Audi R8 LMS Cup Press Release
· Audi DTM ace Edoardo Mortara looks to defend Macau GT Cup title with Audi customer racing China
· Audi R8 LMS Cup Amateur Cup champion Jeffrey Lee competes as part of GT Asia Series season finale
· Thrilling finale at Macau Grand Prix caps superb Audi customer racing China season
Macau, November 14, 2012 – Having dominated the Macau GT Cup last year, Audi DTM ace Edoardo Mortara is set to defend his crown at this week’s 59th Macau Grand Prix. Known as “Mr. Macau”, Mortara will race for team Audi R8 LMS Cup. The team will also field newly-crowned Audi R8 LMS Cup Amateur Cup champion Jeffrey Lee in the prestigious race on the 6.2km Guia street circuit. Both drivers will be at the wheel of an Audi R8 LMS ultra.
Mortara is the only man ever to have won two Formula 3 Macau Grands Prix and the current lap record holder. The Italian arrives in Macau from his Formula 1 test in Abu Dhabi, and two victories in Shanghai in the season finale of the Audi R8 LMS Cup at the weekend. Mortara finished fifth overall in this year’s DTM series, the German Touring Car Championship.
Lee, meanwhile, comes to Macau having clinched the Amateur Cup title in this year’s inaugural Audi R8 LMS Cup at the weekend. The Macau GT Cup also counts as the final round of the GT Asia Series, and Lee will be looking to climb the leaderboard, where he currently lies third, before the final chequered flag of the season.
The two entries in the Macau GT Cup are part of the expanding reach of the Audi China motorsport programme. This year saw the debut of the first-ever Audi one-makes championship – the Audi R8 LMS Cup. Competing in identical Audi R8 LMS Cup cars, the field of 16 battled it out over 12 rounds. Marchy Lee of Hong Kong made history last weekend when he was crowned the world’s first Audi R8 LMS Cup champion.
In the GT Asia Series, the official Audi R8 LMS Cup entry showcases Audi ultra lightweight technology and the Audi customer racing programme to audiences in Malaysia, across Japan and now Macau. Audi China offers sportscar experience and race experience programmes as well as racing licence courses to motorsport enthusiast in Asia.
Commented Director of Audi Sport customer racing China, Rene Koneberg: “Following the successful season finale of the debut Audi R8 LMS Cup last weekend, we are delighted to close the year by competing this weekend at the 59th Macau Grand Prix. We look forward to defending our Macau GT Cup title with Edoardo Mortara, and to putting in a strong performance with our new Audi R8 LMS Cup Amateur Cup champion Jeffrey Lee.”
A third Audi R8 LMS ultra driven by Hong Kong’s Philip Ma with Team Hong Kong Racing completes the three-strong Audi line-up.
Practice for the Macau GT Cup at this year’s 59th Macau Grand Prix is set for Thursday, with qualifying sessions on both Friday and Saturday. The Macau GT Cup will take place on Sunday.
Audi R8 LMS Cup Official Website at: www.audir8lmscup.com
