For long the exclusive preserve of Porsche, the GT class of the famous 24 Hours of Daytona was one day or another likely to be added to Audi's already impressive list of sports wins. After Le Mans, Spa and Nurburgring, the Ingolstadt make has completed in style its collection of triumphs in the legendary endurance events by clinching a double win in Florida ten days ago.
The first team to have placed its confidence in the Grand-Am R8, APR Motorsport – for which Motul is a technical partner both on track and on road ('Motul, official lubricant of APR Tuned') – completed a 2012 season full of promise, with in particular a podium in the last race.
With two cars contending in the Florida classic this year, one of which could be considered a 'factory' car, the ambitions were legitimate. Despite a few setbacks (race neutralised owing to fog, penalties, collisions, electrical problems), and an an incredible pace for all the cars in the lead, number 52 driven by Rast/ Basseng/ Baas/ and Stippler pulled off a superb race strategy to finish on the second step of the podium only … 1.4 seconds from the winning Audi!
Meanwhile, APR Motorsport's second R8, number 52, driven by Bell/ Emprigham/ Farano/ Figge/ and Lacey, which will participate in all the 2013 Rolex Series rounds, finished in an honourable 12th place, in other words six places ahead of the sole BMW M3 having set off because the second car of Turner Motorsport – another team supported technically by Motul – unfortunately had to quit following an awful exit from the track during the trials.
To appreciate the magic of V8s flat out, on-board video cameras can be watched on Motul's Youtube Channel. Watch the Audi and the BMW competiting!
GT Class results:
1/ Audi Alex Job Racing
2/ Audi APR Motorsport - Motul
3/ Ferrari AIM Motorsport
Photo credits: APR Sport
