VLN: Phoenix Racing with three Audi R8 LMS ultra cars in six-hour race on the Nordschleife

Phoenix Racing Press Release

Phoenix Racing will be competing with three Audi R8 LMS ultra cars in the six-hour-race of the Endurance Championship Nürburgring (VLN) on Saturday (24 August).
“Alongside the traditional 24-hour race this VLN race that lasts six hours is the second highlight of the season on the Nordschleife,” says Phoenix Team Director Ernst Moser.  “We’ve already won two VLN rounds this year but winning this race over the extended distance would be something special. We’re looking forward to this special race very much.”

The driver trio with the ‘Ring’ specialists Frank Stippler (D) and Marc Basseng (D) plus Roman Rusinov (RU), who impressively showed his abilities on the difficult Nordschleife at the 24-hour race in May, has firmly set its sights on the podium. They are driving the white-black #37 Audi R8 LMS ultra of G-Drive Racing by Phoenix. In a G-Drive Racing by Phoenix R8 Frank Stippler and Marcel Fässler (CH) had won the 24-hour ‘dress rehearsal’ at the second VLN round at the end of April.

With the tailwind gained from the victory at the fourth VLN round in June together with Frank Stippler, Ferdinand and Johannes Stuck are contesting the entire VLN season in the white-blue #15 Audi of TÜV Rheinland. The Stuck brothers are supported by Christopher Zoechling (A). The 25-year-old talent is driving for Phoenix for the first time. “Christopher Zoechling convinced us in track tests and we also watched his performances in the Porsche and in the Mercedes on the Nordschleife so that he deserves this opportunity in the R8,” explains Ernst Moser. And Hans-Joachim Stuck (D), who is driving the Phoenix R8 race taxi sporting Red Bull graphics as part of the activities before the VLN race, is ready to actively support his two sons again in the cockpit as a matter of exception.

Taking turns at the wheel of the #5 Audi featuring the white-black Primland graphics will be Christopher Haase (D), Frank Stippler and Harold Primat (CH). At the VLN round in June Haase/Primat, both of whom are driving a Phoenix R8 in the Blancpain Endurance Series with Oliver Jarvis (GB), had achieved a podium position. Ernst Moser: “Harold Primat would like to contest the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in 2014, so this and other VLN races serve as the best possible preparation.”

At this race Phoenix Racing is continuing the development work with the new suspension partner KW. Two R8 cars are equipped with dampers from KW, the third one with the time-tested Bilstein suspension.

Over 210 Teams, including a large number of GT3 sports cars with plenty of horsepower, make for a gigantic field of entrants. After tests on Friday afternoon and the 90-minute qualifying session on Saturday morning, the 6-h race will be started at 12:00.  

Photo credit: Phoenix Racing