Ekstrom, Scheider to Drive Audi R8 LMS at Nurburgring, Spa

DTM champions Mattias Ekstrom and Timo Scheider will have a busy schedule this year, as the two-time champions of the German series have recently been confirmed by Audi for a couple of outings in this season's Le Mans Series.

Both will contest on Audi R8 LMS racers at the 24-hour races at the Nurburgring and Spa-Francorchamps, while joined by newly-promoted Audi factory driver Mike Rockenfeller. What's more, the German car maker has confirmed full factory support for both ABT Sportsline and Phoenix Racing for the Nurburgring event.

The event that will kick off at the Nurburgring-Nordschleife in late June will see Ekstrom and Scheider join Marco Werner in ABT Sportsline's first team, while Christer Jons, Luca Ludwig and Christopher Mies will set up the second drivers lineup for the second Audi R8 LMS. At the same time, Phoenix Racing will field Marc Basseng, Marcel Fassler and Mike Rockenfeller in one car, along with Christopher Haase, Marc Hennerici and Markus Winkelhock.

The latter team will also contest this year's 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps, fielding Marc Basseng/Christopher Haase/Frank Stippler, alongside Marcel Fassler/Andrea Piccini/Mike Rockenfeller. As far as the second Audi-backed team goes, the honor will go to Belgian W Racing Team, who will make the grid with the R8 LMSs driven by Mattias Ekstrom/Greg Franchi/Timo Scheider and Filipe Albuquerque/Bert Longin/Stephane Ortelli respectively.

“With the two factory supported events at the Nurburgring and at Spa-Francorchamps we aim to underline the positive image that the R8 LMS has built up following its first two years of competition. I think we are well positioned for this from the driver and team side,” announced Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Motorsport.