Media Information WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup 2018
MEDIA INFORMATION 2018 W TCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup 3 Introduction 4 Ten years of Audi Sport customer racing 6 TCR worldwide 8 Audi RS 3 LMS 12 Drivers 26 Teams 28 Regulations 30 Race tracks 40 Audi Motorsport history 42 Contact WELCOME! Asia, Europe and South America. Audi Sport customer racing is taking on its greatest challenge in touring car racing to date. We would be delighted to welcome you at the race tracks in the 2018 season. Chris Reinke Head of Audi Sport customer racing Introduction 2018 marks the beginning of a new era in international touring car racing. The WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup ties in with a tradition that Audi started with production-based models. In 1995, Frank Biela with Audi was the last driver to have won a World Touring Car Cup and now two strong teams with six campaigners are representing the colors of Audi Sport customer racing in the new series. They rely on the Audi RS 3 LMS, the entry-level model of the motorsport world of the four rings. The calendar featuring ten rounds around the globe, including four city street circuits, guarantees its presence in Africa, 3 A DEC ADE OF SUCCESS Audi’s customer racing program was launched in 2009, so the anniversary year of 2018 marks Audi Sport customer racing’s tenth full season. Following its beginnings in the GT3 category and an Audi TT RS for the VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring, the program was extended to one-make cups in 2015 with the Audi TT cup. At the end of 2016, the Audi RS 3 LMS followed for the TCR class and in 2017, the brand presented the Audi R8 LMS GT4. The customer racing program is fi rmly anchored on the four continents of America, Asia, Australia and Europe and encompasses hundreds of races each season. The winning streak Audi Sport and its customers have been enjoying is comprehensive. In 2017, its fi rst season, the entry-level model Audi RS 3 LMS won 58 single races and fi ve championship titles.
2009–2018 track record: Impressive tally
Following the launch of the program, Audi Sport customer racing, within a very short period of time, took on all major worldwide competitions together with its customers. In addition to big national and international racing series, they include prestigious stand-alone races. The landscape of racing series and top-caliber events encompasses firmly established classics just like promising recent additions. Audi Sport has clinched victories and titles around the globe. As early as in 2009, its maiden season, the Audi R8 LMS set initial standards: Title successes in the Belgian GT Championship, the ADAC GT Masters in Germany and the FIA GT3 European Championship – the flagship GT3 racing series at the time – marked a successful beginning. To date, the drivers of the Audi R8 LMS have clinched 49 overall drivers’ championship titles worldwide, from club sport to top-caliber racing, plus numerous additional titles in other classifications. Audi Sport took on the world’s greatest challenges as well, having scored a GT3 class win in the Nürburgring 24 Hours on three occasions, plus five overall victories. In the 24-hour race at Spa, the overall winners relied on Audi four times too and additionally scored three Coupe du Roi successes in the manufacturers’ classification. In Dubai, following the “marathon” around the clock, an Audi finished in front twice. In the 24-hour race at Daytona, customers won their class on two occasions, just like in the Petit Le Mans race at Road Atlanta. At three events of the Bathurst 12 Hour in Australia, the Audi R8 LMS was the first car to cross the finish line and additionally scored one victory each over the same race duration at the Hungaroring and at Imola, plus two at Sepang. The Thunderhill 25 Hours club sport race in California has been won by customer teams four times. At the famous street race in Macau, Audi has scored four victories to date with the GT3 sports car. The Audi RS 3 LMS is successful around the globe as well.
