Showing posts with label WRT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WRT. Show all posts

Gallery: WRT 2013 Season Presentation


By Johan Laubscher 

Belgian Audi Club Team WRT have officially revealed their 2013 plans. They have held their press conference where they announced their three-car teams in the FIA GT Series and the Blancpain Endurance Series. 

The official WRT press release can be read HERE (English) and HERE (Dutch).

RallyandRaces.com were on site and have provided great coverage from the event, which was held yesterday. Their photo gallery can be seen via the link below.


More photos HERE

More information: 
RallyandRaces website
RallyandRaces on Facebook



Photo credit: Hans Jacobs and Joel Vanderzipen from RallyandRaces

Audi teams do the Harlem Shake


By Johan Laubscher


The Harlem Shake has been a video phenomenon spreading all over the internet. All kinds of different versions have been made by people from around the world. The short video clip performance has even been adopted by three top Audi racing teams. 

The first Audi team to release a Harlem Shake video was APR in North America. The team's video featured a number of cars in their workshop, including an Audi R8 GRAND-AM. ABT Sportsline was the second Audi team to release a Harlem Shake which featured their mechanics having some fun with two Audi A4 DTM cars. The third video to come to light is that of WRT. The Belgian team revealed their Harlem Shake today and it features their mechanics with one of the team's Audi R8 LMS ultra cars. We have embedded all three videos below. Enjoy the lighter side of the Audi racing teams having some fun.


Photo credit: Screenshot from the above embedded WRT video.

Team Audi France ends GT Tour efforts


By Tarek Ramchani

Very sad news from France today. Team Audi France have ended their efforts in the FFSA GT Tour series. The official French Audi dealer team has been racing with the WRT team the last couple of years. Team Audi France entered a single new spec Audi R8 LMS ultra in 2012. It was a very mixed year as bad luck hit the team at various rounds. By the end of the season the French squad improved a lot as the #32 Audi of Stéphane Ortelli and David Hallyday won the finale at Paul Ricard.

Before the WRT years, Audi France supported Team ORECA with their Audi R8 LMS cars between 2009 and 2010. Audi France will really be missed in the paddock and by the fans. However the GT Tour will again have multiple Audi R8 LMS cars on their grid. The cars will come from the privateer teams which include:  Sainteloc Racing, JWS Racing and the new comers from Speed Car.

Photo credit: GT Tour

Video: WRT 2012 season review


By Johan Laubscher

In only three years the W Racing Team (WRT) have established themselves as one of the best European GT racing teams. During 2012 They competed on many fronts which included, most notably: The FIA GT1 World Championship, the Blancpain Endurance Championship and the Nürburgring 24 Hours. They achieved much success during the year with the highlight being their title defense in the Blancpain series.

The team have become well known for creating excellent event videos and their latest video is included below. It is a review of their 2012 season and includes their up and down roller-coaster ride throughout 2012, enjoy.  

Video: 2012 FIA GT1 Season Highlights - WRT Audi R8 LMS ultra

By Johan Laubscher

2012 marked the first year where GT3 cars were allowed in the FIA GT1 World Championship. The series was set up to allow the manufacturers to be represented by one customer team each. For Audi it was the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT who represented the four rings. The year got off to a very strong start with two 1-2 finishes at Nagaro. After the opening race it was an up and down affair during the rest of the season. The team battled hard during the events and achieved a few more race wins. In the end the WRT team achieved third place in the team’s standings. The GT1 championship provided great and exciting racing this year. Here is the official season highlights film, enjoy:

Follow the Zolder 24 Hours LIVE - WRT Audi R8 LMS ultra


By Johan Laubscher

The 2012 Zolder 24 Hours is now LIVE. Good luck to Belgium Audi Club Team WRT as they try to defend their 2011 victory. The WRT team got their title defence off to the best possible start by taking pole for the race this weekend. 

The event also holds the possibility for a special quadruple achievement for Audi. Audi race cars have already won the 2012 Nurburgring 24, Le Mans 24 and the Spa 24 Hours. With the possible Zolder victory this could become a magical fourth 24 hour victory this year.

Below we have listed links to the live coverage available for the race. Enjoy the coverage!

Video: Inside look into the Zolder 24 Hours with the Audi R8 LMS


By Johan Laubscher

The 2012 edition of the Zolder 24 Hours kicks off today in Belgium. One Audi WRT LMS ultra fielded by Belgian Audi Club Team WRT will be in the event this weekend. WRT will try to defend their 2011 race victory with the #32 R8 LMS ultra race car.

Here is an onboard video from the 2011 Zolder 24 Hours. The video features the Brinkmann Motorsport Audi R8 LMS at the start of the race last year. The video offers a great insight into this unique European endurance race. Enjoy the onboard video and the 2012 edition of the race this weekend. The race begins at 4pm local time today.

