APR displays at Waterfest 2012: R8 Grand Am

This year there were an unprecedented number of real deal race cars on display at Waterfest. Yeah there was the typical show stuff too, but from R8s to ah, R8s, it was great to see them out and in front of the public. More soon,

_WRS

Double Coaster: ALMS and CTSCC on Saturday

It's a busy weekend for motorsport in the good ole U-S of A. The American Le Mans boys are up one of the shortest and fastest tracks in the country, Lime Rock Park. We were there last year and it was blazing hot, much to my wife's chagrin at the time, but not many spouses are crazy enough to let you take them to a race track on THEIR birthday. Unfortunately with the upcoming Waterfest show and upcoming move from NYC to Baltimore taking all my time and energy, we won't be attending this year.

Still, it should be a great battle. Dyson brings a second car so at the very least there will be a full podium in LMP1, but of course, the real battle is in GT. It's anybody's guess as to what team will take honors - the Ferraris are always fast, Corvette and BMW have been the two to beat here and abroad, and Flying Lizard is overdue for a win for Porsche. As always my underdog favorite is the Porsche RSR of Team Falken Tire. In GTC look for it to be Black Swan's race to lose - not that the other teams are of lesser quality or ability, it's just that Black Swan have been that good. It is impossible to count them out.

Practice and qualifying all take place tomorrow, and the race is at 2:05pm Eastern Time. As usual those with ESPN3 will be able to stream the race live in its entirety, but it will be rebroadcast the following day I believe, should you miss it. You can also check www.americanlemans.com as international viewers don't have to worry about being "allowed" to view the ESPN3 feed.



All the way across the country and on a similarly historic track, the Grand Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (sheesh) is running at Laguna Seca.  APR Motorsport is going strong, after a fantastic 2nd place finish at Road America a couple of weeks back. APR Motorsport is 3rd in ST team standings (just one point behind Compass360), drivers Ian Baas and Ryan Ellis are tied for 3rd in the driver's championship, and Volkswagen lies 1st in the manufacturers championship. Mazda is nipping at their heels just 3 points back, so Laguna could be the make-or-break race of the year.

With just three races remaining, it's imperative that APR Motorsport put in consistent performances in all of them. A DNF or finishing out of the points would be devastating to drivers, team and manufacturer alike.

Practice kicks off tomorrow at multiple times before qualifying in ST goes down at 3:55pm PST.  Check out live timing and scoring at Grand-am.com - and then the race, a 2.5 hour run, begins at 10:45 am.


Hopefully after the silly season dies down I'll have some more time on my hands, and naturally our IMSA GTI will begin to make strides towards track worthiness in no-time.

Look for Waterfest coverage as well, at least a bit from my little dark corner of the vendor row...

_WRS

CTSCC - APR pulls amazing 1-2 finish at Watkins Glen

Against all odds APR Motorsport pulled out a fantastic 1-2 finish at Watkins Glen this past weekend. Considering how things were at the start, this seems almost impossible to believe. APR has always seemed to do well at Watkins, with their first Continental Tire victory coming at the track in 2009. All three APR VW GTIs started from the back of the pack. The #171 championship car of Ian Baas and Ryan Ellis had an engine let go in qualifying which meant they started at the back of the pack.



The 181 and new 161 Mk5 GTI (replacing the now-retired / written-off GS class S4) were moved to the back of the pack for a technical infraction of some sort, which was doubly disappointing as the Gleason brothers in the 181 and Nate Norenberg in the 161 (along with Josh Hurley) were set to start 3rd in ST.

Despite all that, the team regrouped and passed the entire ST field and ended up at the front of the pack. That's 55 cars! The equivalent of starting from the back and passing the entire field for victory at Le Mans from a number of cars passed standpoint.



The final finish was the 181 in first, 161 in second, and 171 in 31st. Ian lost the driver's championship points lead after suspension problems set them back in the field.



Although it's unfortunate for Ian to get bumped from the lead of the driver's championship, APR and VW remain in very strong positions, with VW retaining the manufacturer lead by one point over Mazda, and APR sitting fourth in team points. Ryan Ellis remains in the top five in the driver's championship.

