United Autosports Aiming To Prove A Point In Southern France

·       Paul Ricard would be a fitting venue for team’s first FIA points

Eight months after United Autosports’ co-owners Zak Brown and Richard Dean unveiled their ambitious FIA GT3 European Championship dream at the Paul Ricard HTTT facility, the American-owned outfit heads for Southern France aiming to prove a point.

The 3.63-mile ultra high-speed circuit hosts rounds seven and eight of this year’s series, a venue where Brown and Dean announced their intention to form a team last October, completely new to the championship, and run a brace of Audi R8 LMS sports cars – having previously had no links with the German manufacturer.

But having posted its best qualifying and race results, ninth and 11^th respectively, in the previous races at Jarama (Spain) earlier this month (June 19-20), United Autosports justifiably believes it can record its first-ever points by claiming top-10 positions in the two, one-hour races. 

With the team’s regular driver coach, Danny Watts, unavailable, United Autosports has recruited reigning Le Mans Series LM P2 champion Olivier Pla, of France, to help its drivers who have no prior experience of Paul Ricard. The team will test at Nogaro (France) on June 29 prior to arriving at Ricard which is located 30km east of Toulon.

Friday July 2

12:10-13:10 Free practice 1; 17.10-18.10 Free practice 2

Saturday July 3

09:00-09:50 Qualifying; 14:45-15:45 Race 1

Sunday July 4

11:15-12:15 Race 2

(all times are local)

#22 Molecule / Cerutti – Audi R8 LMS

Michael Guasch (USA).  Lives: Walnut Creek, California, USA:

“I am very excited to race at Paul Ricard, a very fast track, and it will be interesting to see how everyone drives with all of the run-off available. We test before the race at Nogaro when we should learn some more about the Audi allowing us some more much needed seat time in the R8 LMS. I’m expecting us to be able to better our Jarama results and hopefully achieve top-10 placings.”

 

Mark Patterson (USA).  Lives: Bronxville, New York State, USA: 

“It’s another track known by all four drivers via YouTube videos only. Learning these new, challenging and wonderful European tracks is one the reasons we all signed up. With the Audi R8 LMS now back up to full power (8,500rpm), we were able to demonstrate our competitiveness in the last races and we're now kicking up against the points ‘door’.”

 

#23 Remington – Audi R8 LMS

Zak Brown (USA).  Lives: Carmel, Indiana, USA:

“I'm really looking forward to the Paul Ricard races. The United Autosports team is really gelling and head for Southern France coming off our most competitive races so far in the FIA GT3 European Championship. We will continue to get stronger and stronger as the season progresses.”

 

Matthew Bell (GB). Lives: Barningham nr Richmond, North Yorkshire, England:

“Another new circuit to learn but longer in length than Jarama – hopefully there won't be the same dramas that we encountered in Spain which led to us losing so much track time in testing. Jarama highlighted the importance of track knowledge, so we need to get as much running as possible in order to get to grips with the circuit. We’re getting closer to the pace but need to score points now. With all the progress the team has made I'm hoping Paul Ricard will finally be the place we do it.”

 

Richard Dean (GB), Managing Director & Co-Owner of United Autosports:

“It’s nice to visit another famous circuit with the necessary investment to turn it in to a world class standard! I think the team has come together quickly and has a feel about it that is right now. I am very confident we are going to see some results as a reward for the hard work. The drivers have all been fantastically positive and are making a significant contribution to the progress and development. The only problem we have is the gaps between races are too big.”

 

 

 

Audi R8 LMS (Sportscar according to latest 2010 FIA GT3 regulations)

V10 5.2-liter engine, 4 valves per cylinder, petrol direct injection, emission control by two racing catalytic converters, rear-wheel-drive, traction control (ASR), sequential pneumatic activated 6-speed sport gearbox with shift-paddles, Audi Space Frame (ASF) made of aluminum with bolted steel roll-cage, carbon-fiber composite/aluminum bodywork, Michelin radial tires. Approx 500 hp (reduced power). Start weight 1,320kg. Limitation at 8500rpm for every gear. Developed by Audi Sport with cooperation from quattro GmbH. Won FIA GT3 European Championship, ADAC-GT Masters and Belgian GT Championship plus Nürburgring 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours class victories in début 2009 season scoring a total 23 victories.

