In a nail biting GTD finale of the Daytona 24 Hours Magnus Racing produced an Audi victory. This was the second GT class victory for an Audi Sport customer racing team at the endurance race in Florida since 2013. Audi driver René Rast (D) and teammates Andy Lally, John Potter and Marco Seefried (USA/USA/D) managed a well-run race in the Audi R8 LMS.
To save fuel, Rast as the race leader had to let Italian Fabio Babini in the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 pass him nine minutes before the checkered flag. Just shortly before the end, the Audi driver overtook Babini again – who ultimately ran out of fuel – and went on to take class victory in the GTD category.
As a result, the new generation of the Audi R8 LMS customer race car, following its successes in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, the Sepang 12 Hours and the Dubai 24 Hours, clinched its fourth triumph in a major endurance race. The next round will be held at the Sebring 12 Hours from March 16 to 19.
GTD (GT Daytona) Class is made up of some the world’s most sophisticated cars, including the Porsche 911 GT3 R, Ferrari 488, Lamborghini Huracan, Aston Martin, BMW M6, Viper SRT and Audi R8. All GTD Class cars run on the spec Continental tire.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
