- Audi on the grid in Australia with designs from the animal kingdom
- Formula 1 know-how at Audi Sport Team Rosberg
- Exhibition and conference appearances for Audi factory drivers
The two Phoenix Racing Audi R8 LMS will be two visually
striking highlights in the field at the Bathurst 12 hours
at the end of February.
Black and white: The two Audi R8 LMS which compete in the
12 hours Bathurst between February 24 and 26 are unique
with their visual references to the animal kingdom.
Christer Jöns/Christopher Mies/Darryl
O'Youngshare a black R8 LMS. An oversized version of
the world-famous yellow traffic sign symbolizing the
kangaroo is reproduced on the bodywork. A spider's web
covers the entire surface of the white sister car driven by
Mark Eddy/Craig Lowndes/Warren Luff. A typical
Australian Redback spider sits in the web.
Top-class new team member: Formula 1 know-how moves to Audi
Sport Team Rosberg. New team member Ossi
Oikarinenspent 14 years in Grand Prix racing. The
41-year old engineer is new Technical Director of the DTM
team from March 1 and successor to Andreas Roos. After
starting at Arrows in 1997, Oikarinen moved to Toyota in
2000 where he also worked together with Dieter Gass, the
new Head of Racing Commitments at Audi Sport. Oikarinen who
hails from Lahti in Finland managed the BMW Sauber teat
team from 2007. From 2009 he was the leading test engineer
at Ferrari. "We expect many new impulses for our team in
2012 season from this high-class new team member," explains
Team Director Arno Zensen.
Great enthusiasm in Erfurt: Rahel Freywas a
popular guest at the ADAC Motorsport Show at the exhibition
center in Thuringia. The Swiss lady representing Audi was a
popular interviewee and signed many autographs. Among the
biggest attractions in Hall 1 was also the Schaeffler Audi
A4 DTM.
Crowds of fans at Lake Constance: Audi factory driver
Timo Scheiderwas kept busy signing countless
autographs all day, every day from Friday to Sunday on the
Motorradwelt stand at the exhibition center in
Friedrichshafen. The two-time DTM Champion is an
enthusiastic motorbike rider.
Presentation in Paris: At a press conference on February 2
the ACO and FIA will present the new World Endurance
Championship (WEC). Audi will be represented by factory
driver Benoît Tréluyerand also displays the
Audi R18 TDIwith which the Frenchman and his
team mates won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2011.
Trade fair exhibit in Qatar: Visitors attending the Motor
Show in Doha between January 25 and 28 were not only able
to admire the latest production cars. An Audi R18
TDIjoined the many eye-catchers on the Audi
stand.
Familiar faces: With the introduction of the GRAND-AM
program two engineers from sport prototype programs return.
The American Brad Kettler was an engineer for
different Audi teams since the Audi R8 LMP era. He now
provides technical and logistical support in the customer
racing program. Ron Mathis, one of the race
engineers from the former American Le Mans Series program,
is new race engineer at Oryx Racing.
Big program: about 180 guestsof Audi of
America visibly enjoyed the debut of the R8 GRAND-AM at
Daytona. A tour through the paddock, exclusive pit tours
during the race and visits to meet the drivers in the Audi
Lounge on the main grandstand ensured the weekend remained
unforgettable. The guests enjoyed a unique view across the
oval track from the Audi Lounge.
A word from ... Emanuele Pirro
Your start in the 24 hours Daytona 2012 has a special
meaning to you. What connects you with this
race?
"Oh yes, it's my first race as a 50-year old racing driver!
No, seriously though, I contested my first race outside
Italy as 19-year old racing driver at Daytona in 1981. And
now 31 years later I have the honor of being in the thick
of the action as the R8 GRAND-AM makes its debut in
Daytona. This is why this race with Audi is so
special."
What has changed over the course of more than three
decades?
"Earlier there were so few buildings that it was possible
to recognize the banking from a long way away. This put so
much fear in our hearts that two of my team mates - Michele
Alboreto and Beppe Gabbiani - and I wanted to turn around
on the spot! At that time there was no chicane in the oval.
Today it's great fun to drive on the demanding circuit with
such a well developed car like the R8 GRAND-AM. By the way,
despite being in motorsport for many decades, I attended
the Rookie briefing at Daytona again this year."
What memories do you have of the famous Daytona
weekend?
"After coming home after my first race in 1981 I didn't
realize what we had achieved. Thanks to our points our
employer became World Champion. And now we've started a
campaign which will hopefully also have a big effect. I'm
sure that the Audi R8 GRAND-AM will have a big future in
this series."
Coming up next week
02.02. Press conference WEC Paris (F)
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