 

* More United Autosports Editorial Copyright Free photographs are available at www.flickr.com/unitedautosports

Qualifying 2 - 2010 Round 3 - Jarama

Results: 2010 Round 3 - Jarama

Qualifying 2
Pos	Car	Class	Drivers	Car	Time	Laps	Gap	Avg speed
1	61	GT3	HOLZER	PORSCHE 911 GT3 R	1:33.213	7		148.69
2	16	GT3	PARISY	CORVETTE Z06R GT3	1:33.266	6	0.053	148.6
3	77	GT3	HUERTGEN	BMW Z4	1:33.464	8	0.251	148.29
4	1	GT3	MAKOWIECKI	ASTON MARTIN DBRS9	1:33.547	7	0.309	148.2
5	4	GT3	AMMERMUELLER	AUDI R8 LMS	1:33.552	2	0.339	148.15
6	101	GT3	HOHENADEL	CORVETTE Z06R GT3	1:33.726	8	0.513	147.87
7	18	GT3	LUNARDI	CORVETTE Z06R GT3	1:33.789	8	0.576	147.77
8	6	GT3	FRANCHI	AUDI R8 LMS	1:33.795	8	0.582	147.76
9	2	GT3	ACCARY	ASTON MARTIN DBRS9	1:33.873	9	0.66	147.64
10	60	GT3	PALTTALA	PORSCHE 911 GT3 R	1:33.888	6	0.675	147.62
11	14	GT3	NYGAARD	FORD GT	1:33.972	6	0.759	147.49
12	76	GT3	SANDSTROM	BMW Z4	1:34.013	10	0.8	147.42
13	11	GT3	VANNELET	PORSCHE 911 GT3 R	1:34.020	4	0.807	147.41
14	9	GT3	MATZKE	BMW ALPINA B6 GT3	1:34.095	8	0.882	147.29
15	17	GT3	PEYROLES	CORVETTE Z06R GT3	1:34.222	8	1.009	147.09
16	5	GT3	LORGERE-ROUX	AUDI R8 LMS	1:34.405	8	1.192	146.81
17	33	GT3	JONS	AUDI R8 LMS	1:34.711	10	1.498	146.33
18	87	GT3	ALESSI	FERRARI 430 SCUDERIA	1:34.805	7	1.592	146.19
19	3	GT3	HEYER	AUDI R8 LMS	1:34.925	8	1.712	146.01
20	88	GT3	HOLLINGS	FERRARI 430 SCUDERIA	1:35.559	9	1.906	145.71
21	23	GT3	BROWN	AUDI R8 LMS	1:35.847	10	2.34	145.05
22	25	GT3	SANNA	LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP560-4	1:35.990	12	2.777	144.39
23	12	GT3	GEIPEL	PORSCHE 911 GT3 R	1:36.219	2	3.006	144.04
24	22	GT3	GUASCH	AUDI R8 LMS	1:36.279	11	3.066	143.95
25	100	GT3	RITSKES	CORVETTE Z06R GT3	1:37.183	8	3.97	142.61
26	32	GT3	BRESLIN	AUDI R8 LMS	1:38.468	10	5.255	140.75

Session Notes
Weather	sunny
Track conditions	dry
Stewards Decisions	cars 1, 23 and 88 fastest lap removed
Notes	car 98 all qualifying times deleted

