| [ Total Views: 1019 | Total Replies: 14 | Thread Id: 95569 ] |
|
|
 Phil74Camper
Son of Jim - Creator of Good
Head in the Clouds
Posts: 2703
Threads: 193
Registered: August 28th, 2002
Member Is Offline
Location: Sydney
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
|
| posted on February 27th, 2012 at 11:24 AM |
|
|
Audi wins Bathurst 12-Hour
There's been nothing in the newspapers, radio or TV news about this.
Audi won the 2012 Bathurst 12-hour race at Mt Panorama yesterday (Sunday), for the second year in a row. The winning R8 LMS completed 270 laps (1,677
km) in 12 hours. The #1 Audi finished just half a lap in front of the #20 Mercedes SLS AMG.
Unlike the V8 supercars, the Audi R8 LMS is based on the production vehicle, and has a production-based 5.2-litre V10 engine with 425 kW, a six-speed
sequential gearbox and rear-wheel drive (NOT quattro AWD).
The winning Audi had a best lap of 2:08.11, while the #2 Audi did an even quicker 2:07.62. The fastest lap of the race was set by a Ferrari 458 GT3,
2:06.33. These times are all quicker than V8 Supercars - their record Bathurst lap is 2:08.46, set by Jamie Whincup in 2007.
http://www.timing.bathurst12hour.com.au/results.php?race=36
Hooray for Audi. Why hasn't this great event been in the papers and on TV?
| Error |
| Sorry, you must be a registered user in order to download attachments. |
|
|
|
|
waveman1500
Custom Title Time!
Also rides a Honda
Posts: 1346
Threads: 13
Registered: December 17th, 2009
Member Is Offline
Location: Adelaide
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
|
| posted on February 27th, 2012 at 11:59 AM |
|
|
If a Holden or Ford had won it, then it would be all over the news. Unfortunately, there is not much of a following for racing exotic sports cars in
Australia. Even though they may actually be cheaper than a V8 Supercar, it's a lot harder for the 'average bloke' to relate to a grid full of
Ferraris and Lamborghinis. And in any case, there's not enough biff! Touring car fans like to see some panels get bent. That's why V8 Ute racing is
so popular. The cars are real production cars that are affordable to the average person and the racing is very physical!
|
|
|
cam070
Custom Title Time!
Posts: 1332
Threads: 53
Registered: July 25th, 2009
Member Is Offline
Location: Sydney
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Getting hands dirty stripping the bug down
|
| posted on February 27th, 2012 at 07:37 PM |
|
|
Roaring lion sponsorship on a ford. Isn't that bit ironic?
|
|
|
Wannavee
Insano Dub Head
Posts: 729
Threads: 53
Registered: September 7th, 2008
Member Is Offline
Theme: UltimaBB Psyche Blue
|
| posted on February 27th, 2012 at 08:49 PM |
|
|
12 hour race? Well promoted then
|
|
|
Ben386
Officially Full-On Dubber
Posts: 244
Threads: 26
Registered: April 2nd, 2010
Member Is Offline
Location: Sydney
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Never had a bad day
|
| posted on February 28th, 2012 at 07:19 AM |
|
|
I didnt even know it was on.
Excellent result.
Who was the driving team?
|
|
|
Phil74Camper
Son of Jim - Creator of Good
Head in the Clouds
Posts: 2703
Threads: 193
Registered: August 28th, 2002
Member Is Offline
Location: Sydney
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
|
| posted on February 28th, 2012 at 10:42 AM |
|
|
1st place was the #1 Phoenix Racing Audi driven by C.Mies/D.O'Young/C.Joens. The other Phoenix Racing Audi #2 of C.Lowndes/W.Luff/M.Eddy crashed out
after 7 hours.
There is plenty of info, videos and photos on their website http://www.bathurst12hour.com.au/
This is apparently only the second year that high-tech European race machinery has been allowed - Audi won last year too. The crowd was around 15,000,
not bad for an almost unpromoted event on a wet weekend, and up by 10% on last year. I guess it can only grow but it needs some serious promotion to
attract Euro racing fans, not the flannelette shirted yobbos who go to the V8s and the 'utes'. Maybe we should organise a VW club run up there for
next year if it doesn't clash with the Sydney drags.
Crashes might appeal to the bogans but who else? Crashes result in the safety car coming out and valuable racing time lost - who wants that? Two hours
of the Le Mans 24-hour were lost last year under the safety car, and at Bathurst 7 of the 25 starters did not finish. Surely the idea of good motor
racing is NOT to crash?
Yes there were exotic Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Mercedes CLKs racing at the Bathurst 12-hour, but the race was won by an Audi R8 LMS that you can
buy, totally complete and ready to race, from Audi Motorsport at Ingolstadt for 320,000 Euro. And faster than these unsustainable million-dollar V8
Supercars that are all the same underneath whether they are 'Fords' or 'Holdens'. The Audi IS an Audi, the Mercs ARE Mercs, the Ferraris ARE
Ferraris. But that's not all - look at the other choice of cars that raced in the lower classes on Sunday: Porsche 997 GT3; Nissan R35 GTR; Lotus
Exige; Holden HSV GTS; Mazda RX7; BMW 135i; Subaru WRX Sti; SEAT Leon TDI; Holden HSV VX-R. And all racing together, at Australia's greatest motor
racing circuit, for 12 hours!
Who wouldn't want to watch that!
| Error |
| Sorry, you must be a registered user in order to download attachments. |
|
|
|
|
AA003
A.k.a.: Phill
Custom Title Time!
Posts: 1189
Threads: 39
Registered: October 27th, 2011
Member Is Offline
Location: Southern Highlands
Theme: UltimaBB Streamlined2
|
| posted on February 28th, 2012 at 10:47 AM |
|
|
Phil, what's the go with the rear wheel drive R8?
