Two teams with support by Audi Sport customer racing
More than ten Audi R8 LMS expected at Spa
World Champion JosĂ© MarĂa LĂłpez to race for Audi for the first time
For the 24 Hours of Spa from July 25 to 28, Audi Sport customer racing expects more than ten Audi R8 LMS on the grid. The 24-hour race is part of the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup. It is also the third in five rounds of the Intercontinental GT Challenge for which Audi Sport has nominated four race cars.
Audi Sport has won the iconic endurance race with the Audi R8 LMS four times so far – in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2017. In the battle for its fifth victory, Audi relies on proven teams with a successful track record. Audi Sport Team WRT – the 2011 and 2014 winning team – is fielding two Audi R8 LMS cars for Audi Sport customer racing. Audi Sport drivers Frank Stippler and Dries Vanthoor, who won the 24 Hours of Nürburgring a week ago, will be sharing a cockpit with the Spaniard Alex Riberas.
Robin Frijns, Nico MĂĽller and RenĂ© Rast, three of the six Audi factory drivers in the DTM, are going to drive another Audi R8 LMS of the Belgian team. Rast has previously won the race back in 2012 with Frank Stippler and a second time in 2014. Audi Sport Team SaintĂ©loc is entering a third Audi R8 LMS on behalf of Audi Sport customer racing. The team from France won the 24 Hours of Spa in 2017, with Markus Winkelhock and Christopher Haase, among others. As in 2018, both are forming a driver squad together with this year’s NĂĽrburgring winner FrĂ©dĂ©ric Vervisch.Â
Team Montaplast by Land-Motorsport – in third position last year as the best Audi team – is going to use the opportunity of the prestigious race for another entry. Ricardo Feller and Audi Sport driver Christopher Mies will be supported by a three-time world champion: JosĂ© MarĂa LĂłpez will drive an Audi R8 LMS for the first time. The Argentinian won the World Touring Car Championship between 2014 and 2016 and is the runner-up in the 2018/2019 FIA WEC season.
In addition, other Audi R8 LMS cars of the teams that are regular entrants in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup will be part of the field: Belgian Audi Club Team WRT is preparing at least two other race cars. Team Attempto Racing is participating in the series with two cars and relies on Audi Sport drivers Mattia Drudi and Kevin van der Linde, among others. Saintéloc Racing and Phoenix Racing are each putting one Audi R8 LMS on the grid. Furthermore, four of last year’s winners from the one-make cup will be racing together under the Audi Sport R8 LMS Cup entry at Spa for the first time.
“With that, we have an experienced and strong lineup in the cars we’re supporting. Other Audi Sport drivers are augmenting the driver teams of our customers too. Several privateer driver lineups from the ranks of our teams are completing the entire squad, so we’re well set in the battle for the Coupe du Roi,” says Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing.
Teams nominated for the Intercontinental GT Challenge at Spa:
Audi Sport Team Saintéloc
Christopher Haase/Frédéric Vervisch/Markus Winkelhock
Audi Sport Team WRT
Alex Riberas/Frank Stippler/Dries Vanthoor
Audi Sport Team WRT
Robin Frijns/Nico Müller/René Rast
Montaplast by Land-Motorsport
Ricardo Feller/JĂłse MarĂa LĂłpez/Christopher Mies
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