Qualifying 1 - 2010 Round 3 - Jarama

Results: 2010 Round 3 - Jarama

Qualifying 1
Pos	Car	Class	Drivers	Car	Time	Laps	Gap	Avg speed
1	25	GT3	THURN UND TAXIS	LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP560-4	1:33.443	8		148.32
2	101	GT3	KEILWITZ	CORVETTE Z06R GT3	1:33.693	5	0.25	147.92
3	9	GT3	MAYR-MELNHOF	BMW ALPINA B6 GT3	1:33.857	9	0.414	147.67
4	61	GT3	SPLUNTEREN	PORSCHE 911 GT3 R	1:33.958	6	0.515	147.51
5	6	GT3	LEMERET	AUDI R8 LMS	1:34.123	10	0.68	147.25
6	11	GT3	OSBORNE	PORSCHE 911 GT3 R	1:34.255	6	0.812	147.04
7	4	GT3	BONIFACIO	AUDI R8 LMS	1:34.350	6	0.907	146.89
8	16	GT3	LAMBOTTE	CORVETTE Z06R GT3	1:34.382	9	0.939	146.85
9	23	GT3	BELL	AUDI R8 LMS	1:34.533	8	1.09	146.61
10	33	GT3	BRESLIN	AUDI R8 LMS	1:34.734	7	1.291	146.3
11	60	GT3	LAPPALAINEN	PORSCHE 911 GT3 R	1:34.754	5	1.311	146.27
12	18	GT3	SEILER	CORVETTE Z06R GT3	1:34.807	8	1.364	146.19
13	87	GT3	PETROBELLI	FERRARI 430 SCUDERIA	1:34.822	7	1.379	146.16
14	77	GT3	WALTER	BMW Z4	1:34.990	11	1.547	145.91
15	3	GT3	HERNDLHOFER	AUDI R8 LMS	1:35.358	6	1.915	145.34
16	14	GT3	ESKELINEN	FORD GT	1:35.431	7	1.988	145.23
17	5	GT3	HIRSCHI	AUDI R8 LMS	1:35.905	9	2.462	144.51
18	88	GT3	CHARVERIAT	FERRARI 430 SCUDERIA	1:36.093	6	2.65	144.23
19	22	GT3	PATTERSON	AUDI R8 LMS	1:36.419	9	2.976	143.74
20	12	GT3	HARING	PORSCHE 911 GT3 R	1:36.532	12	3.089	143.57
21	2	GT3	PAILLARD	ASTON MARTIN DBRS9	1:36.611	10	3.168	143.46
22	100	GT3	ORANJE	CORVETTE Z06R GT3	1:36.626	9	3.183	143.43
23	17	GT3	DEMOUSTIER	CORVETTE Z06R GT3	1:36.639	10	3.196	143.42
24	98	GT3	DONCKER	FORD MUSTANG MARC VDS GT3	1:36.728	11	3.285	143.28
25	1	GT3	RODRIGUES	ASTON MARTIN DBRS9	1:37.041	10	3.598	142.82
26	32	GT3	MEHTA	AUDI R8 LMS	1:43.621	6	10.178	133.75

United Autosports Reach Mid-Point Of Maiden Season Fully Revved Up

·       FIA “Balance of Power” on more of an even keel after rev restrictions lifted

·       Best qualifying and race results of the season for fledgling American team

·       Second half of season bodes well for ever-improving United Autosports

American duo Michael Guasch (left) and Mark Patterson scored 11^th and 12^th place finishes in their #22 Audi R8 LMS at Jarama

United Autosports achieved its best FIA GT3 European Championship results in the latest races at Jarama (Spain) today (June 20) marking the halfway stage of the 12-race season.

The two, one-hour races staged in warm, sunny weather conditions on the 2.39-mile circuit located near Madrid marked the first time the series had run in Spain and saw the American team net 11^th, 12^th and 13^th place finishes.

The #23 Audi, which missed vital on-track time on Saturday when the #17 Graff Racing Corvette collided with Brown early in “Free Practice 2” necessitating a right-rear suspension change prior to qualifying, retired from Race Two due to a punctured rear tire.

Ultra-experienced British engineer, Alan Mugglestone, has now been recruited in to the team while Danny Watts (GB) was on hand at Jarama in his role as “driver coach” fresh from his Le Mans 24 Hours LMP2 class victory. 

The United Autosports team had tested at Albacete en route to Jarama and will test at Nogaro (France) on June 29 prior to the seventh and eighth rounds of the FIA GT3 series at Paul Ricard (France) on July 3-4 before heading to Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) for the “official” 24 Hour race Test Day on July 7.

Race 1 (Sunday)

Qualifying: 9^th #23 Bell, 1m 34.533s; 19^th #22 Patterson, 1m 36.419s. Weather: Sunny, warm.

Race Result: 12^th (#22) +51.313s P1; 13^th (#23) +61.572s P1. Weather: Sunny, warm, breezy.

Bell began from P9 on the 26-car grid, the team’s best start position of the season – 1.090s away from “pole” – with Patterson starting from P19 – the first time both United Autosports cars had recorded top-20 qualifying positions in the same session.

Matt was up to eighth place on lap six – in the middle of a hectic eight-car dice for fourth – with Patterson 17^th one lap later after 15mins. Bell had charged in to sixth place by lap 11, Patterson 15^th, the young Briton slipping back two places with 35mins to run.

