GT Open: Team Novadriver Audi narrowly missed the podium in Estoril race 2

By Tarek Ramchani

Team Novadriver had a great Sunday in the second International GT Open race at Estoril. The local team faced a very unlucky race 1 on Saturday

The Portuguese Audi Sport customer racing team did not finish the first race. Technical issues stoppd their #19 car right after the mandatory pit stop, the car was running in a strong third overall.

The qualifying session for race 2 was held on Sunday, a frustrating one for Cesar Campanico and Joel Camathias. The two drivers qualified in eleventh overall.

Later in the afternoon Cesar Campanico and Joel Camathias were able to bounce back. Their Audi R8 LMS ultra managed to progress and charge throughout the field. The Team Novadriver entry was among the fastest on track and battled well against the Ferraris and a McLaren.

At the end of the 1-hour race, Cesar Campanico and Joel Camathias narrowly missed the podium taking a strong fourth place.

As was the case on Saturday it was an all Ferrari affair again. The 458 Italia GT3s took all the top three positions.

The next round for the International GT Open will be at Silverstone, June 5th to 7th

Photo credit: Team Novadriver

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GT Open: Unlucky race 1 for Team Novadriver Audi at Estoril

By Tarek Ramchani

The Estoril Circuit is playing host to the second round of the International GT Open this weekend. A single Audi R8 LMS ultra is entering the Portuguese event from local Team Novadriver.

Team Novadriver peformed really well in the qualifying session earlier today. The #19 Audi R8 LMS ultra in the hands of team-owner Cesar Campanico and Joel Camathies qualified in a strong third place for race 1.

The race started well for the Audi Sport customer racing team. Cesar Campanico had a strong start and opening stint holding third place and pushing back the assault from Ferrari 458 Italias.

At halfway mark the Audi had to come to pitlane for the mandatory pit-stop. Cesar Campanico jumped out from the Audi and Joel Camathias replaced him. The team was seeking a deserved podium finish, unfortunately bad luck hit the Novadriver squad. The #19 Audi stopped right after with technical issues hitting the R8 LMS ultra.

Up ahead it was an all Ferrari affair. The 458 Italia GT3 cars took all three top positions.

Team Novadriver will be back tomorrow for a second qualifying session followed by race 2. We wish the best of luck to the Portuguese team and their drivers.

Photo credit: Team Novadriver

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GT Open: Team Novadriver Audi back to the series at Estoril home round

By Tarek Ramchani

The Estoril circuit will play host to the second round of the 2015 International GT Open this weekend. The Portuguese round will see the return of local Team Novadriver.

The Audi Sport customer racing team managed by César Campaniço will field an Audi R8 LMS ultra. The car will be in the hand of two fast drivers.

Team owner and driver César Campaniço will be joined by GT Open specialist and former champion Joel Camathias from Switzerland. The two drivers will be aiming high at the demanding Estoril track against some strong competitors representing McLaren and Ferrari.

Action will start at Estoril on Friday with two practice sessions. The first qualifying session and race one will be held on Saturday. The second qualifying session and race two will be held on Sunday.

Photo credit: Team Novadriver

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GT Open: Team Novadriver testing Audi R8 LMS ultra at Monteblanco

By Johan Laubscher

Team Novadriver was out testing the #58 Audi R8 LMS ultra at the Monteblanco circuit in Spain this week. It was the team's first shakedown test to check all of the systems following the rebuild of the car during the winter.

The Portuguese Audi Sport customer racing team fielded this #58 Audi R8 LMS ultra in the 2014 International GT Open with the driver paring of Cesar Campanico and Aditya Patel.

Team Novadriver has not yet announced their plans for 2015, but they are expected to do so during the coming weeks.

Photo credit: Team Novadriver

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GT Open: Team Novadriver Audi R8 LMS ultra at Salão de Campeões

By Johan Laubscher

One of Team Novadriver's Audi R8 LMS ultra cars was on display at the 2015 Salão de Campeões in Portugal from 30 January until 1 February. The team also received prizes and recognition for their achievements during 2014 from FPAK at the event.

The Portuguese Audi Sport custromer racing team fielded this #58 Audi R8 LMS ultra in the 2014 International GT Open with the driver paring of Cesar Campanico and Aditya Patel.

Team Novadriver is expected to reveal their plans for 2015 during the coming weeks.

Photo credit: Team Novadriver

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PHOTOS: Team Novadriver Audi R8 LMS ultra in GT Open at Barcelona

A selection of great photos from Team Novdriver at Barcelona. The Portuguese team performed well with their two Audi R8 LMS ultra in the International GT Open season finale last weekend.

Race 1 report is here.
Race 2 report is here.

Photo credit: Team Novadriver

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GT Open: Unfortunate final race for Team Novadriver in Barcelona Race 2

By Johan Laubscher

Team Novadriver scored a terrific second in class and fifth overall yesterday, but lady luck was not on their side in Spain today. The final round of the 2014 International GT Open was held at Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona this weekend.

The second race saw both of the Portuguese team’s Audis in strife. César Campaniço and Aditya Patel suffered damage in the first corner and their entire race was compromised in the #58 Audi R8 LMS ultra, ultimately finishing eleventh within the GTS class.

