· Solid debut by United Autosports
· Successful premiere for Sainteloc
· Christian Abt debuts as team principal
Solid debut by United Autosports
GT3 Great Britain: The American-British United Autosports team managed a solid debut with the Audi R8 LMS. In preparation for the FIA GT3 European Championship United Autosports contested the season opener of the British GT3 Championship at Oulton Park. Richard Dean and Zak Brown finished both rounds in fourth place. The second United-R8 finished the first race in eighth and the second race in fifth place.
Successful premiere for Sainteloc
GT3 France: In its first race with the Audi R8 LMS Team Sainteloc was immediately the best Audi squad. Christophe Bouchut and Wilfried Mérafina clinched fourth and fifth place at the season opener of the French GT Championship at Nogaro on Easter weekend for the team that receives technical support by Phoenix Racing. This year, the French GT Championship is exclusively open to GT3 vehicles for the first time. 29 sports cars, including five Audi R8 LMS, competed at Nogaro.
Christian Abt debuts as team principal
ADAC GT Masters: Five Audi R8 LMS cars will compete in the ADAC GT Masters opener at Oschersleben next weekend. Teams ABT Sportsline and Rosberg will each field two vehicles and another R8 LMS will be entered by the Pole Promotion team. Reigning champion Christian Abt will not be defending his title in the 2010 season – at least not as a driver: the former Audi "factory" driver is celebrating his debut as team principal of ABT Sportsline’s GT squad.
News bits
DTM Champion Timo Scheider will be available for media interviews at a press conference held on the occasion of the DTM presentation in Wiesbaden on Thursday, from 11 a.m. ... The German Marcel Tiemann and the American Jim Matthews will contest the International GT Open with an Audi R8 LMS of the Phoenix Racing team ... ABT Sportsline has signed the reigning GT3 European Champion Christopher Mies for the ADAC GT Masters. His team colleague will be Luca Ludwig, the son of three-time DTM Champion Klaus Ludwig.
Results and points
Nogaro (F), April 4, French GT Championship round 1
1 Canal/Tonelli (Corvette) 39 laps in 1h 01m 19.209s
2 Derlot/Peyroles (Corvette) + 1.993s
3 Groppi/Bornhauser (Porsche) + 16.714s
4 Bouchut/Merafina (Audi R8 LMS) + 23.082s
5 Dayraut/Campbell (Ferrari) + 30.029s
6 Franchi/Lemeret (Audi R8 LMS) + 52.831s
7 Ortelli/Halliday (Audi R8 LMS) + 57.436s
12 Mollekens/Tuchbant (Audi R8 LMS) - 1 lap
Nogaro (F), April 5, French GT Championship round 2
1 Derlot/Peyroles (Corvette) 39 laps in 1h 00m 14.685s
2 Panis/Debard (Corvette) + 10.554s
3 Cazenave/Police (Corvette) + 11.485s
4 Groppi/Bornhauser (Porsche) + 21.677s
5 Bouchut/Merafina (Audi R8 LMS) + 27.668s
8 Ortelli/Halliday (Audi R8 LMS) + 50.965s
11 Franchi/Lemeret (Audi R8 LMS) + 1m 21.400s
12 Mollekens/Tuchbant (Audi R8 LMS) + 1m 42.127s
Next race: Lédenon (F), April 24
Oulton Park (GB), April 5, British GT Championship round 1
1 Griffin/Cameron (Ferrari) 35 laps in 1h 00m 21.844s
2 Simonsen/Lester (Ferrari) + 10.394s
3 Bentwood/Whight (Aston Martin) + 28.891s
4 Dean/Brown (Audi R8 LMS) + 35.866s
5 Cunill/Ashburn (Porsche) + 36.777s
8 Patterson/Guasch (Audi R8 LMS) + 1m 04.693s
Oulton Park (GB), April 5, British GT Championship round 2
1 Griffin/Cameron (Ferrari) 35 laps in 1h 00m 35.430s
2 Simonsen/Lester (Ferrari) + 12.523s
3 Cunill/Ashburn (Porsche) + 16.928s
4 Dean/Brown (Audi R8 LMS) + 35.551s
5 Patterson/Guasch (Audi R8 LMS) + 52.557s
Coming up next week
April 8: DTM presentation press conference in Wiesbaden (D)
April 10: VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring (D)
April 10/11: ADAC GT Masters Oschersleben (D)
April 10/11: Belgar Series Zolder (B)
April 11: Le Mans Series Le Castellet (F)