Patterson pitted from seventh place on lap 16, Guasch resuming in 12^th, with Bell second on the road 25.623secs down on the leader – but in real terms P6 – handing over to Brown four-laps later, Zak rejoining the race seventh. Guasch drove with good consistent lap times to take 12^th at the checker – United Autosport’s best result of the season. Meanwhile Brown lost four places with two separate incidents before recording 13^th in the 36-lap race which saw an Audi R8 LMS score its first FIA GT3 race win of the season.

Race 2 (Sunday)

Qualifying: 21^st #23 Brown, 1m 35.847s; 24^th #22 Guasch, 1m 36.279s. Weather: Sunny, warm.

Race Result: 11^th (#22) +81.958s P1; Retired, puncture (#23). Weather: Sunny, warm, breezy.

Brown and Guasch started P21 and P24 respectively, the latter finding himself muscled back to 26^th on the opening lap but with 15mins ran, Guasch was 20^th. Brown slipped back to 22^nd after a momentary loss of drive before suddenly stopping on track at pit exit on the 11^th lap when a tire blew spectacularly. Guasch pitted from 18^th after 27mins, co-driver Patterson resuming 19^th, Michael consistently setting top-six lap times in the final 15mins en route to a praiseworthy 11^th place finish –

to better the team’s best race result of the season.   

#22 Molecule / Cerutti – Audi R8 LMS

Michael Guasch (USA).  Lives: Walnut Creek, California, USA:

“The Audi felt really good when I took it over from Mark in 12^th and I immediately felt confident in Race One. I just put my head down and watched others making mistakes – including taking a direct hit from a BMW which cost me a couple of spots but had recovered those places by the finish. I was shoved out wide in Turn One at the start of Race Two – there was a lot of bumping and banging going on. I felt I drove well and the Audi was in good shape when I handed it over to Mark.”

Mark Patterson (USA).  Lives: Bronxville, New York State, USA: 

“We had a wonderful opening race scoring the team’s best finish to date – the Audi was fantastic. I started from inside the top-20 for the first time this season. Our tires held up very well throughout. Race Two was a blast! I revised my gear changes due to the condition of the tires but the grip level remained constant throughout my stint which allowed me to make up a number of positions over the closing laps. Ultimately we went one better than our Race One result. I’m really looking forward to the second half of the season.”

#23 Remington – Audi R8 LMS

Zak Brown (USA).  Lives: Carmel, Indiana, USA:

“We achieved the best result of the season for the #23 Audi in the opening race but when Matt, who drove a great race, hands over the car to me well inside the top-10 and I bring it home only 13^th then I have to be disappointed. I was having problems downshifting under braking which resulted in a spin and a half spin. I was bothered and discouraged after those incidents which lost me my rhythm. I made a good start in Race Two but took a couple of hits on the rear which evidently damaged the car’s bodywork and ultimately caused a massive tire blow out coming along the start-finish straightaway. In between I also had a transmission issue. I think Matt would have taken our car in to the points [top-10] especially having witnessed Mark’s fantastic drive in the #22 Audi.”

Matthew Bell (GB). Lives: Barningham nr Richmond, North Yorkshire, England:

“I started Race One from ninth, although I was personally a little disappointed as I felt I could have qualified higher up the grid. I lost a couple of places by Turn One at the start but then became embroiled in a hectic fight for what was effectively fourth place. I got a little too excited of being in the mix and made a couple of mistakes. Unfortunately I never got to contest Race Two, a great shame but one of those things that happens in motor racing.”

Richard Dean (GB), Managing Director & Co-Owner of United Autosports:

“We’ve shown a lot of promise this weekend which is not fully reflected in the results. Matt experienced his first, full-on, full-blooded FIA GT3 fight in the opening race. It’s never easy to attack the car in front while at the same time, defending your position from the car behind but he learnt both skills quickly and did a good job. Zak experienced some front brake temperature issues but kept his composure. Mark did an exceptionally good job to bring the #22 Audi up from P19 in his stint and Mike carried on the good work, leapfrogging Zak in the #23 Audi in the closing stages. Starting near the back of the grid in Race Two was always going to put us at risk of contact which effectively ruined the race for #23 – Zak did well to keep it out of the pit wall going at 230kph when the tire blew. Michael did a solid and strong job in the #22 Audi while Mark came thoroughly alive and has given the team a massive lift. That’s exactly the strategy we’d planned for the #23 Audi with Zak and Matt.”