Their teammates in the #88 R8 LMS ultra, Fabien Hamprecht and Fernando Monje, again suffered an unfortunate race. Yesterday they were robbed of a good finish with a contact-induced transmission failure and today a Ferrari turned them around whilst they were in the running for a top five finish. They finished ninth within the GTS class.

The results from race two can be seen HERE.

It may have been a difficult final race of the 2014 season for Team Novadriver, but they did celebrate successes during the year in GT Open, including the podium result yesterday.

Photo credit: Team Novadriver

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GT Open: GTS podium for Team Novadriver Audi in Barcelona race 1

By Tarek Ramchani

Circuit Catalnuya is hosting the season finale of the 2014 International GT Open this weekend. Team Novadriver is entering two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars in the GTS class.

Race 1 held this afternoon gave great satisfaction to Team Novadriver. The Portuguese Audi Sport customer racing team finished the 38-lap race in a strong fifth overall and took and great second place in the demanding GT class.

The #58 Audi R8 LMS ultra shared by César Campaniço and Aditya Patel battled very well for GTS victory and finished right behind class winners Shaun Balfe and Phil Keen with their #84 Ferrari 458 GT3.

Bad luck hit the second Team Novadriver Audi R8 LMS ultra. Fernando Monje and Fabian Hamprecht driving the #88 Audi were forced to retire after 27 laps.

Race 1 results can be seen here.

The second race will be held tomorrow. We wish the best of luck to Team Novadriver and their drivers.

Photo credit: GT Open

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GT Open: Team Novadriver entering two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars at season finale

By Johan Laubscher

Team Novadriver is heading to the final round of the International GT Open with a two-car entry. The finale will be held at Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain from 1-2 November.

The Portuguese Audi Sport customer racing team has competed in the GT Open all season long with the #58 Audi R8 LMS ultra driven by César Campaniço and Aditya Patel in the GTS class (GT3).

They will be adding their second Audi R8 LMS ultra to the grid, making its first appearance in the 2014 season, for drivers Fernando Monje and Fabian Hamprecht.

The team’s aim is clear, as they are aiming to take the GTS class victories in the upcoming weekend’s two races.

Photo credit: Team Novadriver

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GT Open: Double top ten class results for Team Novadriver at Monza

By Johan Laubscher

Monza hosted the seventh and penultimate round of the International GT Open this weekend. Team Novadriver from Portugal took part with their #58 Audi R8 LMS ultra driven by season regulars, César Campaniço and Aditya Patel.

Qualifying saw the Audi duo taking fourteenth overall and ninth in the GTS (GT3) class for race one, followed by sixteenth overall and eleventh in class for race two.

Race one was held on Saturday and concluded with the Novadriver squad finishing within the class top ten, placing tenth in GTS and fourteenth overall.

The second and final race concluded the weekend on Sunday afternoon. The #58 Audi R8 LMS ultra crossed the line in seventh place within the GTS class.

Barcelona will be hosting the final round of the International GT Open, with the eighth meeting of the season taking place at Circuit de Catalunya from 1-2 November.

Photo credit: Team Novadriver

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VIDEO: Highlights of GT Open round of Budapest

By Tarek Ramchani

Video highlights of the two International GT Open races at the Hungaroring. Team Novadriver faced a very hard weekend with a penalizing hitting the Audi R8 LMS ultra.

Race 1 report: Frustrating race 1 for Team Novadriver Audi in Hungaroring
Race 2 report: Top 10 result and a lot of frustration for Team Novadriver Audi in Hungaroring race 2

Race 1 highlights



Race 2 highlights

Photo credit: Team Novadriver

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GT Open: Top 10 result and a lot of frustration for Team Novadriver Audi in Hungaroring race 2

By Tarek Ramchani

As was the case in race 1, Team Novadriver had a very difficult International GT Open race 2 at the Hungaroring.

The #58 Audi R8 LMS ultra in the hands of César Campaniço and Aditya Patel finished the 33-lap race in thenth place overall. The two drivers were sixth within the GTS class open to GT3 cars.

At Budapest the Portuguese Audi Sport customer racing team was left without a single chance to challenge the front runners. Overall it was a 1-2 Corvette C6.R win but it was an all Ferrari 458 GT3 in GTS class. The Audi R8 LMS ultra was heavily penalized in the Hungarian event.

César Campaniço and Aditya Patel are now thriteenth overall in the dirver's standing with 38 points each. The International GT Open will resume at Silverstone, July 18th-20th.

Photo credit: Team Novadriver

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GT Open: Frustrating race 1 for Team Novadriver Audi in Hungaroring

By Tarek Ramchani

The Hungaroring near Budapest hosted the first International GT Open race of the weekend. Team Novadrvier the only Audi in the field had a frustrating event.

The Portuguese Audi Sport customer racing team finished the race in eighth overall and fifth within the GTS class. The car was shared by César Campaniço and Aditya Patel.

Team Novadriver drivers battled really hard but were clearly penalized by the Balance of Performance and simply couldn't fairly fight for the top spots.

Race victory went to the #63 Ferrari 458 GT3 from Ombra Racing. The #56 Ferrari 458 GT3 from AF Corse was second. The #2 Corvette C6.R from V8 Racing was third.

The second race is set for tomorrow. We wish the best of luck to Team Novadriver and their drivers.

Photo credit: Team Novadriver

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GT Open: Watch Budapest Race 1 LIVE

Watch Live International GT Open race 1 live from Budapest

Photo credit: GT Open

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