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The Audi RS 3 LMS: First Audi for entry-level motorsport
In the new Audi RS 3 LMS, Audi, for the first time, offers its customers a cost-efficient factory-built entry-level race car. The touring car has been developed for the relatively young TCR category. With its massively flared fenders, low front splitter, large vent on the hood and top-mounted rear wing, the Audi RS 3 LMS is reminiscent of a DTM race car shortly after the turn of the millennium – albeit being much more akin to the production model. The steel body has been adopted from the production version nearly unchanged. For use in racing, the body produced at the Győr plant was only made lighter, reinforced in some areas, and provided with a steel-tube safety cage for maximum protection of the driver. The four-cylinder TFSI engine stems from the production version nearly unchanged too. In the TCR version, the unit delivers 243 kW (330 hp). The Audi RS 3 LMS accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in about 4.5 seconds and achieves a top speed of about 240 km/h. As stipulated by the regulations, the car has front-wheel drive. Installed at the front are McPherson struts. At the rear, the Audi RS 3 LMS uses a multilink suspension. Ride height, toe and camber are infinitely variable. The front and rear stabilizers are three-way adjustable. The sequential six-speed racing transmission of the Audi RS 3 LMS has a proven track record in other race cars of the Group, as does the multi-plate limited slip differential. To keep costs low, driving aids are prohibited in the TCR category. That is why the Audi RS 3 LMS neither uses an anti-lock braking system (ABS) nor traction control (ASR) or an active differential. In the development project, Audi attached particular importance to safety, in terms of which the Audi RS 3 LMS sets new standards. The extensive safety package includes an FIA-conformant safety fuel tank, a safety cell for racing, the PS3 safety seat, FIA safety nets on both sides of the seat and a rescue hatch in the roof like the one used in the Audi R8 LMS.
Audi Sport customer racing: Audi Sport first-class worldwide
Audi Sport customer racing has established a worldwide reputation in customer motorsport on four continents within the space of ten years. With premium quality in products and support Audi Sport’s customer racing department occupies an outstanding position in a tough competitive environment – in as many as four racing categories. In addition, Audi Sport customer racing in 2019 supports commitments in the Intercontinental GT Challenge, the FIA GT World Cup, in the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup and at stand-alone events such as the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The four rings have been firmly established also in customer sport since 2009. Following Audi’s successes in rally racing, in touring car racing and in the sports prototype category, the brand started offering products specifically designed for customers a decade ago. During the first decade the company developed six different models. Everything began in GT3 racing with the Audi R8 LMS that was followed in 2015 by the second generation and is now starting to the 2019 season as an evolution. In 2011, the Audi TT RS that was particularly successful in endurance racing was the second model in the program. In 2015, the Audi TT cup car for one-make racing complemented the portfolio. For the 2017 season, a TCR race touring car – the Audi RS 3 LMS – was available for the first time. Since 2018, customers have been fielding the new Audi R8 LMS GT4 with great success. “We want to introduce one new product per year and in pursuing this model offensive specifically focus on growth categories,” says Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. “As a result, Audi Sport has developed a clear profile in all key markets around the world. Due to the production volumes, we achieve the greatest synergies in manufacturing, sales and support.” In the world of Audi Sport customer racing, GT3 racing stands for globally visible, international competitions, as well as for national racing series and for club racing.
The Audi RS 3 LMS: First Audi for entry-level motorsport
In the new Audi RS 3 LMS, Audi, for the first time, offers its customers a cost-efficient factory-built entry-level race car. The touring car has been developed for the relatively young TCR category. With its massively flared fenders, low front splitter, large vent on the hood and top-mounted rear wing, the Audi RS 3 LMS is reminiscent of a DTM race car shortly after the turn of the millennium – albeit being much more akin to the production model. The steel body has been adopted from the production version nearly unchanged. For use in racing, the body produced at the Győr plant was only made lighter, reinforced in some areas, and provided with a steel-tube safety cage for maximum protection of the driver. The four-cylinder two-liter TFSI engine stems from the production version nearly unchanged too. In the TCR version, the unit delivers up to 257 kW (350 HP). The Audi RS 3 LMS accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in about 4.5 seconds and achieves a top speed of up to 265 km/h. As stipulated by the regulations, the car has front-wheel drive. Installed at the front are McPherson struts. At the rear, the Audi RS 3 LMS uses a multilink suspension. Ride height, toe and camber are infinitely variable. The front and rear stabilizers are three-way adjustable. The sequential six-speed racing transmission of the Audi RS 3 LMS has a proven track record in other race cars of the Group, as does the multi-plate limited slip differential. To keep costs low, driving aids are prohibited in the TCR category. That is why the Audi RS 3 LMS neither uses an anti-lock braking system (ABS) nor traction control (ASR) or an active differential. In the development process, Audi attached particular importance to safety, in terms of which the Audi RS 3 LMS sets new standards.
