The 2024 racing season has kicked off on a high note for Audi’s customer teams across various championships worldwide. From GT racing to touring car events, Audi machinery has already demonstrated its competitiveness with a string of victories and podium finishes.
Audi Customer Teams Start 2024 Season Strong with Multiple Victories and Podiums
In the North Island Endurance Series in New Zealand, Audi teams swept the podium in the opening round at Hampton Downs. Luke Manson and James Penrose secured an impressive one-two-three victory for Team IMS, leading home their teammates Sam Fillmore and Jonny Reid. The amateur pairing of Steve Brooks and Bill Riding completed the Audi lockout in third place.
Audi customer teams also tasted success at the start of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe sprint season. Max Hofer and Luca Engstler (Liqui Moly Team Engstler) and Paul Evrard/Gilles Magnus (Saintéloc Racing) claimed gold category wins at Brands Hatch.
In Italy, Rocco Mazzola and Pietro Delli Guanti delivered a podium finish for Team Tresor Audi Sport Italia in the Campionato Italiano Gran Turismo Sprint opener at Misano, securing second place.
Audi R8 LMS #12 (Audi Sport Italia), Pietro Delli Guanti/Rocco Mazzola
The Thailand Super Series saw B-Quik Absolute Racing achieve multiple podiums and class victories with the Audi R8 LMS at Buriram. Adisak Tangphuncharoen and Huang Ruohan won the Am class in both races, narrowly missing the overall win on Sunday by just 0.074 seconds.
Audi R8 LMS #25 (B-Quik Absolute Racing), Huang Ruohan/Adisak Tangphuncharoen
In the GT America series at Sebring, Johnny O’Connell (SKI Autosports) continued his strong form with a third-place finish in Race 1 after an audacious overtake, followed by a second-place result in Race 2.
The Audi RS 3 LMS touring cars also impressed, with Denis Babuin and Nicolas Taylor claiming class wins in TCR Italy at Misano. Nicola Baldan finished second overall and won the Master class, while Luca Franca leads the TCR Italy DSG championship after two rounds.
In the Nankang Endurance Academy series in Estonia, Deividas Sakalauskas and Marius Kemesys (DMK Racing Team) triumphed in their Audi RS 3 LMS.
Audi RS 3 LMS #13 (DMK Racing Team), Marius Kemesys/Deividas Sakalauskas
As the season progresses, Audi’s customer teams are well-positioned for more success across various championships, showcasing the competitiveness of Audi’s GT3 and touring car offerings.
Coming up next week
10–12/05 Lédenon (F), round 2, GT4 France
10–12/05 Oschersleben (D), round 1, GTC Race
10–12/05 Oschersleben (D), round 1, Spezial Tourenwagen Trophy
10–12/05 Monterey (USA), round 3, IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge
11–12/05 Portimão (P), round 3, 24H Series powered by Hankook
11–12/05 Hockenheim (D), round 2, International GT Open
11–12/05 Buriram (THA), round 2, GT World Challenge Asia
11–12/05 Varano (I), round 2, Coppa Italia Turismo
