NEWS: Kumho-shod Audi R8 LMS Ultra Nürburgring VLN Win

The popular German Busch twins drove their Audi R8 LMS Ultra to an emphatic one minute victory in last Saturday’s (October 12) VLN round on the Nürburgring’s tortuous Nordschleife circuit – with the help of Kumho rubber.
Already top finishers in 2013 and a crowd and competitor favourite at the Green Hell, Dennis and Marc Busch had seemed certain of a second place last time out, when they ran out of fuel on the very last lap of the race!
But there were no such problems this time. They started third on the grid for the four-hour VLN mini-endurance race and were first past the chequered flag by one clear minute – well clear of the pursuing Porsche 911 GT3 R and BMW Z4 GT3, and the other 112 cars that entered the eighth and penultimate in this year’s superb VLN championship.
The distinctive R8 carries the ‘Twin Busch’ livery of the brother’s successful garage equipment business and has been run on Kumho tyres throughout 2013, with increasingly rewarding results.
Kumho’s European Motorsport Manager, Steve Thompson said: “This is a fantastic result both for the team and Kumho. The Busch twins have been getting more and more out of their Audi and our tyres as the season has progressed and thoroughly deserve this win. And, while Kumho has enjoyed plenty of class victories in VLN courtesy of Peugeot and the RCZ, this is our first outright triumph in this ever popular and exciting series. We wish the brothers every success in the final round on October 26.”
For further information on Kumho tyres for track, rally stage and the road, log onto www.kumhotyre.co.uk.
And for more on the VLN, see here.

NEWS: Discounted BMW 325i Racing Opportunity: VLN Nürburgring October 27-28th

How do you fancy racing at the best circuit in the world – Nürburgring Nordschelife? In one of the best race series in the world – VLN? With one of the most experienced teams out there – Jaco's Paddock? In one of the most perfectly balanced, expertly-prepared race cars – a BMW E90 325i (pictured)?
Thought so...! Well, Road Magazine can help you!

We've teamed up with Jaco's Paddock to offer you ONE seat in the superbly set-up, uber-reliable and very rapid BMW E90 325i, racing in class V4 of the VLN on October 27-28th, in less than one month!

You will drive with two other drivers and get two practice lap sessions on October 27th, before you do two laps of qualifying on October 28th – trying to get the best lap time possible – and then it's race time, on the most iconic "Green Hell" circuit, with some of Europe's best race cars, drivers and famous faces, like fellow Road friend, Sabine Schmitz. Tempted? You should be!

This golden drive opportunity is being offered at unreal rates and includes one third of the entire four hour race – so over one hour 20m full-on race time – all the fuel, tyres, event support, hospitality, insurance (600 Euro excess) and everything you need.
All you need to do is arrive, drive and have the time of your life.

NB: Obviously, you also need to be compliant with race licence regulations, which you can read here.

If you are interested, please email proyle@roadmagazine.co.uk ASAP.

Only one slot is available – at a HUGE discount. So, get involved and make yourself some real magic memories...

VIDEO: Falken Motorsports Wet Nurburgring Nordschleife Lap

We're off to the best race of the year, the epic Nurburgring 24-Hour in less than two weeks time now. And one team we will be paying very close attention to (bringing you the inside story) is the slick, experienced (and now armed with a brand new Porsche 911 GT3 R) Falken Motorsport's team. Always competitive and always wrapped in the outstanding blue & green Falken livery (not to mention the pit girls, see below), it's one to watch for the 2013 N24, as this wet lap in the VLN clearly shows, with ace Scottish racer, Peter Dumbreck at the helm. Lightning fast, stable and deeply impressive! Check it out! Naturally, we will be keeping you up to date on the race via our Facebook page & Twitter feed, here on the blog and with a special N24 issue of Road Magazine out in late May: Our homage to one of the greatest races ever... You going? Who's your top to win this year? Porsche? Audi? BMW?

NEWS: Pictures & Report of VLN Round 1

See a load of great images from our man at the Ring, Jochen of Frozenspeed of the first 2013 VLN race  from last weekend – including the unveiling of Peugeot's 208 GTi T16 racer (pictured), the world premiere of the Aston Rapide S with Hydrogen technology (with AM boss, Dr Ulrich Bez at the helm), a debut for the Hyundai Veloce, not to mention our good pal, Sabine Schmitz's new Porsche 911 GT3 R getting on pole! Go Sabine!
It was a packed grid, with some 216 cars entering the race, which was won by the white Schubert (factory entry) BMW Z4 #19 won, driven by Joerg Muller, Dirk Muller and Augusto Farfus. That beast Bimmer is a total weapon.
Speaking of weapons, the 24-Hr winning yellow and green cult car that is the Manthey Racing 911 GT3 RSR also made its comeback to VLN after a year of abscence and finished in 6th place.
The top six were:

1. Schubert Z4
2. Timbuli GT3 R
3. Schubert Z4
4. Timbuli GT3 R
5. Alzen Z4
6. Manthey RSR
So, three BMW Z4s and three 911 GT3 R in the top places, proving they are the cars to beat this year, in VLN and the 24-Hour? A thrilling season awaits.
As usual, the VLN is loaded with diversity and heritage, and it was great to see the Phoenix Audi R8 with the Stuck family at the helm, with Ferdinand Stuck and Johannes Stuck (sons of the infamous Hans-Joachim Stuck) teaming up with Luca Ludwig. And also making a name for itself was Gran Turismo's Kazunori Yamauchi in the new R35 Nismo GT-R GT3; a mean looking, great sounding, quick (and thirsty) machine.

