Christopher Haase, Audi R8 LMS ultra #1 (Audi Sport Team WRT)
“Obviously, our victory in the past Blancpain race at Le Castellet is giving us a boost. We’re the runners-up in the standings now and at Spa up to 49 points are awarded. Naturally, our aim is to clinch a victory for Audi – no matter which driver team wins the race. Last year, I competed for Phoenix there, and this year for WRT. Both are top-caliber professional teams with a very individual approach. And we’re a good driver squad because Christopher Mies, Stephane Ortelli and I are a perfect fit. Christopher and I benefit from Stephane’s immense endurance racing experience.”
Christopher Mies, Audi R8 LMS ultra #1 (Audi Sport Team WRT)
“At Spa, I’m experiencing a premiere. I’ve never driven a race there and only tested once. The loads which the car withstands in Eau Rouge are incredible. I won at Bathurst in February, drove the 24-hour race at the Nurburgring and am now traveling to Spa – these are three of the nicest circuits in the world. A year ago, we saw that the car and Audi Sport Team WRT are able to win at Spa. I think that the drivers and the weather are the factors that will decide the outcome this year.”
Stephane Ortelli, Audi R8 LMS ultra #1 (Audi Sport Team WRT)
“The Spa 24 Hours is a great single event but I’ve been driving there for championship points as well for many years. This year, the title in the Blancpain Endurance Series is at stake. Twelve months ago, the Audi R8 LMS of Team WRT that won at Spa also clinched this title in the end. For me personally, the Le Mans 24 Hours is the most prestigious race but the Spa 24 Hours is the nicest run. I’ve won both races before and am eager to see what’s possible this year.”
Marco Bonanomi, Audi R8 LMS ultra #2 (Audi Sport Team WRT)
“I’m in a very special position at Spa. My two team-mates are battling for a good championship spot in the Blancpain Endurance Series. But because I skipped the second race of the season due to my Le Mans program with Audi I’m lacking points. So I’m putting myself completely at the service of the team. At Spa, I was previously on podium this year, at the second WEC round. But the differences between our Audi R18 ultra and the R8 LMS ultra are huge. The braking points for a GT3 sports car are totally different. It even almost feels as though you’re driving more turns per lap in the R8 because you can drive the R18 flat-out in more places.”
Edward Sandstrom, Audi R8 LMS ultra #2 (Audi Sport Team WRT)
“It’ll be a tremendous battle at Spa in the world’s toughest GT3 race. If you prepare well and approach the race with a calm hand, you’ve got good chances. But, at the Nurburgring we also saw how quickly you lose ground after a single mistake. Last year, I chased Audi on my 24-hour Spa debut and finished in second place. This year, I’m driving for WRT. The team is giving us drivers the wonderful feeling of being truly welcome.”
Laurens Vanthoor, Audi R8 LMS ultra #2 (Audi Sport Team WRT)
“This is the first 24-hour race in my career. Also, I’m not as familiar yet with the track at Spa as one might expect a Belgian to be. I’ve been there only once in Formula 3 and drove a touring car race as well. But as pros we quickly adjust to new conditions. I’m receiving a lot of valuable information about the track and the race from my team-mates. I’m already looking forward to the event and am expecting many friends, my family, fans and familiar faces at Spa.”
Marcel Fassler, Audi R8 LMS ultra #6 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)
[audio src="http://oneighturbo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/oneighturbo-Audi-24-Hours-Spa-Fassler-120723-0966.mp3" title="Marcel Fassler about the Spa 24 Hour"]
“Spa is a special event. And this year it’s very special because I’ve got Andre Lotterer and Tom Kristensen as team-mates. I’m extremely fond of Spa and it’s my favorite track. We know how good our R8 LMS ultra is. It’s a nice further development of last year’s car. We want to win this race. That would be really great after the victory at Le Mans.”
Tom Kristensen, Audi R8 LMS ultra #6 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)
[audio src="http://oneighturbo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/oneighturbo-Audi-24-Hours-Spa-Kristensen-120723-0964.mp3" title="Tom Kristensen about the Spa 24 Hour"]
“It was easy to say yes when Audi asked me if I wanted to drive an R8 LMS ultra at the 24-hour race on the legendary track at Spa. The abbreviation R8 has a special meaning for me. I was on board at all the victories of the R8 LMP at Le Mans and achieved five of my eight successes in it. I was also one of the first customers of the road-going version of the R8, which I didn’t acquire as a ‘company car’ but privately, and which I still own. And now I’m going to race the GT3 version – a cool thing, especially with Andre and Marcel in Team Phoenix.”
Andre Lotterer, Audi R8 LMS ultra #6 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)
[audio src="http://oneighturbo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/oneighturbo-Audi-24-Hours-Spa-Lotterer-120723-0961.mp3" title="Andre Lotterer about the Spa 24 Hour"]
“I’m looking forward to this challenge with huge anticipation. At Spa, I virtually grew up in racing. When my father owned a race team I visited many of the 24-hour race events and took part in one myself in 2002. In Marcel and Tom I’ve got two top-caliber colleagues this time. And the Audi R8 LMS ultra is a strong car. I’m hoping for us to manage a good showing. I want to surpass my result from ten years ago this time.”
Andrea Piccini, Audi R8 LMS ultra #16 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)
“In the past years I tried to win the Spa 24 Hours for Phoenix several times. In 2006, we were leading for a long time before dropping to second place. In the past two years, I was on the grid in the Audi R8 LMS for Phoenix at Spa. We were quick but something kept getting in our way. It would be great if we finally had the necessary racing luck this year. Ernst Moser has a strong team. He’s a superb motivator and always has several driver squads on the grid that are in contention for victory. And the Audi R8 LMS ultra is a car for position one. I’d really like to give this great team a victory.”
Rene Rast, Audi R8 LMS ultra #16 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)
“My mood is outstanding. At Daytona, our team celebrated a class victory in the 24-hour race. At the Nurburgring, we were leading with the Audi R8 LMS ultra when we were struck by a mishap. At Spa, my team-mates Frank Stippler and Andrea Piccini are bringing a lot of experience to the team. And Ernst Moser has forged a squad in Audi Sport Team Phoenix that projects a strong ‘we’ feeling. There are arguably no mechanics in the whole pit lane that perform better and quicker stops. That can become an important key to success at Spa.”
Frank Stippler, Audi R8 LMS ultra #16 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)
“After our victory at the Nurburgring 24 Hours we received massive responses and cordial congratulations from all over the world. That’s great motivation for the next 24-hour race with its huge field. We’ve got extremely strong team colleagues but the competitive situation is tough in general too. The GT3 class continues to be in great demand. I like Spa because it’s an old-school type of circuit. Natural spectator stands similar to those along the Nurburgring-Nordschleife, a long track, many vertical differences and thrilling turns – that’s what I love.”