With four events remaining it's crucial for APR to keep it together and finish strong in every event.

For more: www.grand-am.com / www.aprmotorsport.com

_WRS

CTSCC - Kevin Gleason kills in qualifying, starts P2 at Lime Rock

APR Motorsport is looking good going into this weekend's Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Memorial Day Classic at Lime Rock Park. VW Jetta TDI Cup veteran Kevin Gleason ran a scorching sub-60 second lap to take second place on tomorrow's starting grid. For a track as tight and technical as Lime Rock, a strong starting position is key. Kevin will start tomorrow's Grand Am CTSCC race in the #181 and hand over to brother Chris to finish out the event.



Championship points leader Ryan Ellis will end up P14 on the grid, with the small track making for tight, and slow, qualifying in the 171 GTI. Ian Baas will be co-driving with Ryan.



APR Motorsport is in need of a good weekend, as the previous round at VIR race was challenging to say the least. Both GTIs struggled and placed off the podium, while the star-crossed S4 was finished off in a heavy shunt. The S4 is done for, and a new chassis is being prepped, but it effectively ends the APR effort in GS for this season.

The race is tomorrow at 10:30am - check out www.grand-am.com for live timing and scoring. The race will be broadcast on Speed TV sometime in the future...

Best of luck to the APR crew! Unfortunately tight time and finances means no trip to Lakeville this year, maybe next. With a strong finish, APR drivers Ian Baas and Ryan Ellis should stay in the hunt for the championship.

_WRS

CTSCC - APR Motorsport victory in ST!

APR Motorsport's Ian Bass and Ryan Ellis earned their second victory in as many races, piloting their Mk6 VW GTI (sponsored by Driver's Gear, Motul, BBS) to the winner's circle in this weekend's Kia 200 at Homestead Miami. With APR edging out the iMoto Mazdaspeed 3 and RSR Motorsport's MINI Cooper S for the win, and locking down fourth position with the #181 GTI of the Gleason brothers, APR and Volkswagen are now in firm command of the championships, both with 70 points over nearest competitor Kia who has 56. Likewise Baas and Ellis are tied for first place in the driver's championship, at 70 points each, with Kinetic Motorsports / Kia driver Nic Jonsson in third with 56 points.



Round three will see the GS and ST class cars running at APR's home track of Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama on April 7-9th.

For more see grand-am.com / goapr.com

_WRS

CTSCC - Round 2 from Homestead Miami (today at 4:15pm)

The second round of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge takes off today at Homestead Miami Speedway at 4:15pm eastern. APR Motorsport is there ready to continue the success they had in the ST class, and hoping to improve on their results in GS. GHary Gibson landed the big B8 S4 landed pretty much square in the middle of the GS field, 16th out of 29 cars. The 3.0 TFSI V6 showed supreme flashes of speed last season, but so far hasn't quite found the groove that the ST GTIs have.



Speaking of which, the two 2.0t Mk6 GTIs are toward the sharp end of a very competitive field. While not able to pull out a class poll-position, the 171 of Ian Baas and Ryan Ellis sits 6th out of 34 cars, and the 181 of the Gleason brothers earned 8th position.



Check out live timing and scoring at Grand-am.com or check out APR's Twitter feed for live updates.

Flash result: APR wins in ST!

APR motorsport took their first victory of the 2011 season at today's Grand Am 200, round one of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. Drivers Ian Baas and Ryan Ellis took command of the race starting from pole position, and led the ST class the majority of the event. A fierce battle developed at the end of the race, with Baas dicing and trading the lead with Nic Jonsson in the Kinetic Motorsports / KIA Forte Koup (co-driven by Andy Lally), with Baas emerging victorious. The BimmerWorld 328i took the final podium spot.

