The Audi R8 LMS Cup debuts in Malaysia with Rounds 7 and 8 of the 2013 season to be held at Sepang International Circuit on August 30 and 31 (Live broadcast on: www.audir8lmscup.com). Following the cup, four Audi customer racing entries will compete in the 12-hour Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race (MMER) on Sunday, September 1st.
“Our expanding customer racing activities in Asia are diverse and interconnected at the same time. Three Audi entries in the 12-hour MMER come from the Audi R8 LMS Cup, one from an Audi supported team of the GT Asia series. I expect exciting but also challenging days of motorsport”, says Rene Koneberg, Director of Audi Sport customer racing Asia.
The MMER was held in Sepang for the first time in 2000 and has since become one of the leading endurance races in Asia. Eight of the Audi R8 LMS Cup drivers – including the Top 3 in the overall standings – will also get behind the wheel for the 12-hour race. All four Audi MMER entries (J-Fly Absolute Racing, Tiger Absolute Racing, plus two entries from Chinese team BRT) are supported by Audi Sport customer racing Asia and serviced by Absolute Racing.
The Audi R8 LMS cup races in Sepang will be the sprint series’ first visit to South East Asia. Ahead of Round 7, Adderly Fong tops the leaderboard of the cup with 105 points. Fong comes to Malaysia straight from Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium where he competed in the GP3 Series. Behind him and second overall is his Hong Kong compatriot and last year’s overall winner Marchy Lee (91 points). In third position and determined to give his fans at his home circuit something to cheer about is Malaysian racer Alex Yoong (89 points). The former Formula One driver lead the overall cup standings for the first four rounds, before a dismal qualifying session saw Yoong relinquish crucial points during the previous race weekend in Inje, South Korea.
The Audi R8 LMS Cup is the first brand cup in the history of Audi. After its successful maiden season in China in 2012, the sprint race series is expanding in Asia this year, with new stops in South Korea, Malaysia and Macau. Alongside the overall classification of the 2013 Audi R8 LMS Cup, there are categories for amateurs, teams and a special dealer trophy for Audi dealership teams. Coming to Sepang, Alex Au from Hong Kong is leading the amateur class.
The Sepang International Race Circuit in Malaysia is a F1 certified track and about 5.5 kilometers long. With 15 turns and 8 straights, the circuit is allowing for plenty of overtaking opportunities. It was officially opened in March 1999.
Audi entries, Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race (MMER)
Car 777 (Audi R8 LMS Ultra – GT3) – J-Fly Absolute Racing
Jeffrey LEE / Marchy LEE / Adderly FONG
Car 66 (Audi R8 LMS Cup car – GTC) – Tiger Absolute Racing
Jacky YUENG / Alex YOONG / Ashraff DEWAL
Car 5 (Audi R8 LMS Cup car – GTC) BRT Team
REN Wei / SUN Bo / YANG Xi / WU Zhou / HE Yi
Car 15 (Audi R8 LMS Cup car – GTC) BRT Team
SUN Zheng / ZHANG Zhi Qiang / CHENG Cong Fu
