TWO TRACK "PREMIERES" FOR TEAM WRT THIS WEEKEND, AS IT WILL RACE FOR THE FIRST TIME AT SACHSENRING (ADAC GT) AND INDY (IGTC)

TWO TRACK "PREMIERES" FOR TEAM WRT THIS WEEKEND, AS IT WILL RACE FOR THE FIRST TIME AT SACHSENRING (ADAC GT) AND INDY (IGTC)

01/10/2020

It’s an unusual double commitment for Team WRT this weekend, as the Belgian squad will be in action in two different continents and in two circuits where it has never raced before.

The ADAC GT Masters has reached its fourth event of the season and will stop at the Sachsenring, while the Intercontinental GT Challenge is back for its second round, which takes place in America on the GP road course of the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. There Team WRT will represent Audi Sport entering an Audi R8 LMS under the banner of Audi Sport Team Hardpoint WRT.

This week, Team WRT is also present at tests ahead of the Total 24 Hours of Spa in Spa-Francorchamps, where the driver line-ups for the ‘big one’ have been revealed.

Team Principal Vincent Vosse is highly motivated ahead of the double-header: “It is two new tracks where we will be racing for the first time and we all are enthusiastic about this. In the ADAC GT Masters, we have been on the podium at every round so far and it will be important to score heavy points, as consistency is the only way to win championships. We know that things can change very quickly either way in this very competitive series and it will be crucial to do well at the Sachsenring, a track that it is theoretically not the most favorable to the Audi. With regard to our American commitment, it is great to be back to the US after Daytona, in another mythical track like Indy. I want to congratulate SRO for having succeeded in putting together a great grid for this event, despite the situation, and I want to thank our team going there, as it is quite a challenge these days for a European squad to go racing to America.”

ADAC GT

The fourth round of the season marks the beginning of the second part of the calendar and brings the contenders to the Sachsenring, the very technical track near Chemnitz in Saxony, a former motorbike circuit turned into a modern 3.6 km motorsports facility after German reunification. For Team WRT, who has never raced but tested there in early August, the objective will be to harvest as many points as possible in order to keep in the titles fight. Because of the double commitment this weekend, there will be a slight modification in the line-up of Bio-Circle-livered car #30, where Rolf Ineichen will be joined by Audi Sport driver Fred Vervisch, while the duo driving the Skechers-livered car #32 will not change, with Charles Weerts and Audi Sport driver Dries Vanthoor.

Dries Vanthoor: “The Sachesenring is quite a difficult track, where I have already raced once, but it’s nice to go to circuits which have something special. While I expect things not to be easy, we go there to take the most of it and aiming at fighting in front.”

Charles Weerts: “It is going to be a challenging weekend, and the Sachsenring, where I tested early August, is not the one I prefer. We will have to give our best to do well and get as many points as possible.”

Fred Vervisch: “It’s an honour to be back with Team WRT, one of the very best teams in the Audi family. I never raced with Rolf, but I know that he is one the fastest and strongest Silver drivers, so I am convinced we can do well. Of course, it is never easy to jump in a series you haven’t been racing, but I will give my best.”

IGTC

After the season-opener at Bathurst at the beginning of the year, the Intercontinental GT Challenge is back for its American round, which takes place this year at Indianapolis, the cradle of American motorsports. Clearly not on the oval track of the Indy 500, but on the 2.4 mile GP road course, designed in the infield of the oval and using a small portion of it, but sharing the event with the Indycar. The IGTC race will have a format of 8 Hours, finishing at midnight of Sunday/Monday (European time). A grid of 23 cars has been put together by SRO and Audi will be represented by one R8 LMS entered under the banner of Audi Sport Team Hardpoint WRT. The entry is led by Team WRT while a few members of regular IMSA contender Team Hardpoint will join the Belgian squad. The car will be entrusted to a trio including two Audi Sport drivers, Mirko Bortolotti and Markus Winkelhock, and US Spencer Pumpelly, one of the stars of American GT, who has also great Le Mans experience.

Mirko Bortolotti: “I am really excited to go to Indianapolis, I have never been there, and the IGTC either, so it is going to be a very intense weekend for everybody. I am happy to go there with Team WRT and Audi Sport, and clearly we are aiming high. On the paper, it doesn’t look as the most favorable track for us, but we’ll do the work that has to be done since free practice in order to be competitive for the race.”

Markus Winkelhock: “I really look forward to be at Indianapolis, I was there only once as a reserve driver and never got to drive, but it looks like a great track. I am very pleased to be back with Team WRT and we have a strong line-up. I look forward to doing well and it would be nice to bring the big trophy back!”

ADAC GT Masters – Round 4
Sachsenring, Germany, 2-4 October 2020

Timetable (all in local time = CET)

Friday 2 October 2020

12:40-13:40 Free Practice 1
17:40-18:40 Free Practice 2

Saturday 3 October 2020
09:25-09:55 Qualifying 1

13:05-14:05 Race 1 (1 hr)

Sunday 4 October 2020
09:00-09:30 Qualifying 2
13:05-14:05 Race 2 (1 hr)

Team WRT entries (Audi R8 LMS)
#30 Rolf Ineichen (CH) – Fred Vervisch (BE)
#32 Dries Vanthoor (BE) – Charles Weerts (BE)

IGTC – Round 2
Indianapolis 8 Hours, USA, 2-4 October

Timetable (all in local time = CET -6)

Friday, 2 October 2020
10:20-11:35 Paid test session

13:40-15:10 Free Practice

Saturday 3 October 2020
08:30-10:00 Pre-qualifying
12:10-13:10 Qualifying (1-2-3)

Sunday 4 October 2020
10:00-18:00 Race (8 hrs)

Audi Sport Team Hardpoint WRT entry
#31 Mirko Bortolotti (IT) – Spencer Pumpelly (US) – Markus Winkelhock (DE)

PHOTO: ADAC