Image: APR Motorsport

_WRS

CTSCC - Round 1 from Daytona - APR Motorsport on ST pole

The 2011 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge kicks off today at 1:30pm EST, with the Grand Am 200 at Daytona International Speedway. Like other large tracks, the CTSCC is running combined classes at Daytona so both GS and ST cars will be on course at the same time. You can check out live timing and scoring for the race at www.grand-am.com - and it will be broadcast live on SpeedTV at 3pm on February 5th.

The good news for VAG fans is that APR Motorsport, who like previous years is flying the flag in the CTSCC, earned pole position in the Street Tuner class with new driver Ryan Ellis behind the wheel of their new-for-2011 Mk6 GTI 4-door. This is a very strong indicator that 2011 could finally be the year that APR Motorsport has what it takes to clinche the championship. The Mk5 GTIs were always a bit down on power, and for the Mk6 to be on pole it's clear that APR has been doing a lot of homework on getting the absolute maximum from the 2.0t TSI. Ellis managed a 2:06.818 to get ahead of the DeMan Motorsports Porsche Boxster, and the always-fast Compass360 Racing Honda Civic Si.

The disappointment is in Grand Sport, where the B8 S4 qualified a low 19th in class, reportedly due to minor suspension trouble. We saw flashes of brilliance from the supercharged sedan last year, but it was plagued with teething troubles and APR had a rough go of it. APR's Jeff Mishtawy is usually quite adept at calling race strategy and consistently puts the team in the position to win, but with the competitiveness of the CTSCC, starting back in 19th does not always bode well for podium finishes. If the car can hold together, it should do well.

Here we go! The first event for 2011 in the USA is almost underway...

_WRS

CTSCC - Tonight at 9 on Speed...

Tune tonight at 9pm EST for the broadcast of last weekend's final race of the CTSCC season, which took place at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah. I haven't posted the results yet (although they're all over if you look) as APR was finally showing a strong hand from the start rather than struggling mid-pack.



The Mk6 took it's first poll position and has a hungry pack ready to take it down as soon as they can. Will the boys from Alabama be able to hold them off? Find out tonight...

speedtv.com
goapr.com

_WRS

CTSCC - APR Motorsport on pole position in ST

The final round of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge begins at 2:45ET today, at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah. APR Motorsport has scored pole position in the ST class with the #91 Mk6 GTI. This is the first time that the Mk6 has been on pole, and the strong starting position should aid them in a strong finish in the ultra-competitive CTSCC. If they can end the season on a high note it should prove to be a great boost for 2011. Check it out at 2:45ET today, live on Grand-Am.com - live timing and scoring plus live audio.

We here at Der Wolfsburg Rennsport apologize for a slacking coverage of the CTSCC. Things have been extremely busy outside in the real world so the time to keep up has been missing from the schedule.

_WRS

Results: CTSCC EMCO Gears Classic at Mid Ohio

APR Motorsport has continued their upward trajectory with a 2nd place finish in class at this weekend's EMCO Gears Classic at Mid Ohio Sports Car Course. The number 171 Mk5 GTI 2.0t, piloted by Josh Hurley / Kevin Stadtlander were on the podium for the second time in as many races, only just being nudged out by the Bimmerworld 328i who managed to take the ST class win. The #181 had a fair showing, now with a revised driver line-up featuring Ian Baas and Mike Halpin, ending up in 14th position in class.

The #01 S4 and #91 Mk6 GTI were both MIA this past weekend for reasons left unknown, but it seems the reduced strain on the team has perhaps allowed them to focus on the already sorted (and successful) Mk5 GTIs that carried over from the past year. It will be interesting to see what APR decides to do for the rest of the year, whether they decide to remain strictly in ST for the rest of the year, or branch back out into a four car effort.

_WRS

Sources: APR Motorsport / Grand Am

Video Post: In-car from Watkins Glen with Josh Hurley (APR)

I'd like to apologize for my super slacking of updates about the APR gang and their efforts in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. It's not for lack of caring, mainly just lack of time. (and let's face it, the Le Mans 24 is going to take pretty much any and all focus that I can muster from initial testing and practice, until that checker flag drops on Sunday afternoon.)

