By Johan Laubscher
1. The Weekend
Focussing this week on the weekend of 10 - 11
November 2012
2. The Events
- Audi R8 LMS Cup
- HSR Daytona
- CMRC
- Targa
2.1. Audi R8 LMS Cup
Shanghai played host to the final round of the new Audi
R8 LMS Cup in China. Sixteen Audi R8 LMS cars have been seen in the series
during 2012. The final round was also the scene of the championship battle
which would decide the champion of the first Audi one-make Championship. The
title contenders were Marchy Lee and Adderly Fong.
2.2. HSR Daytona
The banks of Daytona hosted the finale of the Historic
Sportscar Racing series in North America this weekend. GMT Racing and Rogers
Motorsport were at the event with their Audi R8 LMP race cars. One car was
entered from each team, #606 from GMT and #405 from Rogers (#607 was on site but
not entered). The cars qualified and raced well at the front of the grid.
2.3. CMRC
Round three of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) was held at Guyana. Representing the Barbados team was Doug Maloney in his ex-Super
Touring Audi A4 STW. The green machine was fast and performed well. The
ABT-Audi TT-R of Doug Gore is still undergoing repairs in Germany following its
crash during round 1. Doug has missed the bulk of CMRC season, but the ATL team
have said that they will be back for 2013.
2.4. Targa High Country
The Targa High Country event was held this weekend, round two of the 2012/2013 Australian Targa Championship. After a heavy crash earlier in the year the Close Audi TT RS with Matt and Casey Close was back. The TT RS had some new upgrades which included a new S-Tronic gearbox and a new livery. There were two Audis on the entry list, the TT RS and an Audi S2.
2.5. Other Audi News
VMP Motorsport has been very busy this week.
Despite the 2012 Production Car Championship having come to a close in South
Africa the team is well underway with their plans for 2013. They were seen
testing at Zwartkops during the week and have more test scheduled for next
week.
The Macau Grand Prix is next weekend. Three
Audi R8 LMS ultra cars will take part in the Macau GT Cup, including the
defending champion, Edoardo Mortara. The annual Macau Supercar Show was held this weekend
and all three of the Audi cars were on display. The #1 Audi R8 LMS ultra to be driven by Mortara was displayed with a white dragon themed livery, the same livery with which he competed in the Audi R8 LMS Cup at Shanghai this weekend.
More details emerged this week of the first “facelifted” Audi R8 LMS ultra that has been spotted. The car is a normal Audi
R8 LMS ultra which has been fitted with the new Audi R8 front and rear lights.
It was seen with the 2012 Nürburgring 24 Hours #3 livery at the Audi R8
facelift press days held at Misano at the end of October. More details HERE.
Belgian Audi Club Team WRT have committed to yet another endurance race this season. The team will enter two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars in the Vallelunga Six Hour race at the end of November. The event is the final round of the newly named Italian Endurance Champions Cup.
Real Madrid stars were treated to passenger
laps in an Audi R8 LMS ultra at Jarama in Spain. It was part of an Audi driving
experience event. Marc Gené was on hand
to drive the soccer stars. The Audi had a Real Madrid livery as well has the
facelifted Audi R8 lights.
3. Next Weekend’s events (10-11/11/2012)
- Fuji Sprint Cup
- Macau
- Brazilian GT
- Grand Am Daytona test
All photos are hosted at their respective
website which are listed within the Weekend Round Up
