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Macau GT Cup: Mortara wins Macau GT Cup

Audi R8 LMS Cup Press Release

•          Edoardo Mortara wins third Macau GT Cup in a row for Audi
•          Team R8 LMS ultra clinch GT Asia team championship
•          Marchy Lee with excellent fourth place

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Macau GT Cup: Full race and highlights videos

By Johan Laubscher

The 2013 Macau GT Cup was held during the early hours of this morning and it was certainly a very exciting race. Mr Macau Edoardo Mortara took his sixth straight win at Macau, his third consecutive GT Cup victory, after fighting back from fourth. As is always the case videos have begun to appear on YouTube and we have embedded two videos below, the full race and a highlights video. 

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GT Asia: Absolute Racing Team R8 LMS ultra clinched the teams’ championship title at the Macau finale

By Johan Laubscher

The 2013 GT Asia Series concluded with the finale at Macau today. It was a day of celebration for Absolute Racing as they won the GT Asia teams’ championship title.

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Macau GT Cup: Mortara on front row for Macau GT Cup

Audi R8 LMS Cup Press Release

•          Audi driver Edoardo Mortara sets second fastest lap in qualifying
•          The Italian aims for three back-to-back wins at the GT Cup
•          Six Audi entries in one of Asia’s most prestigious races

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GT Asia: Absolute Racing Audis among the fastest GT Asia qualifiers at the Macau finale

By Johan Laubscher

The 2013 GT Asia Series is hosting the final round on the streets of Macau this weekend. Four Audi R8 LMS and ultra cars have been entered for the season finale.

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