APR has not had the break-out year they were likely hoping to have, or continue, after numurous successes last year. Like so many other series, it would seem that legislation which puts turbo motors at a disadvantage has continued to keep the GTIs down on power in ST, and combined with bad luck it's been enough to keep them out of the winner's circle. There have finally been some podium appearances however, so it's not all for naught.

Lime Rock Park saw the 181 car combo of Hurley / Stadtlander just get nudged out of a podium spot, with a 4th place result, but the following weekend at Watkins Glen they managed 3rd in class after having lead for a good portion of time.


This weekend the CTSCC teams are at Mid-Ohio Sports Car course, and it's not looking good so far. Of all four APR cars, only two show up on the qualifying sheets, and only one of those is actually locked into a position, with the #171 Mk5 GTI (now piloted by Baas / Halpin) coming into 24th position and the 181 as not having a qualifying time. It would appear that the #01 S4 (and #91 Mk6) has been put on the shelf for the time being. I'll try and find out a little bit about that, but I suppose the effort of fielding a full 4 cars, in two classes has proven to be more than the APR team can muster, at least for now.

The race is scheduled for 1:15pm start tomorrow, EST.

_WRS

Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge: First podium of the year for APR

Josh Hurley and Kevin Stadtlander landed APR's first podium finish of 2010. The duo, in the number 181 VW GTi Mk5, battled their way up the grid, the strong finish no doubt doing wonders for Stadtlander's standings for rookie of the year. Another strong start but disappointing finish was seen for the S4 in GS, while the two remaining GTIs failed to crack the top 10. A slow start to 2010, but picking up momentum in ST, win should hopefully be just around the corner.

www.goapr.com or APR's Flickr for more pics.

_WRS

Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge: Bosch Engineering VIR 200

APR Motorsport will take on the rest of the GS / ST field today at 3:30 PM, at Virginia International Raceway, better known as VIR. The number 01 S4 grids at P11, with Ian Baas putting in a solid qualifying run, as seen above. The ST GTIs start off 10th (171), 14th (91) and 24th. (181) Not the best spread overall, with the highest placed VW Jetta of Irish Mike's starting 7th, but with the long race almost anything can happen. Although showers were expected, the weather maps are looking pretty clear, so it should be a very exciting day indeed. The crew from NGP Racing is in attendance today, and with a little luck we might have some great pics from Benji from the VA shop...

_WRS

Be sure to check out live timing and scoring at Grand-Am.com.

Motorsport(s) Update

I've been slacking on updates of substance the past week or so, and for that I must apologize. As I may have alluded to previously, I have an upcoming marriage dealio going on in the very near future, plus a bunch of other stuff, so the focus has been scattered and probably will be for the next couple months.



It was also because of this wedding (or at least a tailoring appointment) that I missed out on the debut of the APR Mk6 GTI at Barber Motorsports Park. It was not nearly as successful as it could have been for the S4, with a 2nd place position lost to a technical failure on lap 46. (can't recall what, engine?)



The GTis didn't fare much better, with a 10th, 12th and 24th, the 24th position going to the new Mk6 with APR owner Stephen Hooks on the roster. Grand Am has made some significant changes in the way they monitor and regulate turbo boost, and with these super strict limits the GTIs are essentially down on power significantly from the rest of the field. As Stephen said, something has to be done.



Here's an in-car from Josh Hurley in the 181...



This weekend sees the second round of the ALMS at Long Beach California, with the largest field they have ever had. GTC is full up with 10 entries, and it should prove to be a very exciting race from the bottom of the field (GTC) to the top (LMP). Be sure to download your Spotters Guide to keep up with all the entrants and cheer for your favorites. It goes without saying we'll be routing for the Lizards and Falken, flying the Porsche flags...



If I find any feeds with video I'll pass them along, but the guys from Radio Le Mans will be calling it as they see it, so it's pretty much as close to being there as you can get.



Oh, and I almost forgot, Audi scored a big old win with the R15 Plus at it's very first race! It was at Le Castellet in France (cool looking track eh?), and 8 hour event. I may have cared, and it may have actually mattered more if it was a real race like say, I don't know, Sebring, but it was 'just a test' according to Audi so I guess it was successful. Check out Fourtitude for a full run down. Word on the street is that Peugeot has something to worry about with the new car...