John Della Penna (ARG), Partner & Sporting Director of United Autosports:

“It’s been a really good weekend – we’ve again learnt a lot. It was difficult for us here but all of the guys have done a great job. Our test at Albacete helped while Alan [Mugglestone] brings a lot of experience and discipline to the team. The Audi has been badly handicapped due to the rules until now but the R8 LMS is again competitive so I’m certain the second half of the season will be good for us.”

Audi R8 LMS (Sportscar according to latest 2010 FIA GT3 regulations)

V10 5.2-liter engine, 4 valves per cylinder, petrol direct injection, emission control by two racing catalytic converters, rear-wheel-drive, traction control (ASR), sequential pneumatic activated 6-speed sport gearbox with shift-paddles, Audi Space Frame (ASF) made of aluminum with bolted steel roll-cage, carbon-fiber composite/aluminum bodywork, Michelin radial tires. Approx 500 hp (reduced power). Start weight 1,320kg. Limitation at 8500rpm for every gear. Developed by Audi Sport with cooperation from quattro GmbH. Won FIA GT3 European Championship, ADAC-GT Masters and Belgian GT Championship plus Nürburgring 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours class victories in début 2009 season scoring a total 23 victories.

* More United Autosports Editorial Copyright Free photographs are available at www.flickr.com/unitedautosports

Race 1 Result - 2010 Round 3 - Jarama

Results: 2010 Round 3 - Jarama

Race 1 Result
Pos	Car	Class	Drivers	Car	Time	Laps	Gap	Avg speed
1	3	GT3	HEYER/HERNDLHOFER	AUDI R8 LMS	1:00:47.289	36		144.99
2	101	GT3	HOHENADEL/KEILWITZ	CORVETTE Z06R GT3	1:00:49.457	36	2.168	145.65
3	87	GT3	ALESSI/PETROBELLI	FERRARI 430 SCUDERIA	1:00:52.838	36	5.549	144.78
4	33	GT3	JONS/BRESLIN	AUDI R8 LMS	1:00:53.550	36	6.261	144.9
5	60	GT3	PALTTALA/LAPPALAINEN	PORSCHE 911 GT3 R	1:01:07.745	36	20.456	144.38
6	14	GT3	NYGAARD/ESKELINEN	FORD GT	1:01:09.098	36	21.809	145.18
7	25	GT3	SANNA/THURN UND TAXIS	LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP560-4	1:01:15.152	36	27.863	146.38
8	4	GT3	AMMERMUELLER/BONIFACIO	AUDI R8 LMS	1:01:15.245	36	27.956	145.19
9	88	GT3	HOLLINGS/CHARVERIAT	FERRARI 430 SCUDERIA	1:01:28.229	36	40.94	143.18
10	77	GT3	HUERTGEN/WALTER	BMW Z4	1:01:29.705	36	42.416	144.83
11	17	GT3	PEYROLES/DEMOUSTIER	CORVETTE Z06R GT3	1:01:30.528	36	43.239	144.51
12	22	GT3	GUASCH/PATTERSON	AUDI R8 LMS	1:01:38.602	36	51.313	143.44
13	23	GT3	BROWN/BELL	AUDI R8 LMS	1:01:48.861	36	1:01.572	144.91
14	100	GT3	RITSKES/ORANJE	CORVETTE Z06R GT3	1:02:03.210	36	1:15.921	142.91
15	12	GT3	GEIPEL/HARING	PORSCHE 911 GT3 R	1:02:06.599	36	1:19.310	142.34
16	5	GT3	LORGERE-ROUX/HIRSCHI	AUDI R8 LMS	1:02:13.697	36	1:26.408	145.02
17	11	GT3	VANNELET/OSBORNE	PORSCHE 911 GT3 R	1:00:59.767	35	1 lap	145
18	32	GT3	Patrick BRESLIN/MEHTA	AUDI R8 LMS	1:01:05.262	34	2 laps	142.28
19	9	GT3	MATZKE/MAYR-MELNHOF	BMW ALPINA B6 GT3	51:11.453	29	7 laps	146.28
20	18	GT3	LUNARDI/SEILER	CORVETTE Z06R GT3	48:56.975	28	8 laps	145.39
21	1	GT3	MAKOWIECKI/RODRIGUES	ASTON MARTIN DBRS9	39:36.078	22	14 laps	144.92
22	61	GT3	HOLZER/SPLUNTEREN	PORSCHE 911 GT3 R	25:55.390	15	21 laps	144.43
23	2	GT3	ACCARY/PAILLARD	ASTON MARTIN DBRS9	27:34.588	15	21 laps	140.2
24	16	GT3	PARISY/LAMBOTTE	CORVETTE Z06R GT3	19:17.194	11	25 laps	143.98
25	76	GT3	SANDSTROM/SODERLUND	BMW Z4	12:14.154	6	30 laps	139.92
26	6	GT3	FRANCHI/LEMERET	AUDI R8 LMS	7:45.552	4	32 laps	144.06

