The event, the ADAC Zurich 24-Hour Race, is in its 37th year. Audi Motorsport chief Wolfgang Ullrich called the Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit "superbly suited for revealing the final improvement potential of any new racecar." The R8 LMS has already participated in the BFGoodrich Endurance Championship on the circuit and will enter another "test" race on May 2 with the same vehicles and driver teams that will contest the 24 Hours event later in the month.
Teams Abt Sportsline and Phoenix Racing will employ a total of 14 drivers for the endurance event. Abt family member Christian Abt, current DTM series champion Timo Scheider and three-time Le Mans winner Marco Werner are among the team members for Abt Sportsline. Phoenix Racing will field two cars, with drivers including Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Hans-Joachim Stuck, all repeat Le Mans champions.
Team Phoenix Racing is a previous Nürburgring 24 Hours winner, having taken the honors in 2003. In that year, the 2nd-place winner was Abt Sportsline.
The 24-hour event starts at 4 p.m. local time on Saturday, May 23.
Inside Line says: Race fans, this should add to your spring fever. — Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent
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