Audi Sport R8s finish 1-2 in GT class at Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona

[keithwbloom]

Here AutoGuide, let me do your job for you while it is still "news." — Ed.



From Speed Channel website:

"The battle in the production-based ranks came down to a fuel mileage race, with the class-leading No. 24 Alex Job Racing-entered Audi of Filipe Alburquerque retaining a narrow lead following a splash for fuel with seven minutes to go.

Alburquerque edged out defending class winner Rene Rast by 1.476 seconds, who made a late charge despite stretching the fuel mileage of his No. 52 APR Motorsport entry.

"We were not really dreaming aout the victory because we were one lap down two and a half hours to the end," Alburquerque said. "In the end, I was leading but I had to do a splash and dash so I didn't know how far back I would fall.

"I kept pushing but I then started having [gearbox] problems. I had to use the clutch, upshifting and downshifting, and took some risks."

The win for the Portuguese DTM pilot and co-drivers Oliver Jarvis, Edoardo Mortara and Dion von Moltke gave Audi its elusive first Daytona crown, capping off a remarkable 12 months for the German manufacturer, which took key endurance victories at Le Mans, Sebring, Spa and the Nurburgring last year.

Veteran team owner Alex Job, who also had a contending Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car entered, meanwhile, was overcome with emotions after earning his second Rolex 24 class win but the first for Audi.

"I had no team orders," Job said. "My goal was to win, No. 1 for WeatherTech, No. 2 for AJR, and do the right job for both brands. I explained that to Porsche and I explained that to Audi. We went after it that way.

"It was a little anti-climatic at the end. We didn't finish 1-2. The Audi clearly had the speed and was positioned to win. We were on a different strategy with the other car and it didn't quite work."

APR's Rast, Frank Stippler, Marc Basseng and Ian Baas came home second, benefitting from the No. 13 Rum Bum Racing Audi of Markus Winkelhock, who ran out of fuel on the final lap. It would have otherwise resulted in a sweep of the podium for the R8 teams."

Full Coverage

[pablitormDub]

My good friend went to this, said it was a blast!! The R8 tdi won!!

[JayTheSnork]

I watched some of the race over the weekend - it was awesome.

[keithwbloom]

I want to go next year. I am looking at possibly going to June date at Watkins Glen this summer.

I grew up on road circuit racing. It was cool to watch the different classes at the same time because if all the passing and traffic maneuvers. Watching the night coverage of the Rolex 24, it was amazing to see the headers glowing from behind the DP cars and all the cars' front rotors glowing red from the constant abuse.

It was also fascinating to watch the brake changes each car would have two or three times during race. Not just pads, but complete systems. Calipers, pads, rotors and a lightning fast fluid flush. Serious pit stop action.




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[nolesfan]

Keith, why don't you come with me in October to VIR for ALMS? I went last September, and in May of 2010 for Grand-Am Rolex and CTSCC there... it's a great track, though seating is limited, but you get to walk/drive pretty much anywhere you want to go. I definitely want to go to 24 Hours of Daytona. Me and my brother-in-law wanted to go this year, but getting there and back was going to be difficult this year due to non-related things. I love sports car racing and wish it were more popular here, but it's a blast for sure.

I kept up most of the time with the teams I was interested in via facebook and speed.com's continous streaming coverage, as well as some of the teams websites (goapr.com). I got to see Alex Job Racing / WeatherTech in person at VIR last year (ALMS GT3 class) where they won their class championship. Pretty cool; I even got a hat one of the drivers tossed out during the post race podium pictures/celebration time

The facebook post that got me in trouble with the wife getting autographs from Falken Tire girls. Woops




Unrelated pic:

[NEWMAN'SOWN]

APR R8, so close, yet so far...

[nolesfan]

LOL, Alex... They have a ways to go to consistently be any good. Last year's 24 was off to a good start but they missed a lot of the race that night due to clutch issues, then the rest of the season was pretty much learn and develop. Honestly though, their efforts in CTSCC aren't much better, I know they're running some older cars now, but of all the cars they field, I'd think they'd get more podiums.

[NEWMAN'SOWN]

True, I guess I'm just mainly dreading the 16 page ad spread WeatherTech will undoubtedly plaster in every every print car mag from here to to Timbuktu...