The Audi R8 LMS Cup produced exciting motorsport on its Taiwan debut. Sébastien Loeb Racing was rewarded for a strong race weekend and DTM driver Mattias Ekström won the FIA World Rallycross Championship round in Sweden.
Thrilling premiere for Audi R8 LMS Cup in Taiwan
Three races, three winners: Edoardo Mortara, Franky Congfu Cheng and Thomas Fjordbach shared the victories in the third round of the Audi R8 LMS Cup season. Wildcard starter Mortara celebrated a commanding start-finish victory in the first race on the Penbay International Circuit. The DTM driver won by 1.313 seconds ahead of Cheng and Fjordbach. Although Mortara crossed the finish line first in race two, a 30-second penalty prevented the Italian from taking two wins. Benefactor was Cheng, who moved up a position and celebrated his first victory of the season. Rookie Aditya Patel and reigning Champion Alex Yoong finished behind him on the winners’ rostrum. In the third race, Thomas Fjordbach celebrated his first win. On the first lap, the rookie benefitted from the push-to-pass function and overtook pole sitter Patel. Fjordbach defended the lead all the way to the flag. Title holder Alex Yoong and Congfu Cheng followed in second and third less than once second behind. After the third of six rounds Aditya Patel is at the top of the standings. The next Audi R8 LMS Cup race weekend is held on August 8-9 in Sepang (Malaysia).
Sébastien Loeb Racing rewarded with victory
Triumphant race weekend for Sébastien Loeb Racing: the record rally World Champion’s team celebrated its first victory of the season at the fourth round of the French GT Championship. David Hallyday, Philippe Gaillard and Mike Parisy crossed the finish line first in Audi R8 LMS ultra #3 at Le Vigeant. The trio had earlier qualified on pole position for the two races.
Ekström wins again in World Rallycross Championship round in Sweden
Mattias Ekström repeated his last year’s victory in the FIA World Rallycross Championship in Sweden. At the sixth round of the season, Ekström in his Audi S1 EKS RX quattro initially finished behind compatriot Timmy Hansen in the final for the best six drivers. However, the stewards corrected the result after winners’ ceremony. In the view of the officials, Hansen had left the track in his overtaking attempt in the last corner. This is the second victory in a World Championship round for Ekström and his private Rallycross team EKS.
Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns defend championship lead
Winning streak over, but championship lead intact: thanks to an impressive comeback drive, Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns still top the Blancpain Sprint Series standings after the fourth round of the season. After two consecutive victories, the Belgian-Dutch duo from Belgian Audi Club Team WRT had to settle for fifth place in the race at Moscow Raceway. Because of puncture in the qualifying race, Vanthoor/Frijns only started the one-hour race from 16th on the grid. Their teammates Stéphane Richelmi and Stéphane Ortelli finished fourth in the best-placed Audi R8 LMS ultra. An Audi R8 LMS ultra fielded by Phoenix Racing held second place for many laps. However, a drive through penalty, which Markus Winkelhock completed five minutes before the end of the race, threw him back in sixth place.
Dupré Motorsport celebrates double podium in the DMV GTC
Audi customer team Dupré Motorsport mounted the winners’ rostrum in both races held during the fourth DMV GTC race weekend at Hockenheim. From sixth on the grid for the first race, Christoph Dupré gradually moved forward in the Audi R8 LMS ultra before finally taking third place. The Saarlander also finished third in the second race around the traditional track.
Podium positions in the Spezial Tourenwagen Trophy
“Maximilian Stein” performed strongly during the third Spezial Tourenwagen Trophy race weekend. In the opening race, the driver fielded by Audi customer team Schütz Motorsport took second overall. In the Audi R8 LMS with start number 5, “Stein” was only 2.195 seconds behind the race winner after 16 laps. In the second race, he finished second in class. Berthold Gruhn was third in another Audi R8 LMS.
