Audi Sport customers collected even more endurance trophies and are leading their respective class standings with the Audi R8 LMS in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie and 24H Series. In addition, the Audi RS 3 LMS secured TCR podium results with Audi privateers in Germany, Italy and Portugal, while the Audi R8 LMS GT4 finished runner-up in its class in a 24-hour race of the 24H Series in Portugal.
Audi R8 LMS GT3
Thrilling battle at the Green Hell: Scherer Sport Team Phoenix scored its third overall podium result of the 2022 Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) during the fourth event of the season. The 6-hour race, a special race distance differing from the usual 4-hour races at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, saw Audi Sport driver Frank Stippler and teammate Vincent Kolb starting from the front row in second place with an Audi R8 LMS from Scherer Sport Team Phoenix. Stippler took the start, but dropped to sixth place in the opening phase. Together with Kolb, the duo moved forward back into the leading group, competing for a podium finish. The fans at the legendary Green Hell enjoyed a close duel for second place in the final hour between Stippler in the R8 LMS and Christian Krognes in a Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW. The duel between the two drivers saw several overtaking maneuvers taking place until the penultimate lap, when Krognes, who was running third behind Stippler, made a mistake at the exit of the chicane on the Grand Prix circuit. The resulting spin of the BMW opened up the gap for Stippler to hold onto his position to the end of the race, finishing runner-up. It was the second podium result of the season for Stippler and Kolb and moved them into the lead of the SP9 Pro “class winner’s trophy” classification, while Scherer Sport Team Phoenix is currently holding second and third in the “speed trophy” classification with the number 5 and 16 entries, respectively.
Phoenix Racing’s podium steak continues: At the fifth round of the 24H Series, the 24-hour race at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve circuit, Phoenix Racing finished on the podium once again with its Audi R8 LMS. Starting from pole position, the driver quartet of Michael Doppelmayr, Elia Erhart, Swen Herberger and Audi Sport driver Pierre Kaffer were involved in a race-long duel at the front against a CP Racing Mercedes, with 26 lead changes taking place in the course of 24 hours. Erhart’s hand was injured during a pit stop in the night, but his three teammates continued onwards with the battle for the lead. In the end, Phoenix Racing finished runner-up after a close fight, less than 27 seconds behind the winners after racing around the clock twice in Portugal. With this result, Phoenix Racing has finished on the overall podium in each of the four 24H Series races that the team has competed in so far this year, which includes the overall victories of the 12-hour races at Spa and Hockenheim in April and May. Phoenix Racing continues to lead the GT3 teams’ standings of the 24H Series European Championship classification, while drivers Doppelmayr, Erhart and Kaffer remain at the top of the corresponding class drivers’ standings.
Audi R8 LMS GT4
Runner-up in Portugal: Lionspeed by Car Collection Motorsport finished second in the GT4 class at the fifth round of the 24H Series held at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve circuit. In the 24-hour race, the team’s Audi R8 LMS GT4 was driven by Andreas Bakkerud, José Garcia, Patrick Kolb and Daniel Miller, who scored the team’s first GT4 class podium result in the series so far this season.
Audi RS 3 LMS (TCR)
Class victory at the Green Hell: Max Kruse Racing celebrated first place in the TCR classification at the fourth event of the 2022 Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie. The two Danes, Peter Hansen and Lars Nielsen, won the class with an Audi RS 3 LMS – marking their third win in as many starts in the series so far this year. Hansen and Nielsen are leading the TCR “class winner’s trophy” classification.
Two podium results for the Audi RS 3 LMS: The entry-level touring car from Audi Sport customer racing took AC Motorsport and Wolf-Power Racing to second and third place in the TCR class of the 24H Series race at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve circuit, the fifth round of the season. Longtime Audi Sport customer AC Motorsport from Belgium fielded four drivers from Hong Kong in the 24-hour race in Portugal, David Lau, Tommy Ku, Shaun Thong and Andy Yan, who finished second in their class. Third place in class went to Calle Bergman, Charles Dawson, Jasmin Preisig and Ivars Vallers from Wolf-Power Racing.
Twice on the podium for Elite Motorsport: Audi privateer Gabriele Volpato celebrated two overall podium results by finishing third twice in an Audi RS 3 LMS from Elite Motorsport at the fourth race weekend of the Coppa Italia Turismo series hosted at Varano in Italy. It marks the 26-year-old Italian’s third overall podium result in a row.
Coming up next week
14–16/07 Arctic Circle Raceway (N), round 4, Racing NM
14–17/07 Mugello (I), round 4, TCR Italy
15–16/07 Lime Rock (USA), round 7, IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge
15–17/07 Suzuka (J), round 2, GT World Challenge Asia
15–17/07 Lausitzring (D), round 2, GTC Race
15–17/07 Toronto (CDN), round 3, Sports Car Championship Canada presented by Michelin
16/07 Oulton Park (GB), round 4, TCR UK
16–17/07 Spa (B), round 3, Belcar Endurance Championship
16–17/07 Rivera (ROU), round 4, TCR South America