VLN: Difficult race for Phoenix finishes with sixth place

Phoenix Racing Press Release

Christian Mamerow (Waltrop) and Ferdinand Stuck (Austria) in the Phoenix Racing entered Audi R8 LMS ultra finished the sizzling battle that raged around the ‘Green Hell’ during the fourth round of the VLN endurance championship Nürburgring in sixth place. Phoenix duo took fifth place in qualifying.

Tremendous heat that put enormous demands on man and machine dominated the first Saturday in July around the legendary Nordschleife. While Mamerow and Stuck coped with the exertions just as well as the Phoenix Audi, it was nevertheless a difficult race for the team from Meuspath close to the Nürburgring. Because due to the current balance of performance, Mamerow/Stuck could not keep pace with the leaders and especially on the straights.

“Our R8 ran perfectly, the pits stops were excellent and there were no incidents whatsoever. Even so, sixth was the maximum today,” explained Christian Mamerow the dissatisfying result due to the excessively small restrictor. In the end, Mamerow/Stuck finished sixth a good 46 seconds behind the winning team.

Mamerow drove the opening stint in the four-hour race. At the first pit stop, Ferdinand Stuck took over the R8 racer before Mamerow assumed driving duties again for the final stint. Phoenix Racing was only momentarily shocked in practice when Ferdinand Stuck and Peter Dumbreck (Porsche) touched lightly at the end of the start-finish straight. Only two plastic parts on the co-driver’s side of the Audi had to be replaced afterwards.

The fifth race of the VLN season is held at the ‘Ring’ on August 1.

Photo credit: VLN

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Blancpain Sprint Series: Audi teams at Moscow Raceway - Weekend round-up

By Tarek Ramchani

The Moscow Raceway played host to the fourth round of the 2015 Blancpain Sprint Series last weekend. Three Audi Sport customer racing teams took part in the 2-day action in Russia with some strong performances but also a lot of bad luck too.

Audi Motorsport Blog had detailed coverage of the event. Here is a complete round-up:

Preview: Six Audis for the Moscow Raceway round

Spotter Guide: Moscow Racing Spotter Guide

Practice session report: 1-2 Audi in Moscow Raceway second practice

Qualifying session report: Front row for Phoenix Racing at Moscow Raceway

Qualifying race report: Extremely unlucky qualifying race for Audi teams at Moscow Raceway

Main Race report: Late penalty denies Phoenix Racing from second place in Moscow Raceway main race

Photo credit: Blancpain GT Series

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Blancpain Sprint Series: Front row for Phoenix Racing at Moscow Raceway

By Tarek Ramchani

The Audi Sport customer racing entries had a strong Blancpain Sprint Series qualifying at the Moscow Raceway this morning. A front row and a total of the four Audis inside the Top 10. The session has been red flagged in Q3 after an incident involving a McLaren.

Markus Winkelhock and Niki Mayr-Melnhof were the fastest within the Audi squad. They qualified in a strong second place with the #6 Audi R8 LMS ultra from Phoenix Racing. This is the best qualifying result this season so far for the Nurburgring based team. The two drivers were right behind the pole setting Lamborghini Gallardo from Reiter Engineering.

Belgian Audi Club Team WRT qualified well too. Series points leaders Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns were fifth with the #1 Audi. Christopher Mies and Enzo Ide were sixth with the #2 R8 LMS ultra. Stéphane Ortelli and Stéphane Richelmi were ninth with the #3 machine.

ISR Racing narrowly missed the Top 10, Marco Bonanomi and Filip Salaquarda were eleventh fastest with the #75 Audi. Frank Stippler and James Nash were a position behind, twelfth with the #4 R8 LMS ultra from Belgian Audi Club Team WRT.

The qualifying race will follow next, a 60-minute event with a mandatory pit-stop and driver change.

