TODAY 20 JUN Exclusive Audi News

...with a one-lap lead and a new lap record on the challenging track: the Audi R8 LMS delivered an impeccable showing on its debut at Mount Panorama nine months ago. In February 2012, the 411kW GT3 sports car is to defend its victory on this legendary circuit. The Audi GT3 race car that is fielded at worldwide events has clinched 115 single victories and 13 titles in only three years. At Bathurst, Team Phoenix Racing will be fielding the two Audi R8 LMS vehicles. As an Audi factory team, Ernst Moser’s squad won the DTM title this year with Martin Tomczyk.

A high-calibre international driver line-up has already been confirmed for the 12-hour race. The German Christopher Mies and Darryl O’Young from Hong Kong, who won the endurance race in February, will again share a cockpit. They will be reinforced by Christer Jöns. The German driver clinched four podium results this year in the ADAC GT Masters and, like Christopher Mies, was part of the Audi factory team at the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

Of special interest to the enthusiastic Australian audience will be the driver squad for the second R8 LMS. Mark Eddy/Craig Lowndes/Warren Luff will be competing under the symbol of the four rings together for the second consecutive time.

Mark Eddy celebrated victory in his Audi R8 LMS at the final round of the Vodka O Australian GT Championship on the weekend, securing it with a sixth place finish at Sandown. It was the Victorian’s second title in three years, and his first with Audi.

Seasoned touring car racer Warren Luff posted the fastest lap of all Audi drivers in qualifying at Bathurst in 2011, while Craig Lowndes is regarded as a legend of the sport and has won the V8 Supercar series three times and the Bathurst 1000 race five times.

The trio finished the Bathurst 12 Hour as the runners-up in February.

Craig Lowndes (Audi R8 LMS): “I’m really looking forward to partnering up with Audi again for the Bathurst 12 Hour next year, and to be joining Mark Eddy and Warren Luff for another shot at victory. It looks like it will be a much different event next year with the level of competition stepping up a notch, but I’m confident the Audi R8 LMS will be at the front across the weekend. It’s great that we can continue the relationship with Audi that began at the start of this season and hopefully we can deliver another strong result for everyone involved.”

Warren Luff (Audi R8 LMS): “After what we achieved as a team last year, I’m really looking forward to driving the Audi R8 LMS again. Mount Panorama is an exhilarating racetrack every time you race there, but my experience in the R8 LMS in 2011 was a real personal highlight. I’m excited that I have another chance to be part of Audi’s rich motorsport history.”

Mark Eddy (Audi R8 LMS): “Winning the Vodka O Australian GT Championship is great for everyone in the team. It’s not easily won, and everyone is really happy with our success. The reason we won this year is due to the reliability of the R8 LMS. We didn’t have one DNF all year and were on the podium at almost every round, winning three races. “Craig, Warren and myself are now focused on Bathurst in February. The competition will be making a big step-up, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”