Greater freedoms are enjoyed by the drivers in 2015 in terms of tactics. Starting this season, two tire sets for qualifying and the race are permitted. In the past, only one set was allowed. A tactical element from last year has proved its viability. As the first GT3 racing series to do so, the Cup established a push-to-pass system which allows the driver to briefly use additional engine power. The number of these boosts is limited and makes for thrilling maneuvers in the race. Another element serves to prevent a possible dominance of individual drivers. The three best drivers in each race have to start with ballast in the subsequent race.
For the first time, the teams can support their cars with their own technical personnel. The first team to have opted for this possibility is B-Quik Racing from Thailand. The option to book the entire turnkey package of the Cup is concurrently available.
Audi Sport customer racing Asia sends its drivers to Europe as well. 19-year-old Shaun Thong from Hong Kong will be contesting the Audi Sport TT Cup in Europe. In addition to that, together with Marchy Lee and Markus Winkelhock he is going to share a cockpit in the Blancpain Endurance Series. For the GT3 Endurance Series, Audi Sport customer racing Asia cooperates with the renowned Phoenix Racing team. Thong is also a member of the first all-Asian driver team of the Audi race experience in the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The commitments of this talent are part of Audi’s Young Driver Development Program in Asia. The race cars to be driven by Thong and his team-mates in Europe advertise the Audi R8 LMS Cup, among other things.
This year, the Cup drivers will again be representing the colors of the Audi R8 LMS Cup in the GT Asia racing series. As a result, the commitment of Audi Sport customer racing Asia not only shapes the motorsport landscape in and around China but hones the profile of the Audi R8 LMS Cup in other regions of the world as well.
Source: Audi