Update by Blancpain GT Series: Markus Winkelhock put the #6 Phoenix Racing Audi on the front row for the first time since Nogaro 2014. This afternoon, Winkelhock will drive both races alone however, since team-mate Niki Mayr-Melnhof had to leave the circuit immediately due to a private family emergency. For the mandatory pit stop no minimum time is set, but no points will be awarded to either the team or the driver for either race.

Photo credit: Blancpain GT Series

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VLN: Phoenix Racing with an Audi R8 LMS ultra in Nürburgring VLN4

By Tarek Ramchani

The legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife will play host to the fourth round of the VLN Endurance Championship. Local team Phoenix Racing will field the single Audi R8 LMS ultra in the event.

Phoenix Racing will have a very busy weekend with the team competing in two different locations in VLN and the Blancpain Sprint Series in Russia.

Only one driver has been confirmed so far, Christian Mamerow. The remaining drivers of the #5 Audi R8 LMS ultra will be annouced later.

A total of ten GT3 cars will battle for the outright victory in the Adenauer ADAC Worldpeace Trophy including the brand new  Mercedes-AMG GT3 and two new Lexus RC F GT3s

VLN4 Entry List

The qualifying session and the 4-hour race will be held on Saturday.

Photo credit: Phoenix Racing

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Blancpain Endurance Series: Promising kick-off with Thong and Lee at Silverstone

Phoenix Racing Press Release

Phoenix Racing experienced a promising kick-off to the collaboration with Audi Sport customer racing Asia and the two Hong Kong Chinese Shaun Thong and Marchy Lee in round two of the Blancpain Endurance Series (BES) at Silverstone. The positive assessment following the race in England was not even affected by the ultimately disappointing 34th place for Thong, Lee and Markus Winkelhock which, instead of their possible top-ten result and following their good eleventh place on the grid in the impressive field of 62 GT3 sports cars, was caused by a spin.

From the first lap on the UK Grand Prix circuit the merely 18-year-old Shaun Thong, who also competes in the new Audi Sport TT Cup, and Marchy Lee, the winner of the 2012 Audi R8 LMS Cup, gelled well with the team and, together with their seasoned team-mate Markus Winkelhock, quickly worked out a good set-up for the Audi R8 LMS ultra. The #6 Phoenix Audi had established itself at the front of the field that boasted tremendous strength in terms of quantity and quality from the first qualifying session on. Ex GT World Champion Markus Winkelhock took third place in pre-qualifying. In the three-part qualifying session drizzle caused changeable conditions and thus made the task for the three Phoenix drivers even more difficult. Despite running on slicks, young Shaun Thong clinched a remarkable twelfth place. In the second session, Marchy Lee, like his young team-mate, showed a strong performance as well by setting the eighth-best time. In the final third qualifying segment Winkelhock positioned the #6 Audi in eleventh place. “Due to the drizzle and heavy traffic with so many cars on track I wasn’t able to convert our potential into a really optimal result in qualifying,” commented Markus Winkelhock.

The former Formula One driver managed a very good start to the three-hour race, was able to stay out of harm’s way in the close field by driving cautiously and immediately made up several places. “With respect to the car we were in a very good position and managed to keep the pace of the front runners,” said Winkelhock, who turned over driving duties to Shaun Thong at the first pit stop. The 18-year-old talent drove prudently and fast, but on the last lap before pitting spun and got stuck in the gravel trap in his Phoenix Audi. Recovering the car from the gravel cost about four minutes and, as a result, caused the #6 Audi to lose a lot of ground. Marchy Lee took over the R8 cockpit for the third stint and ultimately drove the GT3 sports car across the finish line in 34th place by setting consistently fast lap times.

“Shaun and Marchy both did a superb job,” Markus Winkelhock said in praise of the two drivers. “Without the spin, which can easily happen in such a commotion, a place in the top ten would have been possible and that would have been absolutely great in this strong and large field.” Phoenix GT Team Manager Bernhard Demmer felt the same way: “The foundation has been laid. The two superbly gelled with the team and drove a prudent and fast race despite the fact that the result wasn’t satisfactory.”

