Audi Sport wins 24-hour Nurburgring thriller

June 25,2019

An Audi R8 LMS racing at the famed Nurburgring.

THE No. 4 Audi R8 LMS of Audi Sport Team Phoenix scored for Audi Sport the manufacturer’s fifth victory in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring. Audi Sport customer teams have won in the endurance race’s 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017 editions. Audi Sport Team Phoenix delivered the 2012 and 2014 victories.

Audi Sport Team Phoenix’s R8 LMS was driven by Pierre Kaffer, Frank Stippler, Dries Vanthoor and Frederic Vervisch.

Audi Sport said three R8 LMS cars were running within the leaders for long stretches of the race, and that the No. 4 car only took the lead on lap 142. At this point a second Audi Sport team entry — Audi Sport Land, the 2017 winner — had chances of taking victory as well. But Audi Sport Land retired two hours before the end of the race. This left Audi Sport’s chances of winning to the No. 4 R8 LMS of Audi Sport Team Phoenix — which delivered the top podium finish.

To date, the GT3 race cars from Audi Sport’s customer racing program have clinched 13 overall victories in 24-hour races worldwide since 2009.

“Sincere congratulations to the whole squad,” said Chris Reinke, head of Audi Sport customer racing. “We won with a unique combination of diverse factors this time. The field was not fully balanced and our rivals drove better lap times across long distances. But the impeccable and strong driving performance saved us from penalties.”

Nine of the 10 race cars from Audi Sport customer racing finished this year’s 24 Hours of Nurburgring.

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