_WRS

Continental Sports Car Challenge: Porsche 250 @ Barber Motorsports Park

APR takes on the rest of the field at this weekend's Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge with some added firepower to the arsenal. Their latest and greatest ST class car, the Mk6 GTI, has been completed and will see APR owner / Team Principle Stephen Hooks take a seat in this weekend's race. This brings the total number of APR-supported cars to four, which is quite an undertaking.



Both ST class Mk5 GTIs remain, with the Mk6 being piloted by Hooks and Australian racing star Tom Drewer. It will be interesting to see what sort of performance advantages the TSI motor may afford (or not) the Mk6, as compared to the FSI motors which have been pretty thoroughly developed within the limits of the rules.

The GS class S4 should hopefully fulfill its destiny as a race winner, as it has previously shown the speed, but not the problem-free race required to win in the competitive CTSCC series. George Achorn from Fourtitude.com is down in Alabama to provide a first hand account and a little moral support to the four-ringed sedan.

APR is the defending ST class race winner at Barber (their 'home' track), and there will no doubt be extra pressure to perform a clean sweep of both CTSCC classes in front of friends and family in attendance.

For more:
Grand-am
APR Motorsport
Fourtitude on Facebook (live updates throughout the weekend)

_WRS

APR Desktop Image - Mk6 GTI

APR has just released this desktop image of their brand new for 2010 Mk6 GTi for the CTSCC series. Click HERE to view / download the full size!

_WRS

Video Post: In-car from Homestead with Josh Hurley

Since we recently sampled a video of the crankandpiston.com Mk5 GTI, I figured it'd be nice to take a peek at one from this past weekend's Homestead 200 here in the states. This lap is on board the CTSCC ST Class APR GTI Mk5 (bit of a mouthful eh?), with Josh Hurley behind the wheel.



For those that don't recall, a communication problem meant that the #181 had to start from pit lane, but Josh and co-driver Kevin Stadtlander made their way up to a solid 5th place finish by the end of the event. As they say, consistency wins championships, and it sure would be nice to see it brought home to VW in 2010.

Catch the race on SpeedTV today at 1:00 pm!

_WRS

Results: Homestead 200 CTSCC

Today saw a fair performance from APR in today's Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Homestead 200. After putting the supercharged direct-injected S4 into the third spot, a ride height infraction saw the car moved to the back of the pack and it did not start when the green flag dropped at 1pm. Whether or not APR chose not to start in protest, had problems, or were completely disqualified remains to be seen. The pole-winning #20 Roush Performance Ford Mustang GT was also penalized for an illegal part, but ended up going on to win today's event.

In ST the two APR Mk5 GTIs started towards the back of the field, and slowly but surely moved up. The#181 Stadtlander/ Hurley car managed a solid 5th place as the checkered flag waved, with the #171 in 18th position.

I'll try and find out more info this week, but so far 2010 continues to be a tough year for APR's efforts in Grand Am.

_WRS

Round two of the Continental Tire Sports car Challenge

The second round of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge is this weekend, the Homestead 200 in Miami Florida. APR will be there with two GTIs, but probably not the Mk6 which we've been following, plus their nearly-new GS class B8 S4. Combined class practice starts at 8:40am, with a second round at 11:40am. GS qualifying is at 4:35pm, followed by ST at 5:05pm, and finally the race on Saturday at 1:05pm. The race is scheduled for 2.5 hours, and should be a real battle if the last round at Daytona is anything to go by. APR is looking to avoid the costly mistakes that kept them off the podium, and should be in real contention throughout the weekend.

Find out more, including live timing and scoring for practice, qualifying and the race at Grand-am.com.

On a completely unrelated note, Robert from Lufteknic is down in Homestead this weekend as well, supporting a Porsche team. Not sure which class, I forgot to ask...but either way we've got some teams to route for!

_WRS