Audi R8 LMS Cup Press Release
· Yoong to make race debut in Audi race experience R8 LMS Ultra
·
International line-up represents
three continents
·
Quartet ready to take on ‘Green
Hell’
Beijing,
May 18, 2012 –
Malaysia’s Alex Yoong will fly the flag for the first one-make series by Audi,
the Audi R8 LMS Cup, in the 40th running of the legendary Nurburgring
24 Hours this weekend.
The former Formula 1 driver will be at the wheel of an Audi R8 LMS
ultra as he makes his debut in Germany’s toughest endurance race. Joining him on
one of the two Audi race experience teams will be fellow professionals Luca
Cappellari of Italy, Florian Gruber from Germany, and Warren Luff of
Australia.
The international quartet will take on a circuit so challenging it
has earned the moniker ‘Green Hell’.
Says Yoong: “It will be a great challenge. There is no other race in
the world like it. It’s the ultimate driver challenge – 25km that can be wet and
dry at the same time, 230 cars starting, 24 hours of racing, 300,000 spectators
over the week. It will be the first time I have driven the new Audi R8 LMS
ultra.”
The Nurburgring outing is just one example of the world of
opportunities Audi motorsport can open to Asian racing talent.
Rene
Koneberg, Director of Audi Sport customer racing China: “Providing opportunities
to our drivers in Asia is an integral part of our commitment to motorsport in
the region. We are delighted to have Alex, one of our Audi R8 LMS Cup regular
drivers, entered in one of the biggest endurance challenges in the world, and
our aim is to develop more drivers from the series on the international
stage.”
In
the second car, three Audi race experience customers will be taking turns at the
wheel with three-time Le Mans winner Marco Werner.
After
three consecutive class victories in the race, the Audi factory line-up this
year is concentrated on Audi Sport Team Phoenix, which is fielding two Audi R8
LMS ultra cars with seven seasoned endurance racers.
The
Nurburgring 24 Hours starts on Saturday, May 19 at 16:00 local time.
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