Audi announces R8 LMS ultra teams and drivers to kick-off 2014 Pirelli World Challenge Season

Audi of America announces a five car Audi R8 LMS ultra line-up for the 2014 Pirelli World Challenge opening race.

Five Audi R8 LMS ultra race cars will contest the season opening race of the 2014 Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) race series. Competing in two
classes, the Audi R8 LMS ultra GT3 specification cars, supported by customer racing across the globe, look to reach the podium during two 50 minute sprint races on the 1.8 mile St. Petersburg street course.

James Sofronas, who won last year's race, will compete in the GT class in the No. 14 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra. Sofronas was in a tight race for the drivers' championship that went down to the final race last season. He will look to repeat his win this weekend and vie for the points to take the drivers' championship. Having spent the last few months racing at Daytona and Sebring in the TUDOR United Sports Car Championship, he is looking forward to kicking off the PWC this weekend. "This has been a particularly rewarding start to the year since we have been competing in endurance racing while preparing for the PWC season at the same time," said Sofronas. "We're hoping to build on our successes from last year and apply everything the team has learned about the R8 race car.”

The newly established GT-A class for gentlemen drivers will see three GMG backed Audi R8 LMS ultras taking to the street course. The drivers and cars include:
> Bill Ziegler - No. 95 Swisher Racing/GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra.
> Bret Curtis - No. 32 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra.
> Andrew Palmer - will make his series debut in the No. 21 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra.

Veteran of the series and new to the Audi R8 LMS ultra, Jeff Courtney, will compete in the GT-A class in his No. 99 Kenda/RecStuff.com JCR Motorsports Audi R8 LMS ultra.

Posted in: 2014 Pirelli World Challenge,Audi,Audi of America,Audi R8 LMS Ultra,Motor Sports,North America