· Once again, venue is totally new for all four United Autosports drivers
· First FIA GT3 European Championship race in Spain
United Autosports contests the latest two races of the FIA GT3 European Championship at Jarama in Spain next Sunday (June 20) patiently and quietly continuing its learning process for the American team’s first year of competition.
Having achieved best of season qualifying and race results of 10th and 14th positions in the previous rounds at Brno (May 22-23), the British-based Audi R8 LMS team realistically sets its sights on top-six grid positions (Saturday June 19) and top-10 placings in the two, 60-minute races unusually staged the same day (Sunday June 20).
The 2.39-mile Jarama circuit is located in San Sebastian de los Reyes, less than 12-miles north of Madrid, and marks the first time the FIA GT3 series has run in Spain.
Saturday June 19
09:15-10:15 Free practice 1
11.15-12.15 Free practice 2
16:00-16:50 Qualifying
Sunday 20 June
09:15-10:15 Race 1
16:00-17:00 Race 2
(all times are local)
#22 Molecule / Cerutti – Audi R8 LMS
Michael Guasch (USA). Lives: Walnut Creek, California, USA:
“We’re making progress with every outing and so I am looking forward to Jarama. I am personally very comfortable on tight, technical tracks. This could be to my advantage. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the Audi again.”
Mark Patterson (USA). Lives: Bronxville, New York State, USA:
“It should be more fun to race on a more technically demanding track with shorter straights than either Silverstone and Brno, both wonderful race tracks in their own right, but which certainly challenged our Audi R8 LMS sports cars due to the current ‘Balance of Power’ configurations.
“I would hope that at Jarama we will have less of a disadvantage given that our straight line speed, due to the handicapping, has been up to 9kph slower than our rivals. I’m especially looking forward to see where we are, in terms of our competitors, on a track 50% shorter than circuits that have staged the opening rounds.”
#23 Remington – Audi R8 LMS
Zak Brown (USA). Lives: Carmel, Indiana, USA:
“Jarama, like all of the upcoming tracks, is new to all of us drivers which poses an added challenge over a race weekend. I'm very much looking forward to visiting Jarama for the first time. As a team we’ve made mistakes and collected penalties I never knew existed but in all cases we’ll learn from these setbacks and come back stronger.”
Matthew Bell (GB). Lives: Barningham nr Richmond, North Yorkshire, England:
“Jarama could favor the Audi better than the longer and faster Silverstone and Brno circuits. However, it’s another new track for all of us to learn and it looks to be a more technical track with difficult tight and twisty sections. But it will be another new but different kind of challenge. Hopefully the nature of the circuit will put more responsibility on the drivers for speed rather than our Audi which still seems to be out of 'balance' compared to our rivals.”
Richard Dean (GB), Managing Director & Co-Owner of United Autosports:
“Jarama’s tight and twisty nature with its high variety of demanding corners and heavy braking should suit the Audi R8 LMS. So far, the faster circuits of Silverstone and Brno combined with the current Balance of Performance measures have not allowed us to show the cars potential.
“I am excited to see how the drivers perform at Jarama as they have all been showing great form and a better understanding of the cars each time we have been out. We have the potential to be right in the mix in Spain while just a little help with the regulations could see us consistently break into the top ten.”
John Della Penna (ARG), Partner & Sporting Director of United Autosports:
“We learnt things at Brno that we can put to good use at Jarama as is going to be the norm this year for our team. We have drivers who have never driven any of these courses so it always takes the first session for them to get acclimatized to the track. But from the technical side I feel very good, we keep pushing hard to understand the car and think we are getting stronger. It will be great to be in Spain. I love the country, I love Jarama with its history, and I can speak the language so all is good.”
V10 5.2-liter engine, 4 valves per cylinder, petrol direct injection, emission control by two racing catalytic converters, rear-wheel-drive, traction control (ASR), sequential pneumatic activated 6-speed sport gearbox with shift-paddles, Audi Space Frame (ASF) made of aluminum with bolted steel roll-cage, carbon-fiber composite/aluminum bodywork, Michelin radial tires. Approx 500 hp (reduced power). Start weight 1,320kg. Limitation at 7500rpm for every gear ratio except the last one, for which the rev limit is 8500rpm. Developed by Audi Sport with cooperation from quattro GmbH. Won FIA GT3 European Championship, ADAC-GT Masters and Belgian GT Championship plus Nürburgring 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours class victories in début 2009 season scoring a total 23 victories.
* More United Autosports Editorial Copyright Free photographs are available at www.flickr.com/unitedautosports
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