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GRAND-AM
GRAND-AM: APR, Audi Making Progress With R8
Addition of second APR Audi R8 GRAND-AM this weekend gives boost to car’s development program...
Staffed by factory mechanics and engineers, many of whom were part of the Nurburgring 24-winning effort last month, Audi Sport Customer Racing has taken a serious approach in the development of the R8 GRAND-AM car. (Photo: John Dagys)
It’s been a difficult introduction to the Rolex Sports Car Series for Audi. While the first half of the season has seen the R8 GRAND-AM make continual improvements, the mid-engined sports car, adapted for the Rolex GT category, has yet to make a serious impression.
That could all change this weekend, though, as an increased commitment from Audi Sport Customer Racing, along with APR Motorsport, has seen the two organizations join forces to field a second APR Audi R8 GRAND-AM car for Sunday’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen.
Audi Sport development driver Frank Stippler, along with fellow German Marc Basseng, both winners in last month's Nurburgring 24, have been joined by a brace of factory mechanics and engineers.
They've been sent to Watkins Glen with the common goal of pinpointing the areas of development still needed in order to turn the GRAND-AM-spec machine into a regular podium contender and eventual race winner.
“It's a big fact-finding mission and it's just going to set the tone for where we steer this project towards and what part of the car we work on development,” explained Brad Kettler, Director of Operations for Audi Sport Customer Racing USA.
Romolo Liebchen, Head of Audi Sport Customer Racing, who is overseeing the program this weekend, adds: “I think for us it's very important to be in a close relationship with the customers. I think so far, everybody was not 100 percent satisfied with the results we've achieved. So we sat down and made a plan to improve.
“We're trying that by bringing the second car and bring drivers who know the car very well and are able to run the car almost at the limit. Hopefully after the weekend we'll know where we are and what we'll have to do.”
While three different teams have entered Audis this year, APR’s No. 51 car of Dion von Moltke and Dr. Jim Norman, the only full-season effort, has yet to score a top-10 finish after seven starts.
Much of the early season struggles could be traced to the car’s adaptation to Rolex Series specification, which included aerodynamic modifications such as the series-mandated wing, as well as class-wide Continental tires, which are not as well suited to the Audi as other cars, according to Kettler.
“GRAND-AM wants to see the car be successful,” Kettler said. “They're big promoters of all their manufacturer brands. They've made it clear from the beginning that they are concerned about what's happening with the level of performance.
“But I think in the beginning, they were gun shy about Audi because we tend to come into things and dominate them. So I think maybe some of the original [adjustments] that were made were a little bit too harsh on our behalf and we're slowly chipping away at them.”
A revised wing placement has been the latest balance of performance adjustment handed to the R8 GRAND-AM for this weekend. The wing has been positioned further back and now sits higher up, a move that has helped stabilize the rear end.
“It's the first big step in solving the problems,” APR team owner Stephen Hooks said. “The issue before was that the rear wing was too low. In FIA trim, these cars run with their windows closed.
“What we figured the wind tunnel showed is when the windows are forced down, the rear of the car becomes a big, turbulent area. So the wing was basically hanging out doing nothing.
“The wing change has really settled the rear end down, which has been a critically difficult problem all year. The front and rear of the car never felt connected. Of course for every driver, that's a pretty nerving situation.”
That could all change this weekend, though, as an increased commitment from Audi Sport Customer Racing, along with APR Motorsport, has seen the two organizations join forces to field a second APR Audi R8 GRAND-AM car for Sunday’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen.
Audi Sport development driver Frank Stippler, along with fellow German Marc Basseng, both winners in last month's Nurburgring 24, have been joined by a brace of factory mechanics and engineers.
They've been sent to Watkins Glen with the common goal of pinpointing the areas of development still needed in order to turn the GRAND-AM-spec machine into a regular podium contender and eventual race winner.
“It's a big fact-finding mission and it's just going to set the tone for where we steer this project towards and what part of the car we work on development,” explained Brad Kettler, Director of Operations for Audi Sport Customer Racing USA.
Romolo Liebchen, Head of Audi Sport Customer Racing, who is overseeing the program this weekend, adds: “I think for us it's very important to be in a close relationship with the customers. I think so far, everybody was not 100 percent satisfied with the results we've achieved. So we sat down and made a plan to improve.
“We're trying that by bringing the second car and bring drivers who know the car very well and are able to run the car almost at the limit. Hopefully after the weekend we'll know where we are and what we'll have to do.”
While three different teams have entered Audis this year, APR’s No. 51 car of Dion von Moltke and Dr. Jim Norman, the only full-season effort, has yet to score a top-10 finish after seven starts.
Much of the early season struggles could be traced to the car’s adaptation to Rolex Series specification, which included aerodynamic modifications such as the series-mandated wing, as well as class-wide Continental tires, which are not as well suited to the Audi as other cars, according to Kettler.
“GRAND-AM wants to see the car be successful,” Kettler said. “They're big promoters of all their manufacturer brands. They've made it clear from the beginning that they are concerned about what's happening with the level of performance.
“But I think in the beginning, they were gun shy about Audi because we tend to come into things and dominate them. So I think maybe some of the original [adjustments] that were made were a little bit too harsh on our behalf and we're slowly chipping away at them.”
A revised wing placement has been the latest balance of performance adjustment handed to the R8 GRAND-AM for this weekend. The wing has been positioned further back and now sits higher up, a move that has helped stabilize the rear end.
“It's the first big step in solving the problems,” APR team owner Stephen Hooks said. “The issue before was that the rear wing was too low. In FIA trim, these cars run with their windows closed.
“What we figured the wind tunnel showed is when the windows are forced down, the rear of the car becomes a big, turbulent area. So the wing was basically hanging out doing nothing.
“The wing change has really settled the rear end down, which has been a critically difficult problem all year. The front and rear of the car never felt connected. Of course for every driver, that's a pretty nerving situation.”
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