Audi R8 LMS Cup Announces Extra Round at FIA WEC Shanghai

Audi R8 LMS Cup Press Release

·         Audi R8 LMS Cup supports debut FIA World Endurance Championship race in Shanghai

·         Two points-scoring races extend season to 12 races

·         Back-to-back race weekends in Shanghai for stunning season finale

Beijing, October 10, 2012 – Asia’s newest international sportscar series, the Audi R8 LMS Cup, has further raised the stakes in its debut season with the addition of two races next month in support of the season finale of the inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) from October 26-28 at the Shanghai International Circuit.

Rounds 9&10 of the Audi R8 LMS Cup will see the series – the brand’s first-ever one-makes championship – join other members of the Audi motorsport family in Shanghai, including this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans winners, the Audi Sport Team Joest drivers André Lotterer, Marcel Fässler and Benoît Tréluyer, who currently lead the FIA WEC Classification. The second Audi R18 e-tron quattro will be driven by Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish.

The brand won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the eleventh time this year and with the Audi R18 e-tron quattro made history as the first ever hybrid vehicle to secure overall victory in one of sport’s most famous races.

Supporting the FIA WEC season closer provides the Audi R8 LMS Cup with an opportunity to showcase top Asian sportscar talent to the international endurance racing community.

Now extended to 12 races, the Audi R8 LMS Cup has seen intense on-track battles all season long and the intensity of competition will have reached fever pitch by the penultimate race meeting of the year.  With a total of 51 points on offer for the weekend, the 16-strong field, each racing identical Audi R8 LMS Cup cars, will be fighting hard to maximize their points haul heading into the championship decider just two weeks later on the same track.

Said Rene Koneberg, Director of Audi Sport customer racing China: “We’re delighted to present our drivers with the opportunity to race in support of the prestigious FIA World Endurance Championship.  The level of competition in the Audi R8 LMS Cup, and the racing skills on show in the series, are extremely impressive, so this is their chance to shine on the world stage.”

The Audi R8 LMS Cup debuted in Shanghai in April, before moving to Zhuhai for Rounds 3&4. Following a meeting at the Ordos International Circuit in August, the series is competing this weekend in Zhuhai. October’s two races in support of the FIA World Endurance Championship will set the stage for November’s Shanghai double-header season finale.

Audi R8 LMS Cup Official Website at: www.audir8lmscup.com

Audi R8 LMS Cup

Provisional Calendar

Date	Event	Circuit	Rds
March 30 – April 1	Test	Zhuhai International Circuit, Zhuhai, China	-
April 27-29	China Touring Car Championship	Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China	1 & 2
June 1-3	China Touring Car Championship	Zhuhai International Circuit, Zhuhai, China	3 & 4
August 17-19	China Touring Car Championship	Ordos International Circuit, Ordos, China	5 & 6
September 14-16	Pan Delta Super Racing Festival	Zhuhai International Circuit, Zhuhai, China	7 & 8
October 26-28	FIA World Endurance Championship	Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China	9 & 10
November 9-11	Shanghai Sportscar Festival	Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China	11 & 12