Portuguese GT: Abrupt end for Team Novadriver in the Portuguese GT Championship

Team Novadriver Press Release

Good afternoon Team Novadriver fans

Unfortunately , abruptly ended for Team Novadriver in the Portuguese GT Championship. After the three free practice session, the technical team found a strange and unusual difference in progress to what is the normal rhythm of the Audi R8 LMS Ultra at Braga.

The telemetry showed abnormal and dangerous temperature values for the coolant and lubricant, particularly in the Audi # 10 engine.

All the team tried to remedy this problem, but after a consultation with technicians from Audi Sport Customer Racing , it was evident that it would be impossible for the two Audi R8 LMS Ultra introduce themselves minimally competitive, still running the risk of damaged beyond repair both engines.

Given this unusual and absolutely unprecedented situation, the team met with their pilots and unanimously decided to withdraw from the race, returning immediately to the team's base to investigate what happened to the engines of the two Audi R8 LMS Ultra.

Team Novadriver want to present to all their fans and followers our apologies, but this time the risk was too high when everything was decided in the league due to the absence of the major opponents of Team Novadriver, the Mercedes SLS driven by José Pedro Fontes and Miguel Barbosa.

Team Novadriver highlights the huge union and communion of interests between pilots and technical staff, as though it was made the investment in travel , hotels , tires and fuel, unanimously decided to play it safe.

Team Novadriver want to repudiate and condemn the lack of sportsmanship from some people who saw this unexpected situation as an excuse to hide the team withdraw premeditation. What is a real nonsense, because why made a substantial investment for just three practice sessions.

It stands for the history the domain of Team Novadriver throughout the year , underlining by the title reached a race before the end of the season with the Audi#1 driven by César Campaniço Mikko Eskelinen and Carlos Vieira and the second place in the competition for the Audi # 10 piloted by João Figueiredo and João Ramos.

(Press release sourced from the Team Novadriver Facebook page)

Photo credit: Supercars Series

Portuguese GT: Novadriver race victory and crowned champions in Portimão

By Johan Laubscher

The Portuguese GT Championship was at Portimão this weekend, where Team Novadriver continued their successful 2013 season.

This was round four of the Portuguese GT, now known as the Supercars Portugal Series, and it was run together with round three of the Supercars International Series. Team Novadriver entered both of their Audi R8 LMS ultra cars. Car #1 was driven by Cesar Campanico, Carlos Vieira and Mikko Eskelinen. Car #10 was in the hands of João Figueiredo, João Ramos and Lourenço Beirão da Veiga.

They qualified second (car #1) and third (car #10). The race itself went very well for the team, and the #1 crew of Campanico, Vieira and Eskelinen crossed the line victorious once again. This race victory also clinched the driver's title for the race winners, meaning that Novadriver took their second consecutive driver’s title. Their teammates finished in third, reinforcing their second place in the championship points.

The next Portuguese GT round will be taking place at Braga in mid-September.

Photo credit: Supercars Series

Portuguese GT: Victory for Team Novadriver at Boavista

By Johan Laubscher 

The Supercars Portugal Series (Portuguese GT Championship) held round three at Boavista this weekend. Team Novadriver was present with their two-car Audi R8 LMS ultra team. 

Round three of the Portuguese series was held alongside round two of the Supercars International Series. The two cars from Team Novadriver have performed well so far in 2013. The #1 Audi R8 LMS ultra was driven by Cesar Campanico, Carlos Vieira and Mikko Eskelinen. The second car was the #10 driven by João Figueiredo, João Ramos and Manuel Gião.

They performed well during the practice sessions, consistently placing within the front runners. During qualifying the top placed Audi was on the front row, with the #1 achieving second place, just 0.024 seconds behind the pole sitting Porsche. Their teammates in the #10 placed fourth.

The race itself saw another great performance from Team Novadriver as they moved forward during the race. The #1 Audi R8 LMS ultra squad bettered their second place starting position by coming home to win yet another event. Their teammates maintained their positions and finished in fourth.

It was indeed another successful weekend for Team Novadriver in Portugal. The next round of the Supercars Portugal Series will take place at Portimao in August.   

The results from the Portuguese GT weekend can be seen HERE.

Update: Following the race a number of time penalties were given to various competitors. The #1 Audi R8 LMS ultra received a thirty second penalty due to an irregularity regarding the pit-stop window. The penalty has luckily not affected the outcome, as the #1 had more than a ninety second gap at the finish, thus they are still classified as the race victors. A thirty second penalty was also given to the third placed finisher, thus promoting the second Novadriver Audi into third position, after they had originally finished in fourth.

Photo credit: Team Novadriver

Portuguese GT: 1-2 victory for Novadriver Audi at Estoril

By Johan Laubscher

Team Novadriver has converted their pole position into a 1-2 race victory at Estoril. It has been a brilliant weekend for the Portuguese Audi Sport Customer Racing team, in what was the second round of the Supercars Portugal Series (Portuguese GT championship).

Qualifying provided the team with two top three starting positions. The #1 Audi R8 LMS ultra crew of Cesar Campanico, Carlos Vieira and Mikko Eskelinen took pole position yesterday, followed by their teammates, João Figueiredo, João Ramos and Manuel Gião, taking third on the grid in the #10 Audi R8 LMS ultra.

The race progressed very well for the team. The #10 Audi R8 LMS ultra held the lead after the first set of pitstops and the #1 was holding fifth. An Audi 1-2 was established after the second round of pitstops with the #1 leading the #10.

The Audi 1-2 was maintained to the end of the race as Team Novadriver celebrated a well deserved double triumph with the #1 crew taking victory.

The next round of the Supercars Portugal Series takes place alongside the International Supercars Series at Boavista in Portugal, schedule for June 29-30.

Photo credit: Supercars Series 

Portuguese GT: Pole position for Novadriver Audi R8 LMS ultra at Estoril

By Tarek Ramchani

Estoril is hosting the second round of the Supercars Portugal Series this weekend, formerly known as the Portuguese GT Championship. Team Novadriver is there with two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars.

The qualifying session was held this afternoon, with great results for the Portuguese Audi Sport customer racing team. The #1 Audi R8 LMS Ultra shared by César Campaniço, Carlos Vieira and Mikko Eskelinen took a brilliant pole position with a time of 1.39:446. In second was the #7 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 of team Sports & You with drivers Miguel Barbosa and José Pedro Fontes. The second Novadriver entry, the #10 car of drivers João Figueiredo, João Ramos and Manuel Gião, was third fastest with a time of 1.40:192.

The race is set for tomorrow, a 2-hour endurance event. We wish the best of luck for Team Novadriver and all their drivers.

Photo credit: Team Nova Driver