R18 vs R18: Long-Tail vs Sprint - 2013 Audi R18 e-tron quattro

By Johan Laubscher

Round two of the FIA World Endurance Championship is taking place at Spa this weekend. Audi is running three cars at the event, two normal 2013 Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars (in sprint configuration) and one Audi R18 e-tron quattro in the new 2013 Le Mans low-downforce “long-tale” specification.

The #1 and #2 Audi R18 e-tron quattros are fitted with the sprint configuration, similar to what was seen at Sebring and Silverstone, whereas #3 has been fitted with the new “long-tail” low downforce bodywork.

Spa offers the first opportunity to compare the two sets of 2013 R18 specification. The rear end of the cars is where the major differences lie, in terms of the “long-tale”. As per the last two years the major difference at the front, between the low and high downforce (sprint) setups, is the shape of the front fender. The sprint, high downforce, setup has a smooth contour versus the low downforce setup which has an almost squared shape / step on the lower portion of the fender. It should also be noted that the two high downforce cars at Spa are fitted with different dive planes between the fenders and the nose, the dive planes at Sebring and Silverstone were split, whereas the versions fitted to the cars at Spa are not spit, similar to the low downforce configuration.

The first set of Audi press photos from Spa offer a great chance to visually compare the two versions this weekend. The photo have been included below: 

Photo credit: Audi Sport Media

Audi Sport Team Phoenix eager to take the DTM title

By Tarek Ramchani

For the eighth straight season Phoenix Racing will be partnering with Audi as a works entry in the DTM. In 2011 they had a magical season by winning the driver's title with Martin Tomczyk, who was driving an older specification Audi A4 DTM R14. This season the Ernst Moser managed squad is aiming high and wants to take the DTM title.

Audi Sport Team Phoenix is fielding two Audi RS 5 DTM cars this year, and they will again count on their 2012 drivers, Mike Rockenfeller and Miguel Molina.

Mike Rockenfeller has been a regular at Phoenix for many years now, both in the DTM and long distance races with the Audi R8 LMS. Last season "Rocky" finished fourth overall in the points standings, the best ranked Audi driver in a very hard season for the Four Rings. A big change for Rockenfeller this year, as he will not race with the Audi LMP1 squad in WEC and at Le Mans. He will focus solely on the DTM and try to fight for the title. Rocknefeller is driving the #19 Schaeffler supported Audi RS 5 DTM.

Miguel Molina from Spain is in his second season with team Phoenix, the fourth with Audi in the DTM, after two years at Abt Sportsline. Last year was a very hard year for him, he finished in a very disappointing eighteenth overall. The Spanish driver wants to bounce back and prove he is still fast and capable of challenging the big names in the demanding German touring car series. Molina is driving the #20 all red Audi RS 5 DTM.

Audi Sport Team Phoenix will aim to improve their position in the team's standing as well, last season they finished seventh overall.

Photo credit: Audi Media

WEC: Audi 1-2-3 at Spa first free practice session

By Tarek Ramchani

Action has started at Spa-Francorchamps, the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The first free practice session ended with Audi domination.

The Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars finished in first, second and third. The leading Audi was the #1 of André Lotterer, Benoit Tréluyer and Marcel Fassler. In second place was the #2 machine of Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen and Loic Duval. Third was the newly updated "Long-Tail" #3 R18 of Lucas di Grassi, Marce Gene and Oliver Jarvis.

The best Toyota TS030 Hybrid was fourth, the #7 of Nicolas Lapierre, Kazuki Nakajima and Alexander Wurz. The #12 Lola/Toyota of Rebellion Racing was fifth fastest splitting the two factory Toyotas. The #8 Toyota TS030 of Anthony Davison, Stéphane Sarrazin and Sébastien Buemi was sixth. The second free practice session is set for 14:30 local time.

Session results:
1- #1 Audi Sport Team Joest - Audi R18 e-tron quattro 2:01.972
2- #2 Audi Sport Team Joest - Audi R18 e-tron quattro 2:02.312
3- #3 Audi Sport Team Joest - Audi R18 e-tron quattro 2:02.339
4- #7 Toyota Racing - Toyota TS030 Hybrid 2:02.856
5- #12 Rebellion Racing - LOLA B12/60 Coupe 2:02.941
6- #8 Toyota Racing - Toyota TS030 Hybrid 2:03.143
7- #13 Rebellion Racing - LOLA B12/60 Coupe 2:03.889
8- #21 Strakka Racing - HPD ARX 03c - Honda 2:05.813

Photo credit: Le Mans Live

Gallery: Audi cars at the Rechbergrennen

By Johan Laubscher

The Rechberg Hillclimb was held in Austria last weekend, the “Hill Climb Grand Prix of Austria”. The event was part of the FIA Hillclimb Championship and a number of Audi cars were entered.