For Shaun Thong, Marchy Lee and Markus Winkelhock round three of the Blancpain Endurance Series at Paul Ricard, France, will be on the agenda on 19/20 June. “We already tested at Paul Ricard so we’re determined to make better use of our potential there,” says Winkelhock. Before the BES event Ernst Moser’s team based in Meuspath at the Nürburgring will be travelling to round two of the DTM at the Lausitzring on 31 May and to round three of the Blancpain Sprint Series at Zolder, Belgium, on 05 June.

Photo credit: Phoenix Racing

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Blancpain Endurance Series: Good test for Phoenix Racing with the new Audi R8 LMS at Monza

Phoenix Racing Press Release

The new Audi R8 LMS produced a promising performance in the high-calibre field comprised of 58 GT3 sportscars from eleven automobile manufacturers. From the beginning, the new R8 could keep pace with the competition and worked perfectly mechanically. Only the electronics repeatedly slowed the GT3 racecar, which was only unveiled in March. In the first qualifying segment, the Phoenix Audi with start number six set the sixth fastest lap time around the 5.793 kilometre track in the Royal Park of Monza. The R8 finally qualified 14th.

After starting the race from the front of the midfield, Christopher Haase kept the car out of trouble in the start melee as the impressive field of cars stormed away from the grid, and even made up a few places. “With almost 60 cars the start is obviously fairly wild. You have to take a sensible approach and need a bit of luck. However, things turned out okay, the pace was good and I was able to work my way steadily towards the front,” explained Christopher Haase. “The new car is fun to drive, so it was a good idea to use Monza as a test under race conditions.”

Christian Mamerow took over driving duties in the R8 for the middle part of the three-hour race. “My stint was so-so. An electronic problem occasionally upset my rhythm. These things can of course happen at such an early stage of car development. The drivability of the new R8 is already very good. I drove a lot of laps on used tyres in free practice, and got a good feeling for the race in the process.” Things went smoother in the closing stages when Markus Winkelhock could once again make up lost ground. “Our goal was to make the finish and to gain as much experience as possible with the new Audi R8 LMS. We managed this. With this in mind, the result is of less significance, it’s more important that the car feels good and the speed is there. I also learned a lot and was able to adapt my driving style to suit the new car. I go home with a good feeling,” summarised the former GT World Champions positively.

Bernhard Demmer also agreed: “Monza was a good outing for the new Audi R8 LMS. We were able to tick off a lot of points on the check list in the development of this new car,” said the Phoenix GT Team Manager, who was also pleased about the Phoenix mechanics’ fast and precise work and especially the two pit stops.

The next race for the Phoenix squad around Team Boss Ernst Moser is the second round of the VLN endurance championship Nürburgring on April 25.

Photo credit: Phoenix Racing

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Blancpain Sprint Series: Phoenix Racing aiming high at Nogaro

Phoenix Racing Press Release

Niki Mayr-Melnhof and Markus Winkelhock travel to France in fine form for the opening race of the Blancpain Sprint Series (BSS). Nogaro is the venue of the first of seven rounds, which the driver duo from Phoenix Racing tackle in the Audi R8 LMS ultra with start number six.

Twenty GT3 sportscars are entered for Nogaro: The parent organization, the SRO, expect the grid for the Blancpain GT Series to grow during the season. With seven R8, Audi provides around a third of the field.

The Austrian Mayr-Melnhof and ex-Formula 1 driver Winkelhock got up to speed around the 3.64-kilometer track while completing 750 kilometers during testing. The goal of both drivers as well as Team Boss Ernst Moser and GT Team Manager Bernhard Demmer is to follow on from the third place in the BSS finale in Baku last November, and to fight regularly for podium positions throughout the new season.

The opener over the Easter holidays traditionally observes a rather unusual timetable: after two practice session on Saturday, the qualifying and one-hour qualifying race are held on Easter Sunday before the one-hour main race is held after a warm-up on Monday.