Session Notes
Weather	sunny
Track conditions	dry

 

Race 2 Result - 2010 Round 6 - Zolder

Results: 2010 Round 6 - Zolder

Race 2 Result
Pos	Car	Class	Drivers	Car	Time	Laps	Gap	Avg speed
1	1	GT3	Rodrigues/Makowiecki	Aston Martin DBRS9	1:00:13.043	37	0	0
2	77	GT3	Walter/Hürtgen	BMW Z4	1:00:17.095	37	4.052	0
3	60	GT3	Lappalainen/Palttala	Porsche 911 GT3 R	1:00:18.111	37	5.068	0
4	76	GT3	Söderlund/Sandström	BMW Z4	1:00:21.070	37	8.027	0
5	14	GT3	Eskelinen/Nygaard	Ford GT	1:00:27.442	37	14.399	0
6	11	GT3	Vannelet/Narac	Porsche 911 GT3 R	1:00:40.625	37	27.582	0
7	23	GT3	Brown/Bell	Audi R8 LMS	1:00:54.464	37	41.421	0
8	5	GT3	Hirschi/Guilvert	Audi R8 LMS	1:01:09.208	37	56.165	0
9	22	GT3	Patterson/Guasch	Audi R8 LMS	1:01:15.804	37	01:02.761	0
10	16	GT3	Lambotte/Parisy	Corvette Z06R GT3	1:01:24.758	37	01:11.715	0
11	2	GT3	Paillard/Accary	Aston Martin DBRS9	1:01:31.880	37	01:18.837	0
12	17	GT3	Vincent/Peyroles	Corvette Z06R GT3	1:01:48.605	37	01:35.562	0
13	30	GT3	Teregulov/Romanov	Ascari KZ1R GT3	1:00:20.874	36	1 lap	1
14	6	GT3	Demay/Lorgere-Roux	Audi R8 LMS	0:57:36.229	35	2 laps	2
15	101	GT3	Hohenadel/Keilwitz	Corvette Z06R GT3	0:51:41.231	31	6 laps	6
16	98	GT3	Beche/De Doncker	Ford GT	0:46:35.437	28	9 laps	9
17	12	GT3	Thiry/Fumal	Porsche 911 GT3 R	0:44:30.107	27	10 laps	10
18	99	GT3	Lesoudier/Martin	Ford GT	0:50:21.775	27	10 laps	10
19	100	GT3	Ritskes/van Oranje	Corvette Z06R GT3	0:48:49.236	26	11 laps	11
20	3	GT3	Lemeret/Heyer	Audi R8 LMS	0:38:10.861	8	18 laps	29
21	87	GT3	Dockerill/Ferrier	Ferrari 430 Scuderia	0:02:34.077	1	36 laps	36

Session Notes
Weather	Sunny
Track conditions	Dry
Stewards Decisions	following the stewards decision no. 15 30s penalty for the car no. 16
Notes	Exclusion of cars n° 61 and n° 27, subject to the results of the appeal to the ICA

United Autosports Continues Learning Program In Spain

·       Once again, venue is totally new for all four United Autosports drivers

·       First FIA GT3 European Championship race in Spain

 

 

United Autosports contests the latest two races of the FIA GT3 European Championship at Jarama in Spain next Sunday (June 20) patiently and quietly continuing its learning process for the American team’s first year of competition.

