By Johan Laubscher
1. The Weekend
Focussing this week on the weekend of 11 - 12 August 2012
2. The Events
- Grand Am
- BTCC
- ADAC GT Masters
- Pikes Peak
- Kerrick Sports Sedans
- STCC
- SCCA Nationals
- Bonneville Speed Week
2.1. Grand Am
The Rolex Grand Am Series made their second trip to Watkins Glen this weekend for round ten of the series. The APR Motorsport Audi R8 GRAND-AM was fast all weekend, but lady luck was to frown upon the team once again. The team pushed hard and with a possible top five finish in sight the team suffered a wheel bearing failure. The failure cost them a good finish and they ultimately finished in thirteenth.
2.2. BTCC
The BTCC held round six of the series at the revised Snetterton circuit. One Audi A4 NGTC car was filed by Rob Austin Racing, the #13 driven by Rob Austin. The car showed great pace during the weekend with top ten places during practice. Race one saw Rob coming into the pits during a safety car. He then proceeded to charge from last to twelfth. Race two and three resulted in a DNS and DNF after unfortunate incidents on track.
2.3. ADAC GT Masters
Round five of the German ADAC GT Masters proved to be very difficult for the Audi teams. None of the three Audi R8 LMS ultra cars placed in the top ten during qualifying. Race one had a similar fate for the Audi teams as the top placed Audis were the cars of Prosperia uhc Speed in twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth place. Race two saw one of the Prosperia uhc Speed cars penetrate the top ten.
2.4. Pikes Peak
The postponed running of the 2012 Pikes Peak International Hillclimb took place this weekend. The paving of the famous gravel hillclimb has opened the event to new breads of race cars. Sadly the much published return of Walter Röhrl and the 1987 Audi Sport quattro S1 did not occur. The Audi S1 was on display at the event but Walter could not attend due to a scheduling conflict. However, despite the set back there were other Audis at the event for the Audi fans to cheer. A total of five Audis were entered, all of them in the Time Attack class. Among the Audis featured two cars from Fingers Crossed Racing and the Audi A4 from 034 Motorsport with Randy Pobst behind the wheel. The pace car for the event was an Audi S5.
2.5. Kerrick Sports Sedans
Darren Hossack dominated the Kerrick Sport Sedans Series this weekend. The series was at Queensland Raceway for round four. The Audi A4 powered by a Chevrolet engine took pole and all three race victories on the day.
2.6. STCC
The fifth round of the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship visited the new Östersund Airport circuit. The BMS Racing team were there with the two Audi A4 STCC cars. The Ahlberg brothers did very well in the Semcon Cup for privateers. Joakim Ahlberg scored a win and a third followed by his brother, Andreas Ahlberg with two second place finishes. The brothers maintain second and third place in the points.
2.7. SCCA Nationals
Limitless Racing entered their third race event this weekend. After competing in events of the Grand Am and IMG Racing series the team entered a SCCA National event. The event was the Tri-Region NESCCA Double National Races at Pocono Raceway.
2.8. Bonneville Speed Week
The 2012 Bonneville Speed Week is running from 11-17 August. Jeff Gerner and his 1000+ HP Audi S4 C4 returned to the salt flats this year seeking a world record. QuattroWorld.com are on site this week reporting live from the event. Gerner had his first run on Sunday and achieved an average speed of 250.009 mph, which is a new world record.
2.9. Other Audi news
The official Audi Sport Facebook page has released another rendered wallpaper this week. This is the second wallpaper so far this year and features the endurance triple win of Audi at the Le Mans 24 Hours, Nürburgring 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours.
The 2012 Monterey RM Auction is a week away. Two special cars will be going under the hammer next weekend. One 2001 Audi R8 LMP (chassis #501) and a 2001 Bentley EXP Speed 8 are up for auction.
Audi USA had a feature on display which combined a decorated Audi RS5 and Ducati at Pikes Peak. They produced a video featuring these two brands together at the mountain. The Audi RS5 was also on display alongside the original 1987 Pikes Peak winning Audi Sport quattro S1.
Audi Tradition has had an exciting addition to their collection of race cars. They have acquired an Auto Union Type D twin supercharged from 1939. The car is one of the two Karassik cars that were restored.
Pamela Anderson’s newly created race team RaceAlliance (previously known as downforce1) have revealed their plans for 2012 and 2013. The team have ordered two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars for the 2013 season. They will compete in the German ADAC GT Masters Series as well as selected endurance events.
Kieth Edwards Motors Racing were at the German Car Show at Wigan in England this weekend. Along with their monstrous red Audi Sport quattro the team also had another recently completed Sport quattro on display. The team won the best Motorsport Car Award at the event.
3. Next Weekend’s events (18-19/08/2012)
- Grand AM
- DTM
- Czech series
- STT
- RCN
- Britcar
- Japanese Super GT
- Audi R8 LMS Cup
- GT ASIA
- Swedish GT
- Norwegian GT Racing
- GT Cup
- FIA GT1
- RM Auctions
- Cup & Tourenwagen Trophy
- IMG Racing
All photos are hosted at their respective website which are listed within the Weekend Round Up
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