Profile: #31 Kevin Arnold (D) – Rookie
Kevin Arnold’s path to the Audi Sport TT Cup is rather unusual: The 17-year-old junior driver only recognized his talent at club sports events last year. Now, with Audi, he is choosing his way into professional motorsport. “The Audi Sport TT Cup is a good promotion for young talents. Here, I want to gain experience for the future,” says the racing driver from Aichelau in Baden-Württemberg, for whom the Hockenheimring is a favourite track. His aim is to score points with perseverance, passion and fun in the 2017 season. He can also rely on tips from personal acquaintances, including Formula 1 driver Pascal Wehrlein as well as long-time motorsport manager Norbert Haug. Date of birth December 31, 1999 Place of birth Münsingen (D) Residence Aichelau (D) Height/weight 1.75 m/75 kg Motorsport since 2016 Sporting career 2016 DMV BMW Challenge 2017 Audi Sport TT Cup Website – Social Media www.facebook.com/Kevin.Arnold.Racing
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Ten years of Audi Sport customer racing
Six models for top-class customer motorsport More than 50 championship titles worldwide Numerous synergies due to close affiliation within the Group
Audi Sport customer racing is celebrating its tenth anniversary. Following the presentation of the first generation of the Audi R8 LMS in 2008, the first customers relied on the GT3 sports car the following season – and immediately clinched three driver championship titles. To date, the number of these successes has increased to 52 around the world, plus other class titles have been won and victories scored in 12-, 24- and even 25-hour races. Audi Sport customer racing has by now built 531 race cars for international customers.
“Audi Sport customer racing today is experiencing the largest model offensive in its history,” says Michael-Julius Renz, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH. “In 2018 we’re aiming for our fifth overall victory in the world’s biggest endurance race, the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. The race is under the banner of our anniversary which we’re celebrating with the customers, fans and friends of our company.” 33 race cars from the current model range are deployed to three classes at the Nürburgring. While the GT3 version of the Audi R8 LMS is battling for overall victory, the Audi R8 LMS GT4 and the Audi RS 3 LMS are competing for class wins. At the same time, the Audi Sport R8 LMS Cup entrants are relying on both versions of the Audi R8 LMS, whereas seven Audi RS 3 LMS cars will be on the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup grid. The first two overall victories in the iconic endurance race at the Nürburgring in 2012 and 2014 were achieved by the first generation of the Audi R8 LMS that won the 24-hour race at Spa in 2011, 2012 and 2014 as well. During its seven-year model cycle, 137 race cars were built for the Asian, Australian, European, North and South American markets. The race car is still popular and successful in classes for cars of older generations such as those in Australian club sport.
Ten Audi R8 LMS in the ADAC GT Masters
Audi with the most customer teams in Europe’s strongest national series Title-defender Montaplast by Land-Motorsport competes with two Audi cars Audi R8 LMS also in other European national series
Audi remains the brand with the highest number of cars entered in probably the strongest national GT3 racing series in Europe. On April 28–30, ten Audi R8 LMS start contesting the eleventh season of the ADAC GT Masters. The cars are spread between six Audi customer teams, three of which are present for the first time in this series. The customer teams and their drivers are supported by six Audi Sport drivers.
Audi has already celebrated the overall victory in the ADAC GT Masters three times: Christian Abt in 2009, René Rast/Kelvin van der Linde in 2014 and Connor De Phillippi/Christopher Mies in 2016. The two champions from last year will be looking to defend their title with team Montaplast by Land-Motorsport. Their team mate Jeffrey Schmidt will share a cockpit with Christopher Haase. In 2007, Haase wrote history as the first ADAC GT Masters champion. In the South African Kelvin van der Linde from the Aust Motorsport team, another former title-holder will be in action in an Audi R8 LMS. Furthermore, Frank Aust’s team will provide a cockpit for a rising star from the Audi Sport TT Cup. Dennis Marschall is the 2016 runner-up from the Audi one-make cup. Yaco Racing, as another Audi customer team, has already proven that it is capable of victories with two race triumphs in the ADAC GT Masters. Three more teams will be relying on the Audi R8 LMS for the first time in this year’s ADAC GT3 racing series. The Audi Sport racing academy is giving a chance to the junior duo Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky/Ricardo Feller, and is counting on Elia Erhart/Christopher Höher in the second car. The team BWT Mücke Motorsport has, among others, Markus Winkelhock and Frank Stippler in the cockpit – two established Audi Sport drivers who have already celebrated many endurance race victories.