British sportscar aces Team Parker Racing have announced a partnership with Audi to race two cars in the Blancpain Endurance Series starting in 2014.
The two R8 LMS Ultras will figure in all five rounds of the championship including at the blue riband Total 24 Hours of Spa. Team Parker are also hoping to field the machines in selected British GT races to supplement a Ginetta already in the GT4 class.
Only one Audi has had a driver trio confirmed as of yet – the British Endurance Championship champions of Ian Loggie and Chris Jones – as well as former Porsche Carrera Cup GB engineer Julian Westwood who himself won the European Renault Spider series in the 90s.
Westwood said of the drive: “This is probably the highest-profile racing I will have done as a driver for 20 years! It should be really exciting, and I’m really looking forward to all five events, especially the Spa 24 Hours. Hopefully we can pick up some good results while we are learning the tracks and learning the series, and then hopefully make the move to Pro-Am in our second year.”
Loggie recently tested the R8 at the Nurburgring with the assistance of Audi with the Brit raving about his first international programme in more than a decade: “I test-drove the Audi at the Nurburgring and it was an amazing experience. It’s a much easier and more forgiving car to drive than I am used to. I’m absolutely convinced we can do a very good job in Blancpain. There are only five races, but they are five wonderful races and I would love to compete in some national events as well – British GT and Britcar.”
At the moment the team will race in the Gentleman’s Cup but with the second car’s line up yet to be confirmed, there is a potential for Team Parker to already have an effort in one of the higher categories.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the team and it’s the way everyone wants to go – to prestigious international racing.
