The 2016 Audi Sport TT Cup will start on the first weekend in May during the DTM season opener at Hockenheim, followed by a premiere three weeks later. For the first time, the drivers of the Audi one-make cup will be pitted against each other as part of the supporting program for the 24-hour race in the Eifel on a variant of the Grand Prix circuit. At the end of June, like last year, two rounds are scheduled at the Nuremberg Norisring before the series’ debut at Zandvoort (the Netherlands) marks the first foreign race of the season. Following a two-month summer break, the Audi Sport TT Cup will pick up momentum again at two events in September. First, the young drivers will be proving their prowess once more at the Nürburgring, this time on the DTM configuration of the Grand Prix circuit. Subsequently, at Budapest (Hungary), another race weekend outside Germany is on the calendar. The finale will be held at Hockenheim from October 14 to 16.
In the second season of the Audi Sport TT Cup, Philipp Mondelaers as the new Project Leader, will continue the successful work of Rolf Michl, who will be in charge of product marketing for Audi’s R and RS models at quattro GmbH. Mondelaers was involved in DTM engine development at Audi Sport until 2010 and in 2011 switched to vehicle development in the customer racing department. At the same time, he worked as a race engineer at important events, celebrating notable successes in GT racing with Audi Sport Team Phoenix and Audi Sport Team WRT among others.
“I watched the inaugural year of the Audi Sport TT Cup with great interest and look forward to this new challenge and to working with the young talents,” says Project Leader Mondelaers. “This year’s calendar emphasizes the international character of the Audi Sport TT Cup. At Zandvoort and Budapest, we have two new tracks in our portfolio. None of the drivers has previously raced there in the Audi TT cup. The round at the Nürburgring 24-hour race will no doubt be a highlight.”
A total of 125 drivers from 36 nations applied for the 2016 Audi Sport TT Cup. 20 cockpits are permanently awarded by quattro GmbH – two more than last year. Four additional cockpits will be filled by changing guest drivers.
2016 Audi Sport TT Cup calendar
06–08/05 Hockenheim (D)
26–29/05 Nürburgring (D)
24–26/06 Norisring (D)
15–17/07 Zandvoort (NL)
09–11/09 Nürburgring (D)
23–25/09 Budapest (H)
14–16/10 Hockenheim (D)