Photo credit: Phoenix Racing

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VLN: Phoenix Racing and TÜV Rheinland continue partnership in VLN and Nürburgring 24 Hours

Phoenix Racing Press Release

Phoenix Racing and TÜV Rheinland were able to crown their official partnership right in the first year. With the Audi R8 LMS ultra sporting the distinctive TÜV Rheinland logo Ernst Moser’s motorsport team with drivers Christopher Haase, Christian Mamerow, René Rast and Markus Winkelhock won the ADAC Zurich 24-Hour Race Nürburgring. The continuation of the successful partnership between TÜV Rheinland and Phoenix Racing was announced on Friday, 27 March, at a press conference at the Nürburgring that was attended by Dr Michael Fübi, Chairman of the Board of Management of TÜV Rheinland AG, as well.

“TÜV Rheinland and Phoenix Racing both strive for a maximum of safety, quality and precision, as well sharing a passion for motorsport,” Ernst Moser, Team Director of Phoenix Racing, commented.

“This joint success in the Nürburgring 24 Hours has motivated and inspired us, but it is more than the sporting success on the race track that underpins this partnership,” said Prof Dr-Ing Jürgen Brauckmann, Management Board Member Mobility TÜV Rheinland. “For over 40 years TÜV has been accompanying technological innovations with the aim of continually improving quality and safety. Motorsport at the Nürburgring, and this includes our commitment with Ernst Moser and his team as well, offers us an ideal platform for the dialogue with industry and our clientele.”

Frank Stippler, who like last year’s 24-hour race winner Christian Mamerow is part of the Phoenix line-up of regular drivers on the Nordschleife, as brand ambassador continues to be an integral component of the motorsport commitment of the independent testing services provider. Prof Dr-Ing Jürgen Brauckmann: “Frank Stippler is not only a successful racing driver but also an outstanding brand ambassador for us, who ideally communicates the synergy between motorsport and TÜV Rheinland.”

Phoenix Racing based in Meuspath at the Nürburgring and TÜV Rheinland are primarily focused on the 43rd ADAC Zurich 24-Hour Race Nürburgring to be held from 14 to 17 May that Phoenix has previously won a total of four times. The squad of Team Director Ernst Moser and GT Team Manager Bernhard Demmer will be participating in the iconic endurance race in the Eifel with two next-generation Audi R8 LMS cars. In addition, Phoenix Racing, which competes in the two Blancpain GTSeries and as Audi Sport Team Phoenix in the DTM as well, will be contesting all ten races of the VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring. The VLN opening race is held on Saturday (28 March) and, at the same time, marks the racing debut of the new Audi R8 LMS that is driven on the legendary Nordschleife by Mike Rockenfeller, Christopher Haase, Frank Stippler and Marc Basseng.

Photo credit: Phoenix Racing

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VLN: Phoenix Racing at the opener with two Audis and strong driver line-up

Phoenix Racing Press Release

Phoenix Racing eagerly awaits the season opener in the ‘Green Hell’. When the racing
season on the legendary Nordschleife opens on Saturday, 28 March, with the first
round of the VLN endurance championship, Ernst Moser’s team joins the grid again.
Phoenix Racing plans to compete in all ten races, the first two four-hour races are of
particular importance as they act as preparation for the 24 hour race (14-17 May).

An unusual aspect is that the team based in the industrial park Nürburgring in
Meuspath will compete in the VLN opener with two different cars: with the current
Audi R8 LMS ultra and with its successor the Audi R8 LMS, which was only recently
unveiled to the public at the Geneva Motor Show.

Last year’s 24h winner Christopher Haase and Mike Rockenfeller, DTM Champion in
2013, as well as Frank Stippler and Marc Basseng will drive the new car, with which
Stippler and Markus Winkelhock completed the first tests around the Nordschleife
just two weeks ago. For the R8 LMS, the next generation GT3 sportscar from Audi,
appearing in the VLN opener means a test under race conditions, which should
supply valuable data and experience with a view to the 24-hour race.