Onboard the Brinkmann Audi R8 LMS at the 2011 Zolder 24 Hours start

Video: 2012 Spa 24 Hours with Audi Sport Team WRT


By Johan Laubscher

The Belgian W Racing Team (WRT) returned to the Spa 24 Hours as the defending champions. The 2011 event was won by the WRT team, taking Audi’s first Spa 24 Hours victory. The team was once again a factory effort for the event alongside the Phoenix Racing Audi team. WRT were armed with two Audi R8 LMS ultras, aiming for a repeat victory. The race was one of ups and downs. Both cars were at the front and battled for the race win. The #1 WRT car fought with the #16 Phoenix car for many hours. They kept spectators on the edge of their seats as they battled during the dying hours of the race. Tragedy struck the WRT team when the #2 car had a very big accident, which ended the team’s possible double podium and Audi’s 1-2-3 finish. Along with the demise of the #2 car came further incidents which swung the race in favour of the eventual winners, Phoenix Racing. WRT achieved a well deserved second place along with vital points for the team’s title ambitions in the Blancpain endurance Series.

Here is their traditional post event video review. It is another great example of WRT's excellent PR crew as they have produced yet another spectacular video documenting the Spa 24 Hours. It is a 47 minute video which is well worth the watch as they portray this emotional rollercoaster of a race. Enjoy:



More information:
WRT youtube channel

Video: WRT Audi Spa 24 Hours preview trailer


By Johan Laubscher

The 2012 Spa 24 Hours is fast approaching. WRT are heading to the event with one goal, to defend the title of Spa 24 Hour winners. The race is scheduled for the 28th and 29th of July and two WRT Audi R8 LMS ultra cars will be on the grid for the title defence.

Here is the WRT team’s video preview trailer for the event to increase the excitement for the race that is less than a week away. 


More Information:

Video: Stunning WRT 2011 Spa 24 Hour victory video


By Johan Laubscher

The Belgian W Racing Team (WRT) was victorious at the 2011 Spa 24 Hours. The 2012 edition of the Belgian endurance race is less than a week away and WRT will be back to defend their title with a pair of Audi R8 LMS ultra race cars.

The 2011 Spa 24 Hours was the first event where WRT produced an event review video. The video was brilliant and started the tradition of WRT producing videos after each of the team’s major event participations. All three parts of the 2011 WRT Spa video has been included below. It is a great video and offers a glimpse into the workings of the WRT team, enjoy:  


2011 WRT Spa 24 Hours Video


More Information:

Brilliant FIA GT1 video from Belgian Audi club WRT


By Johan Laubscher

The Belgian W Racing Team, also known as Belgian Audi Club Team Team WRT have become known to make some excellent videos documenting their motorsport activities. Last year they brought us breathtaking videos from the Spa 24 Hours, their debut in the Malaysian 12 Hour race at Sepang and many other races.

Last weekend saw WRT's debut in the FIA GT1 World Championship with the perfect result. The team scored a 1-2 finish in both the weekend’s races. Now this calls for celebration and a nice way to celebrate it with their fans is with another race video from WRT.


Here it is: An exciting fifteen minute video compilation which encompasses this brilliant WRT triumph.


Enjoy the video bellow:

The Belgian Audi Club Team WRT dominate the opening weekend of FIA GT1



More Information:

Cover photo by Jean-Baptiste Lassaux from www.autorennsport.ch 

 

Belgian Audi Club WRT 1-2 victory at Nogaro's FIA GT1 main race


By Tarek Ramchani

The Belgian Audi Club WRT dominated today's main race at Nogaro, round 1 of the 2012 FIA GT1 World Championship. Another perfect 1-2 victory for the brand new Audi R8 LMS ultra.

Great sunny weather for the championship race with the two Belgian run Audi cars starting from position one and two as they finished in yesterday's qualifying race. Right from the start, the two Audis faced strong competition from the #3 AF Corse Ferrari with Toni Vliander driving. The Finnish driver was able to pass the #33 Audi of Frank Stippler and put great pressure on the leading #32 R8 of Stephane Ortelli. The three leading cars pulled away for the rest of the pack with a great gap over the chasing group. Minutes later and a drive through penalty hit the Ferrari, Toni Vilander had jumped the start. This made it a lot easier for the Audi squad leading and waiting for the pit window to complete the mandatory pit stops. The #32 pitted first with Stephane Ortelli out handing the car to Laurens Vanthoor. A lap later it was the turn of the sister #33 with Frank Stippler letting in Oliver Jarvis. The #33 car was able to rejoin the track right in front of the #32. No team orders at Belgian Audi Club WRT and a great battle for the lead started between Jarvis and Vanthoor. The young Belgian did pass the British Audi works driver at the hairpin but Jarvis succeeded to retake the lead. A few laps later and Vanthoor again made it to the lead, while behind Markus Winkelhoc with his All-Inkl AMG SLS started hunting the two Audis. The Mercedes was clearly faster in the closing stages of the race, but that was too late, the Audis crossed the finishing line victorious. The same #32 of Stepahne Ortelli and Laurens Vanthoor made it a double after yesterday's win. Yet again their team mates Oliver Jarvis and Frank Stippler finished in the second spot.