The most notable Audi entry this weekend was the return of Vláďa Vitver and his modified ABT-Audi TT-R. Vitver had suffered a substantial crash during testing last year and this was the first appearance of the car after an extensive rebuild and further modification. The 2012 testing crash can be seen HERE.

The other Audi entries were spearheaded by Austrian Hillclimb regular, Andreas Marko, and his Audi A4 STW. An Audi Sport quattro S1 E2 replica, an Audi Coupe, a modified Audi S2 and an Audi 90 sedan also competed.

These photos are from our friends at Race-Action.com, who had a number of photographers on site to provide excellent coverage of the event.

More information and photo credit: 
Race-Action.com on Facebook

#53 ABT-Audi TT-R - Vláďa Vitver

#92 Audi A4 STW - Andreas Marko

#196 Audi Sport quattro S1 E2 replica - Harald Neuherz

#84 Audi S2 - Karl Werner

#102 Audi Coupe - Michael Endress

#83 Audi 90 - Edi Lieber

Brazilian GT: Audi Top Service Ebrahim Motors ready for round 1 at São Paulo

By Tarek Ramchani

The 2013 Brazilain GT Championship will kick off this weekend at São Paulo. A single Audi R8 LMS ultra will take part in the event, with support from Audi Brazil.

Ebrahim Motors has raced with the Audi R8 LMS in the last two season of the Brazilian GT Championship. Strong performances from the privateer team, but also very bad luck many times as well. The team updated their car to ultra specification in the middle of 2012.

Ebrahim Motors will be the official Audi Brazil dealer team for 2013. The #20 Audi R8 LMS ultra (2012 specification model) will have a factory silver and red paint scheme and will carry the Audi Top Service sponsorship. A step ahead for a team managed and run by the Ebrahim brothers, Fábio and Wagner. With this kind of recognition, the Audi team will target the overall championship title.

The first round will be held on the streets of São Paulo, at the temporary Anhembi Circuit supporting the IndyCar Series. We wish the best of luck to Ebrahim Motors and their Audi R8 LMS ultra.

Photo credit: Audi Brazil official Facebook

Audi Sport Team Joest arrives at Spa - New long-tail included

By Johan Laubscher

Round two of the FIA World Endurance Championship will be at Spa this weekend. A lot is expected from this event, as it will be the first joint appearance of Audi and Toyota’s 2013 specification race cars.

Audi will be fielding three Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars in the event which has become their annual dress rehearsal for Le Mans. The #1 and #2 Audis will be in the normal 2013 sprint specification and car #3 will be in the new Le Mans bodywork specification, aptly named the “long-tail” version. The long-tail was seen testing at Monza last week and Audi Sport officially revealed the car in a pre-Spa event press release, which can be read HERE.

Toyota will also be fielding a new cars this weekend. Their two-car team will consist of one new 2013 car (car #7) and one of the older cars which competed at Silverstone. This should offer an initial comparison between Audi and Toyota ahead of the Le Mans 24 hours next month. 

The Audi team has already arrived at Spa and are set up and preparing for the six hour event this weekend. These great photos come from Mr Dirk Theisges, who was on site whilst the Audis were being unloaded. They offer the first glimpse of the new long-tail at Spa.

The Six Hours of Spa should be another great event, and another showdown between Audi and Toyota. 

Photo credit: Mr Dirk Theisges

Audi Sport Team Rosberg no longer the third team

By Tarek Ramchani

Team Rosberg has been racing with Audi as a factory team in the DTM since 2006. The team always used older specification Audi A4 DTM cars, with disappointing results most of the time.

Things have changes since 2011. Team Rosberg welcomed two young and fast drivers, who adapted quickly and really well to the demanding DTM. Portuguese driver Filipe Albuquerque who came from Audi Sport Italia and Italian Edoardo Mortara who came from the F3 single seater formula. Both drivers had a great debut in the German series during 2011. Mortara was on the podium twice and even better he won the non-championship event at Munich Olympic Stadium.

In 2012 Team Rosberg finally had the chance to use a brand new DTM racer, when Audi debuted the A5 DTM R17, an equal start for all three Audi factory teams. Overall the season was very difficult for Audi as a brand, but not for Team Rosberg. Edoardo Mortara won his first ever DTM victory at the Red Bull Ring, the first ever for Team Rosberg with Audi. Later in the year Edo won again at Zandvoort. He finished fifth in the championship. Filipe Albuquerque had a harder year but was always capable of taking points and fighting hard on track, Filipe ended the season in eleventh overall. Audi Sport Team Rosberg was classified fourth in the teams standings, and the best Audi team.

For 2013 both drivers will continue with Audi Sport Team Rosberg. The team is aiming very high for this year's competition in the DTM overall, but also within the Audi squad, to again be the top Audi team alongside Phoenix Racing and Abt Sportsline. The season opener is set for this weekend, at the Hockenheimring. Team Rosberg and their pair of Audi RS 5 DTM cars will try to prove again that they are no longer the third team at Audi.

Photo credit: Audi Media