We love VLN. Check out all Jochen's fab images on Facebook now. 

NEWS: 2013 VLN Championship is Go!

This weekend will host the first of the awesome VLN Championship races of the 2013 season – one of only two VLN races before the annual Nurburgring 24h race season highlight, May 17th-20th. The series was initially delayed, due to bad Winter weather.

So, this weekend, more than 214 cars from 28 different brands and 500+ drivers from 30+ countries will participate in the inaugural season race – including many big team and driver names, not to mention car debuts. And our man, Jochen Van Cauwenberge of Frozenspeed Motorsport Photography will be there to capture all the action, in his ninth year of coverage of this incredible race series on the Nurburging Nordschleife: The best circuit in the world.
Top drivers for this weekend include Augusto Farfus, Martin Tomczyk, Dirk and Jorg Muller, Uwe Alzen, Lance-David Arnold and Marco Holzer and many other international GT aces. 

The FIA GT3 specification class has 21 entrants – an impressive number of top cars that would be enough to fill a field anywhere else in the world – such is the VLN's (understandable) popularity.
And the GT cars will be doing battle with the SP7 specials (such as the new Type 991 911 GT3 RSR), on a track loaded with Cup classes (Porsche, Opel, Renault, Toyota) and regular production touring cars.

Other highlights include, VLN and 24Hr regular, Aston Martin CEO Ulrich Bez driving the new Rapide S – in it's racing debut. And Dutch GT legend Cor Euser will debut the Lotus Evora GT4 on the Nurburgring. Meanwhile, Porsche works driver Marco Holzer will be driving the all-conquering Manthey RSR, marking a welcome return to the Nurburgring in the distinctive yellow green Manthey 911 livery.

Other vehicles making their debut are the Porsche 991 (in production class), Hyundai Veloster Turbo, Peugeot 208 GTI and 18 Astra OPC cup cars. And the list of amazing entries goes on and on with cars including Aston Martin Vantage, Audi R8 LMS Ultra, BMW Z4 GT3, Chevrolet Corvette C6, Ferrari F458, Ford GT, Ginetta G50 GT4, McLaren MP4, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, Nissan GT-R, Porsche 911 GT3 R and RSR.

Keep up to date here on the blog and see more of Jochen's amazing images on our Facebook page.

And find out about the superb VLN at: www.vln.de

NEWS: Falken’s 2013 VLN & Nürburgring 24 Hours 911 GT3 R Campaign

Our pals at Falken Motorsports have confirmed their 2013 Porsche 911 GT3 R and a retained driver line-up for their 2013 VLN and Nürburgring 24 Hours campaign – so good luck everyone & stay tuned here for updates throughout the season. 

The performance-upgraded 997 GT3 R, which will run on new Falken rubber this year, looks great. And the ace Falken Motorsports team drivers remain unchanged of Sebastian Asch, Peter Dumbreck, Wolf Henzler and Martin Ragginger – and are aiming for a top ten finish in the 24 Hour event.
Falken Motorsports, headed by experienced team principal Sven Schnabl, has upgraded the Porsche with a new aero package that includes wider wings, new splitter and double canards at the front with a larger rear wing to increase downforce. Enlarged cooling vents around both the front and rear arches has also been enhanced and the car is now able to run 12” wide rims at the front, 0.5” wider than last year. Crucial for a 24 Hour race, the 997 now sports four front headlamps.

In addition to the car upgrades, Falken’s engineers in Japan have developed a range of new tyres for this season with first track testing of the new covers set for the 16thMarch at the annual VLN Set-Up day.
Building upon the experience from last year, Falken Motorsports is retaining Peter Dumbreck, Martin Ragginger, Porsche works driver Wolf Henzler and Sebastian Asch. "After a really exciting 2012 season under our belts, it makes us all the keener to get start the 2013 season underway in a few weeks," says Austrian racer Martin Ragginger. "We are gearing up to give it everything we've got for the fans and aiming for a top ten place in 24-Hour Race."
Falken has also confirmed which rounds it will participate in the VLN calendar.
16.03.2013 VLN Set Up Day
23.03.2013 60. ADAC Westfalenfahrt
27.04.2013 55. ADAC ACAS H&R-Cup
17.-20.05.2013 41. ADAC ZURICH 24h-Rennen Nürburgring
22.06.2013 44. Adenauer ADAC Simfy Trophy
20.07.2013 53. ADAC Reinoldus-Langstreckenrennen
24.08.2013 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen
12.10.2013 ROWE DMV 250-Meilen-Rennen