Audi R8 LMS Cup: Audi R8 LMS Cup debuts in Japan

Audi Press Release

• Audi R8 LMS Cup visits the Fuji International Speedway
• Alex Yoong leads the drivers’ championship
• Japanese film actor and race car driver Koichi Iwaki to drive for Team Audi Japan

Fuji, Japan, July 24, 2014 — The Audi R8 LMS Cup visits Japan for the first time ever this weekend. Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2014 season of the sprint race series will be held at the Fuji International Speedway on July 26. After his first and third places at the season opener in Korea, former Formula 1 driver, Alex Yoong from Malaysia, arrives in Fuji as points leader, ahead of Round 1 winner “Franky” Cheng Congfu and Rahel Frey.

“The addition of the Japan race weekend to the Audi R8 LMS Cup is the next step in the expansion of the series around Asia. It emphasizes the commitment of Audi to the development of motorsport in the region,” commented Rene Koneberg, Director of Audi Sport customer racing Asia. “Audi won here a few weeks ago in the GT Asia series, and we anticipate another weekend of exciting motorsport action.”

Qualifying will take place on Friday June 25, with Rounds 3 and 4 both to be held on Saturday, July 26. The Fuji International Speedway has been host to the Japanese Grand Prix, sitting beneath the symbolic Mount Fuji. It is a 4.5 km circuit, featuring 16 turns, challenging corners and a high-speed 1.5 km straight, one of the longest among motorsport tracks.

Team Audi Japan, representing the brand in the host country, will join the competition for the first time. Starting for the local Audi team will be actor and race driver, Koichi Iwaki. Team Tunewear Racing will field two additional Japanese drivers with Kato Gachi and Kenji Abe.

Young regulars Matt Solomon and Aidan Wright will be joined by fellow Formula Masters China driver Ronald Wu in Fuji, who debuts in the Audi R8 LMS Cup.

After the season opener at the Korea International Circuit in Yeongam, South Korea, Alex Yoong sits top of the leader board (40 points) after two podiums with his 3rd place finish in Round 1 and victory in Round 2. “Franky” Cheng Congfu is just four points behind him (36 points) with his start-to-finish win in round 1 and 5th place in Round 2. In third place is the young Swiss female driver, Rahel Frey (30 points).

Meanwhile, in the Amateur Cup, Steven Lin of Brothers Racing Team comfortably tops the standings (51 points) after back-to-back wins in South Korea.

The Audi R8 LMS Cup is the first brand cup in the history of Audi. After its successful maiden season in China in 2012, and expansion to Malaysia and South Korea in 2013, the sprint race series has added Japan to its stops around Asia this year.

Photo credit: Audi R8 LMS Cup