Belgian Audi Club and Team WRT today announced the entry of an additional Audi R8 LMS ultra for the forthcoming Total 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the stellar event in GT racing which will count as the fourth round of the Blancpain Endurance Series.
In a clear bid to re-conquer the success obtained in the Ardennes in 2011, the Belgian squad will also receive the support of three top drivers that will exceptionally join the team’s regular drivers for the occasion: Mattias Ekström, Marcel Fässler and André Lotterer.
While two of the driver line-ups (Ortelli – Rast – Vanthoor and Mayr-Melnhof - Frey – Halliday) will see no changes, Switzerland’s Marcel Fässler, a double winner at Le Mans 24 Hours and a winner at Spa 24 Hours in 2007, and Sweden’s Mattias Ekström, who was part of WRT’s winning team in 2011, will join Edward Sandström. The additional car will see double Le Mans 24 Hours winner André Lotterer, from Germany, associated to Frank Stippler and Christopher Mies.
Vincent Vosse, Team WRT principal, commented: “We are extremely happy to take part to the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps with a reinforced team and such an exceptional group of drivers, and thank Audi Sport and Audi Sport customer racing for their support. For a Belgian team like ours, the Spa 24 Hours mean an extra something and after our first win in 2011 and second position last year, we are determined to fight for being again on the highest step of the podium.”
“The three drivers that are joining forces with us for the occasion are simply a luxury! Mattias Ekström was at the wheel of the winning car in 2011 and we are very happy to have him again in our team. André is one of the fastest sportscar and GT drivers around and will be extremely motivated to fight for a first win in Spa, in a circuit and a country that mean so much to him. Marcel has already won here and twice at Le Mans, together with Lotterer, and has clearly become a top endurance specialist. Running an enlarged team will definitely be a new experience for Team WRT but we are looking forward to taking up the challenge.”