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By Johan Laubscher
A very exciting weekend of historic racing will be taking place at Daytona International Speedway this upcoming weekend. The Classic 24 at Daytona, which includes the annual HSR Daytona Historic, will see a massive entry of classic race cars, including four Audis. This event is sanctioned by the HSR (Historic Sportscar Racing, LTD).
The Classic 24 at Daytona entry list includes three Audi entries and the HSR Daytona Historics entry list has one Audi entry. The Audi race cars are a mixture of old and new.
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The legendary Audi R8 race cars (2000-2006 LMP900 & LMP1) have been a regular sight in North American historic racing since 2003, and one will be taking part at Daytona. Rogers Motorsports will be entering their #38 Champion Racing liveried Audi R8, chassis #607. Doug Smith and Andy Wallace will be behind the wheel.
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The Rogers Motorsports team is heading to Daytona with heavy hearts and a clear mission. Long-time Champion Racing team member, Keith Bransford, recently lost his battle with bone cancer and the team will be out to win for Keith at Daytona this weekend. The Audi R8 will also be carrying a special tribute in honour of Bransford, with his name included on the R8.
RIP Keith Bransford (1958-2014).
Two Audi R8 LMS ultra entries will also be taking part, both of which were seen in the Pirelli World Challenge this year. CRP Racing will be fielding their #2 Audi R8 LMS ultra which took Mike Skeen to the runner-up spot in the 2014 Pirelli World Challenge standings. Skeen will be driving the Audi R8 LMS ultra alongside Alex Lloyd. The car is entered in the E-1 class.
GMG Racing will be running the #76 Audi R8 LMS ultra of Alex Welch in the E-3 class. The car will be driven by Welch and James Sofronas. This car competed at selected events of the 2014 Pirelli World Challenge with Welch behind the wheel, whilst Sofronas was a full-season competitor in his #14 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra.
The fourth Audi entry is the ex-Champion Racing Audi S4 Competition (B5) of Mike Fisher, who is a regular entrant in HSR and SVRA historic events. His Audi S4 Competition took part in the SPEED World Challenge GT series (former name of the Pirelli World Challenge) during the early 2000s. The car currently has the 2001 Champion Racing livery, as driven by Derek Bell.
Audi entries for the Classic 24 at Daytona:
E-1 Class:
Rogers Motorsports – #38 Audi R8 (chassis #607) – Doug Smith and Andy Wallace
CRP Racing – #2 Audi R8 LMS ultra – Alex Lloyd and Mike Skeen
E-3 Class:
GMG Racing – #76 Audi R8 LMS ultra – Alex Welch and James Sofronas
The entry list can be seen HERE.
Audi entries for the HSR Daytona Historics:
Group 5 - SSA Class:
#21 Audi S4 Competition – Mike Fisher
The entry list can be seen HERE.
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Photo credit:
Bobby Green
Bobby Green
James Sofronas
