APR Debuts R8 at Rolex 24

[M3_WC]

APR Motorsport is proud to announce that it will become the first team to compete in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series with the Audi R8 LMS (V10), when the team takes the green flag for January's 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona on January 28, 2012. APR was able to land 5-time Le Mans winner Emanuele Piro. Piro will return to Daytona for the first in 31 years. The team has been working through a few teething problems in testing. It is good to see new cars joining the Rolex Series including Risi with the Ferrari 458 Italia GT.

Rolex 24 hours: 1/28, 2:30 PM ET, Speed Channel

[LZH]

That and the 458 are gonna be tough to beat.

[M3_WC]

That and the 458 are gonna be tough to beat.

Also looking forward to seeing the Corvette Daytona in the Prototype class. Cool looking car.

[LZH]

That Vette looks good but it also has some serious competition.

[LZH]

This is a great in car video of Pirro in the R8

[LZH]

Here's another at night:

[LZH]

And here is Ray Langston's 458:

[M3_WC]

And here is Ray Langston's 458:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7L3b...eature=related

Yeah the 458 looks good. The V10 in that R8 sounds awesome too.

It is great for Grand-Am to be getting these new cars. Future is looking bright for their series.

[Sticky]

That R8 looks fantastic. I admit it is very impressive for APR to be able to field something like this. They must be making money hand over fist.

[LZH]

That R8 looks fantastic. I admit it is very impressive for APR to be able to field something like this. They must be making money hand over fist.

I seriously doubt it. Notice the lettering on the seat - "Customer Racing".
I'm sure they have some dudes with BIG bankrolls to fund the program who are also gentlemen drivers paying their way (not to mention Pirro is a PAID driver). I wonder if they plan on running all the races or just a select few ?

http://www.aprmotorsport.com/drivers/#baas

[M3_WC]

I seriously doubt it. Notice the lettering on the seat - "Customer Racing".
I'm sure they have some dudes with BIG bankrolls to fund the program who are also gentlemen drivers paying their way (not to mention Pirro is a PAID driver). I wonder if they plan on running all the races or just a select few ?

http://www.aprmotorsport.com/drivers/#baas

APR has some money, they have a very large top notch facility in Alabama. As with any company I am sure APR has outside investors in the company. But like Turner Motorsports running in both Continental Tire Series and Rolex Series, they pretty much do it all on their own.

I wouldn't doubt Audi has something to do with Piro joining the team just for the 24 hour race. Since this is the debut of the R8 LMS in the US, I am sure Audi wanted a big name in the drivers seat. But the APR R8 LMS will go on to race the entire Grand-AM schedule with the usual two driver lineup.

APR will continue to also run the VW's and Audi S4 in the Continental Tire Series as well.

[LZH]

APR has some money, they have a very large top notch facility in Alabama. As with any company I am sure APR has outside investors in the company. But like Turner Motorsports running in both Continental Tire Series and Rolex Series, they pretty much do it all on their own.

I wouldn't doubt Audi has something to do with Piro joining the team just for the 24 hour race. Since this is the debut of the R8 LMS in the US, I am sure Audi wanted a big name in the drivers seat. But the APR R8 LMS will go on to race the entire Grand-AM schedule with the usual two driver lineup.

APR will continue to also run the VW's and Audi S4 in the Continental Tire Series as well.

As you said - this is a great time for Grand Am and I wish I were still involved. The number of different manufacturers in the GT class really makes for some good racing and appeals to all of us sports car enthusiasts. Much more so than the ALMS series....which I like more, but I feel Grand Am has much more staying power as it is MUCH cheaper to run in than ALMS. It's going to be an exciting season for sure and I can't wait to see the GT cars screaming around Daytona.