Malaysia’s Alex Yoong, China’s Cheng Congfu and Hong Kong drivers Marchy Lee and Shaun Thong will race in the #10 Audi R8 LMS for Audi race experience in the Nürburgring 24 Hours on Saturday May 28. Returning for a second year, the all-Asian team made its historic debut at the notoriously demanding track in 2015, taking home a strong 12th-place finish from over 150 entries.
Overall, there will be six Audi teams with a total of nine R8 LMS cars in the 24-hour race, the strongest ever representation from Audi. This includes two entries from 2012 and 2014 winner Phoenix Racing, which joined the Audi R8 LMS Cup in Asia as a service team this year. Last year’s Nürburgring 24 Hours winner, Belgian Audi Club Team WRT, also returns with two entries in this year’s race.
The Asian team is made up of a mixture of Asia’s leading professionals and exceptional young talent, mirroring the line-up of the Audi R8 LMS Cup, with the sprint race series’ logo featured on the side livery of the car. Reigning Audi R8 LMS Cup champion Yoong, 2012 Cup champion Lee, 2015 Cup runner-up and Chinese motorsport star Cheng, and Thong, who is part of the Audi Sport customer racing Asia Young Driver Development Programme will take turns at the wheel of the second generation Audi R8 LMS race car.
With a total of 157 cars on the grid, 37 GT3 race cars from eight manufacturers will battle for overall victory. Out of a total of 34 drivers taking turns in the cockpits of the Audi teams, twelve have previously achieved overall wins at the fiercely competitive race.
The on-track action has kicked off at the 2016 Nürburgring 24 Hours with free practice and the first qualifying session on Thursday May 26. This is followed by two more qualifying sessions on Friday May 27. The 24-hour race will start on Saturday May 28 at 15:30 (UTC+2). Racing fans can watch the battles live from four perspectives at www.audi-motorsport.com.