One of the drivers sharing the current Audi R8 LMS ultra is Christian Mamerow, who
is a member of Phoenix Racing’s fixed line-up for the popular VLN series. Frank
Stippler will also compete in the VLN as regular Phoenix driver when his schedule
allows.

Both the opening race on March 28 and the second VLN race four weeks later on
April 25 are part of the preparations for the legendary 24-hour race around the
Nürburgring, which Phoenix Racing will contest once again with two cars. Phoenix
won the 24h classic last year with Christopher Haase, Markus Winkelhock, Christian
Mamerow and René Rast. It was the second Audi victory in the Nürburgring
marathon since 2012 and the fourth for Phoenix. In the opening VLN race last year,
Ernst Moser and his team took overall victory with the driver line-up Basseng,
Stippler and the Belgian Laurens Vanthoor.

After various test sessions on Friday (March 27), qualifying follows on Saturday
(March 28) between 08:30 and 10:00, before the huge field of GT3 sportscars and
touring cars starts the four-hour race at 12:00.

Photo credit: Audi Communications - Motorsport

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VLN: First public start of the new Audi R8 LMS

Phoenix Racing Press Release

Only eleven days after its world debut, the new Audi R8 LMS thrilled a trackside audience for the first time. In the VLN Test and Set-up Session on the Nürburgring, Frank Stippler and Markus Winkelhock shared Audi’s test vehicle attended by Phoenix Raxing on Saturday.

The two winners of the Nürburgring 24 Hours drove 424 kilometers and worked out a set-up for the new GT3 sports car for the 25-kilometer track in the Eifel. The model will make its racing debut in the VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring season opener on March 28.

"The first public run on the Nordschleife this weekend was important for our further preparation. We had previously been on the Nürburgring only once and the weather was bad at that time. We’ve now obtained further important findings for optimizing our a set-up", said Romolo Liebchen, the Head of Audi Sport customer racing. "This should provide a good basis for the VLN Endurance Races on March 28 and April 25. With that, we should be among the first manufacturers to test their new models for 2016 in racing conditions. We’re aiming to have developed a fully matured car by the time of the Nürburgring 24 Hours on May 16 and 17 that fits the requirements of the Nordschleife well and will be competitive as soon as possible. In the intervening period there’s still an endurance test on our agenda as well. We’re going to contest further races during the course of the season. The resulting findings will – to the extent this may be necessary – be fed into the customer cars. We’re on the right track."

Photo credit: Audi Communications - Motorsport

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Blancpain Endurance Series: Many kilometres and lots of experience for Phoenix Racing at Paul Ricard

Phoenix Racing Press Release

Participating in the official test for the Blancpain GT Series was extremely valuable for Phoenix Racing. The team from Meuspath at the Nürburgring did not only spool off plenty of kilometers with the Audi R8 LMS ultra with drivers Markus Winkelhock as well as Marchy Lee and Shaun Tong, but more specifically gathered plenty of experience.

This had also been exactly the target for this test. During the two-day test at Circuit Paul Ricard in southern France, the two Hong Kong-Chinese Marchy Lee and Shaun Tong were also able to prepare themselves exceptionally well for the Blancpain Endurance Series (BES) season, which they will contest in the Phoenix R8 together with ex-Formula 1 driver and GT World Champion Markus Winkelhock.

“Marchy (Lee) and Shaun (Tong) improved constantly and in fact made a big step forwards with support from Markus (Winkelhock),” summarised GT Team Manager Bernhard Demmer positively.

On the first day of the official test, the Phoenix R8 completed 87 laps around the 5.791-kilometer track, on the second day 129 laps, more than every other team. Phoenix achieved a good 1,250 kilometers.

“Obviously we also tested various set-ups, but it was mainly a question of giving our two newcomers to the team as much mileage as possible,” said Demmer. “And this is exactly what we did.”

The Blancpain Endurance Series seasons opens at Monza on 11-12 April.

Photo credit: Phoenix Racing

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