It’s been a busy week for the DragonSpeed team, with the Jupiter, Florida outfit taking delivery of the first Audi R8 LMS ultra GT3 race car in the Americas, shaking it down at Palm Beach International Raceway, and announcing its plans for 2012 and 2013.
DragonSpeed intends to contest the top category at selected GT endurance events, starting with the Dunlop 24 Hours Dubai on 10-12 January 2013. DragonSpeed posted its entry for Dubai this week, becoming the first US team and first Audi R8 to commit to the Gulf nation’s ‘new classic’ event. Other races in the team’s sights include the Nürburgring 24 Hours and Bathurst 12 Hours.
The team will be conducting extensive testing during the remainder of 2012 to prepare for Dubai, while waiting to see whether FIA GT3-specification machinery will be introduced to America in 2013. Possible venues include the American Le Mans Series’ GTC class and the Pirelli World Challenge’s GT division.
The latest ‘ultra’ evolution of Audi’s R8 LMS racer has put the German marque’s four rings at the forefront of international GT3 endurance competition, claiming victories at Bathurst and the Nürburgring so far this year. In the wake of Audi Sport Customer Racing establishing a US operation at the end of last year, several of the first-generation models have appeared on US tracks in 2012.
DragonSpeed continues to be run by regular FIA World Endurance Championship driver Elton Julian in partnership with driver and car owner Pete Aronson and renewable racing entrepreneur David Aronson. The team’s last major outing was the 2011 Rolex 24, when its GT-class Ferrari F430 Challenge recorded that model’s best-ever finish at Daytona. DragonSpeed and Julian continue to enjoy support from Christian Zugel’s Zais Group, Vogel Group, Park Place Car Condo, and Stilo helmets.
“Our shakedown run this week went perfectly,” Julian said. “The Audi move has helped us put together an all-star crew, and we’ve had first-class service from Brad Kettler and Andrea Santilli at Audi Sport Customer Racing. We’ve already had a tremendous amount of interest in the overseas races and even though we don’t have a regular place to race at home yet, we think that will come soon enough.”
“I’m incredibly excited to be stepping up to GT3 in such a fantastic car. It will play a big part in realizing my dream of racing in marquee events on premier circuits around the world, starting with Dubai,” Pete Aronson said. “I have to thank Elton and David for all their support and hard work in building up DragonSpeed and helping make this next step happen. I can’t wait for my first test in the R8!”
Source : DragonSpeed