The 2012 FIA GT1 World Championship season has started really well for Belgian Audi Club WRT. Double victories in both races at Nogaro and the championship points lead in both the teams and drivers’ standings. The next round will be at Circuit Zolder in Belgium, the home round for team WRT.

Watch the full champiosnhip race here:


Photo Credits: Markus Berns and SRO www.gt1world.com

Belgian Audi Club WRT domination at Nogaro FIA GT1 Qualifying Race


By Tarek Ramchani

The Belgian Audi Club WRT had the perfect start to its 2012 FIA GT1 World Championship campaign. A great 1-2 victory in the Qualifying Race at Nogaro.

The two Belgian run privateer Audi R8 LMS ultra cars started from positions two and three, after a strong qualifying session yesterday. A rainy race and right from the start the two Audi cars battled with the pole sitting Ferrari 458 GT3. The #32 car with Laurens Vanthoor faced strong attacks from the chasing cars but he resisted well, being either in second or third during his stint. Right behind Vanthoor the sister #33 R8 suffered a little bit in hands of Oliver Jarvis, but was always in the lead pack. Later a real threat appeared in the form of the Reiter Engineering run Lamborghini Gallardo LP600 with GT ace Tomas Enge driving. The Czech was able to pass the entire leading pack and pull away far ahead. The Audi cars were in second and fourth before the mandatory pit stops. The pit window opened and the seventeen cars jumped in for drivers and tire changes. The WRT crew did an amazing job with very fast pit stops which was enough so send both cars to third and fourth. Shortly after the pit stops the two cars overtook the Hexis McLaren and started chasing the leading Lamborghini. Ortelli was able to put in very fast lap times to pass the Reiter car, and quickly afterward Frank Stippler passed as well. The two Audis held their position of 1 and 2 until the end of the race. A perfect debut for the Belgian team in world class GT racing.

The Qualifying Race is setting the starting grid from tomorrow's main Championship Race. Audi has locked out the front row of the grid and with the very fast pace in both the qualifying sessions and qualifying race, Team WRT and their Audi R8 LMS ultra will be the big favorites for race victory tomorrow.

Race results:
1 - #32 Belgian Audi Club WRT - Audi R8 LMS ultra
2 - #33 Belgian Audi Club WRT - Audi R8 LMS ultra
3 - #24 Reiter Engineering - Lamborghini Gallardo LP600
4 - #2 Hexis Racing - McLaren MP4-12C GT3
5 - #3 AF Corse - Ferrari 458 GT3

Watch the full qualifying race here:

WRT team manager Vincent Vosse speaks to Endurance-Info: "Proud to represent Audi in World GT1"


By Endurance-Info

With two successful seasons in GT, the Belgian Audi Club will again be present on several fronts this year, with the GT1 World Championship, the Blancpain Endurance Series, the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and a new campaign under the GT Tour banner Audi Team France for the tandem Ortelli / Hallyday. The team of René Verbist, Yves and Vincent Vosse Weerts are to be counted among the favorites in World GT1, the two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars being driven by Ortelli / Vanthoor and Stippler / Jarvis. Before the kick off this season which promises to once again be well-stocked, Vincent Vosse’s winter period was very busy: "Every year the winter was rather long. We had to make choices and find the necessary funds to mount the different programs. We always say that we must be very careful about the third season because it has a lot of dangers. The first two seasons we have contributed so much that we could quickly be disappointed. The team continues to grow. This is our pride to represent Audi in GT1 World Championship. I think we were not the only team to compete for this championship application. I am very pleased with both crews. "

The weekends will once again be fully charged: "This year we organized it a little differently, especially for the GT Tour. The whole team will not make as many meetings as last year and we know there is still work. To prepare ourselves better, we have implemented a team-building to strengthen cohesion. In most teams, only the drivers are present, while we brought the whole team. We lived together for three days with varied activities. We had set goals and always improved. "

In less than a week, the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT will be hard at work in Monza for the opening of the Blancpain Endurance Series where the goal is to keep the title: "The championship promises to be even more extraordinary than last year. This is the major GT endurance series. I have known Stephane Ratel since 1996 and the time at OPI. To make something work, it takes passion. If Stephane returned home quietly every night at 18 o'clock, it would be pointless. There is all the passion and desire behind his work. He listens and moves to take care of his work. He and his dedication is the success of the championship, which will highlight once again the 24 Hours of Spa. The 2012 edition promises to be magical. It was unthinkable that the GT3 class cannot be fully expressed at Spa. "Like last year where the team of Vincent Vosse had won the race in the hands of Greg Franchi, Mathias Ekström and Timo Scheider, the entity will be the team Audi Sport Team WRT in the Belgian Ardennes. Whether it is Blancpain Endurance series or GT1 World series, Audi's support is the same, with two engineers present within the team. The customer service competition from Audi takes on each track with a mobile workshop where teams, including Belgian Audi Club Team WRT can stock up on spare parts.

More informations:
WRT official website
WRT official Facebook
Endurance-Info

Vincent Vosse team manager of Belgian Audi Club Team WRT