 

Having achieved best of season qualifying and race results of 10^th and 14^th positions in the previous rounds at Brno (May 22-23), the British-based Audi R8 LMS team realistically sets its sights on top-six grid positions (Saturday June 19) and top-10 placings in the two, 60-minute races unusually staged the same day (Sunday June 20).

 

The 2.39-mile Jarama circuit is located in San Sebastian de los Reyes, less than 12-miles north of Madrid, and marks the first time the FIA GT3 series has run in Spain.

 

Saturday June 19

09:15-10:15 Free practice 1

11.15-12.15 Free practice 2

16:00-16:50 Qualifying

 

Sunday 20 June

09:15-10:15 Race 1

16:00-17:00 Race 2

(all times are local)

 

 

#22 Molecule / Cerutti – Audi R8 LMS

Michael Guasch (USA).  Lives: Walnut Creek, California, USA:

“We’re making progress with every outing and so I am looking forward to Jarama. I am personally very comfortable on tight, technical tracks. This could be to my advantage. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the Audi again.”

 

Mark Patterson (USA).  Lives: Bronxville, New York State, USA: 

“It should be more fun to race on a more technically demanding track with shorter straights than either Silverstone and Brno, both wonderful race tracks in their own right, but which certainly challenged our Audi R8 LMS sports cars due to the current ‘Balance of Power’ configurations.

 

“I would hope that at Jarama we will have less of a disadvantage given that our straight line speed, due to the handicapping, has been up to 9kph slower than our rivals. I’m especially looking forward to see where we are, in terms of our competitors, on a track 50% shorter than circuits that have staged the opening rounds.”

 

 

#23 Remington – Audi R8 LMS

Zak Brown (USA).  Lives: Carmel, Indiana, USA:

“Jarama, like all of the upcoming tracks, is new to all of us drivers which poses an added challenge over a race weekend. I'm very much looking forward to visiting Jarama for the first time. As a team we’ve made mistakes and collected penalties I never knew existed but in all cases we’ll learn from these setbacks and come back stronger.”

 

Matthew Bell (GB). Lives: Barningham nr Richmond, North Yorkshire, England:

“Jarama could favor the Audi better than the longer and faster Silverstone and Brno circuits. However, it’s another new track for all of us to learn and it looks to be a more technical track with difficult tight and twisty sections. But it will be another new but different kind of challenge. Hopefully the nature of the circuit will put more responsibility on the drivers for speed rather than our Audi which still seems to be out of 'balance' compared to our rivals.”

 

Richard Dean (GB), Managing Director & Co-Owner of United Autosports:

“Jarama’s tight and twisty nature with its high variety of demanding corners and heavy braking should suit the Audi R8 LMS. So far, the faster circuits of Silverstone and Brno combined with the current Balance of Performance measures have not allowed us to show the cars potential.

 

“I am excited to see how the drivers perform at Jarama as they have all been showing great form and a better understanding of the cars each time we have been out. We have the potential to be right in the mix in Spain while just a little help with the regulations could see us consistently break into the top ten.”

 

John Della Penna (ARG), Partner & Sporting Director of United Autosports:

“We learnt things at Brno that we can put to good use at Jarama as is going to be the norm this year for our team. We have drivers who have never driven any of these courses so it always takes the first session for them to get acclimatized to the track. But from the technical side I feel very good, we keep pushing hard to understand the car and think we are getting stronger. It will be great to be in Spain. I love the country, I love Jarama with its history, and I can speak the language so all is good.”

 

 

Audi R8 LMS (Sportscar according to latest 2010 FIA GT3 regulations)

V10 5.2-liter engine, 4 valves per cylinder, petrol direct injection, emission control by two racing catalytic converters, rear-wheel-drive, traction control (ASR), sequential pneumatic activated 6-speed sport gearbox with shift-paddles, Audi Space Frame (ASF) made of aluminum with bolted steel roll-cage, carbon-fiber composite/aluminum bodywork, Michelin radial tires. Approx 500 hp (reduced power). Start weight 1,320kg. Limitation at 7500rpm for every gear ratio except the last one, for which the rev limit is 8500rpm. Developed by Audi Sport with cooperation from quattro GmbH. Won FIA GT3 European Championship, ADAC-GT Masters and Belgian GT Championship plus Nürburgring 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours class victories in début 2009 season scoring a total 23 victories.

 

* More United Autosports Editorial Copyright Free photographs are available at www.flickr.com/unitedautosports