Historic GT2 win

In January, the Audi R8 LMS GT2 notched up a first when it was entered in a 24 hour race for the first – promptly winning its class on debut. But the race car based on the R8 Spyder platform was only getting started, and over the weekend, the most powerful car to come from the Audi Sport customer racing collection took an historic first outright victory in a 24-hour race.

Team PK Carsport, the same team to win their class in Dubai in January added the overall win at the Zolder 24 Hours, to the growing list of achievements.

The fourth round of the Belcar Endurance Championship, the four Belgian privateers Peter Guelinckx, Bert Longin, Stienes Longin and Nicolas Saelens were backed up by compatriot and Audi Sport driver Dries Vanthoor to deliver an impressive victory in the gruelling race.

The race saw no fewer than 25 lead changes in exciting racing that saw the team locked in battle with some tough competition including the Porsche of Team Q1 TrackRacing. 

In the second hour of the race, the Audi privateer team found itself down by three laps at one stage, but worked its way back to the front by the sixth hour. The breakthrough came with a strong drive by Dries Vanthoor on Sunday morning that saw the Belgian driver set new lap records several times.

At the end of what was essentially a 3088 kilometre sprint race, the R8 LMS GT2 crossed the line ahead of all comers to claim its maiden endurance win.

For Audi Sport customer racing, it was the third triumph in a GT category at this race that has been held since 1983. In 2011 and 2012, the GT3 version of the brand’s all-conquering race car took the top spot, but this year the glory belonged to the relative newcomer that was first revealed to the world at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2019. 

For Audi Sport driver Dries Vanthoor, who actually hails from Zolder, the win marked his third 24-hour overall victory this season at his home race.