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!
|
|
|
Phil74Camper
Son of Jim - Creator of Good
Head in the Clouds
Posts: 2703
Threads: 193
Registered: August 28th, 2002
Member Is Offline
Location: Sydney
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
|
| posted on February 28th, 2012 at 10:57 AM |
|
|
Audi builds the R8 LMS for the European GT3 Championship. Their rules don't allow AWD, so the LMS is rear-drive only. Unlike the normal road
versions!
|
|
|
snitz
Wolfsburg Wizard
Posts: 605
Threads: 37
Registered: September 28th, 2008
Member Is Offline
Location: Adelaide.. the defect and taser state..
Theme: UltimaBB Psyche Red
Mood: "Bug"gered
|
| posted on February 28th, 2012 at 12:07 PM |
|
|
Myself and three mates road-tripped it from Adelaide and stayed at a cottage in Milthorpe..Was an excellent weekend with support catagories such as
the Sports Sedans and IPRA Cars as a few local boys from Adelaide in Improved Productionn were racing. The 6:15 start was awesome with lights blazing
and brakes glowing..all starting the race in a formation..Awesome!!. We were up on skyline when Lowdnes' Audi smacked the wall  .
Been to the 1000 race 2 years ago and enjoyed the 12 hour race just as much.There was room to move you could drive your car on the mounds to spectate
and there wasnt the neanderthal attitude of 100k pissed yobbos..lol.
|
|
|
donn
Wolfsburg Elder
Posts: 3515
Threads: 428
Registered: November 30th, 2005
Member Is Offline
Location: NEWCASTLE NSW
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue
Mood: LAID BACK AND CONFUSED
|
| posted on February 28th, 2012 at 02:45 PM |
|
|
A cruise to the 12 hour, best idea I've heard for ages, I'm in.  
I dream of a day when a chicken can cross a road without being asked for it's motive!
|
|
|
 Yogie
Super Moderator
Posts: 1606
Threads: 108
Registered: June 7th, 2003
Member Is Offline
Location: Brisbane
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue
|
| posted on February 28th, 2012 at 04:19 PM |
|
|
I am suprised there was not more coverage with Craig Lowndes being involved. I would have liked to have seen him driving the Audi.
Yogie
|
|
|
waveman1500
Custom Title Time!
Also rides a Honda
Posts: 1346
Threads: 13
Registered: December 17th, 2009
Member Is Offline
Location: Adelaide
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
|
| posted on February 28th, 2012 at 08:09 PM |
|
|
Phil, I agree that it sounds like a great race. If I had heard of it beforehand and if it was broadcast on free-to-air TV then I definitely would have
watched a couple of hours of it at least. I think that production-based car racing is definitely a good thing and we should see more coverage of it.
The entertainment value is already there in the sport, they just need to market it better and make it available and attractive to TV audiences.
I'm surprised at the claim that the GT3-spec Audi R8 only costs 320,000 Euros. That is cheap! V8 Supercars currently cost a lot more than that, but
with the control chassis coming in for 2013 with the Car of the Future rules, they are aiming for a cost of roughly $250,000 plus engines.
|
|
|
grinderman
Officially Full-On Dubber
Posts: 378
Threads: 50
Registered: April 27th, 2011
Member Is Offline
Location: Grantham
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
|
| posted on February 28th, 2012 at 08:17 PM |
|
|
Isnt it ironic that the last media coverage I've heard of this 12 hour race was a few years ago when a HSV limited edition 7.4 litre commodore
($150,000) 'beat' the porsches and other sports cars..........there must be some knuckle draggers in the media also.
|
|
|
waveman1500
Custom Title Time!
Also rides a Honda
Posts: 1346
Threads: 13
Registered: December 17th, 2009
Member Is Offline
Location: Adelaide
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
|
| posted on February 28th, 2012 at 08:29 PM |
|
|
I think it's a bit unkind to call V8 fans 'knuckle-draggers'. After all, most of us here drive air-cooled cars, which are hardly high-tech!
The mass-market of Australian motor racing enthusiasts has been fed nothing but a steady diet of V8 touring cars for the last 40 years. That kind of
cultural conditioning will not go away overnight. In order to get Aussies to watch European car racing in large numbers, there will have to be a huge
effort in marketing and promotion. It's a bit like trying to turn the whole country vegetarian, or get them to give up beer and switch to white wine.
People who have been raised on one thing will continue to demand it, until you can demonstrate to them that you are offering something better.
For me personally, I'm happy to keep watching V8 Supercars, as I think that it's one of the most exciting and competitive racing categories in the
world. Last year I started watching some BTCC races on TV and enjoying them also. The rules for mixing turbo FWD cars with RWD BMWs are interesting
and the way that they add ballast to the winning driver's car as a handicap for the next race is mind-boggling. Just like horse racing!
|
|
|
Phil74Camper
Son of Jim - Creator of Good
Head in the Clouds
Posts: 2703
Threads: 193
Registered: August 28th, 2002
Member Is Offline
Location: Sydney
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
|
| posted on February 29th, 2012 at 07:50 AM |
|
|
The latest Audi R8 LMS Ultra actually sells for 329,900 Euro - plus VAT. They are still production cars, using production body shells and improved
production mechanicals. They don't have to be hand-built from scratch like the V8Supercars.
Here's a copy of the Audi press release that gives the details of the latest model: http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/5006/Audi-R8-LMS-Ultra.html
Here's Autocar magazine doing a test drive of an R8 LMS race car at Silverstone - enjoy the engine sounds! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bjZHUeYEmo
|
|
|
