PWC: M1 GT Racing joins GT grid with Audi R8

Looking forward to the 2016 racing season, M1 GT Racing is set to compete in the Pirelli World Challenge and Sprint-X programs in North America. Piloting a 2012 Audi R8 LMS ULTRA GT3 in previous seasons, company and team officials have agreed to continue to be part of the Audi Sport customer racing program and will see action in their new 2016 Audi R8 LMS GT3 machine this coming season.

"We are very excited to continue with Audi Sport customer racing," explained M1 GT Racing Technical Director Remi Lanteigne. "We had our eyes on the new car since it was announced in late 2014 and were the first team in North America to place order for the new Audi R8 LMS. We traveled to Road Atlanta last month to drive the Audi R8 LMS test car under the guidance of AScr and confirmed all our initial thoughts about this impressive machine. The speed and presence that the Audi machine brings to the track is second to none and we can't wait to get our testing program started."

Committing to order the new Audi in March 2015, M1 GT Racing received their new Audi R8 LMS just last week and immediately went to work. With the car housed close to Indianapolis for the initial prep, the complete data system and livery was installed before a shake down test planned before Christmas. With an extensive testing program planned for the winter months, M1 GT Racing is in full preparation mode for the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge and Sprint-X.

Lanteigne continued, "With a new car comes new branding, a new livery, a new M1GTRacing.com website and marketing program that we have worked hard on for the past few months. We have signed drivers and corporate partners for the upcoming season as well as begun the move in and build up of our new state of the art race shop. Moving the M1 GT Racing operations to Brooksville, Florida, we have been very busy and will continue to push forward to ensure we are ready for our planned testing and the upcoming season."

Walt Bowlin will continue as part of the M1 GT Racing driver lineup as the primary driver for the new Audi R8 LMS with the support from Tampa Bay Jaw Surgery, providing cohesiveness for a solid springboard into 2016. Walt will see action in the Pirelli World Challenge GTA division, Sprint-X and yet to be announced programs. Also rejoining the team for 2016 will be Guy Cosmo. Cosmo returns to M1 GT Racing and will be a great partner for Bowlin in the Sprint-X side of M1 GT's program. Venturing from the two-wheel world of motorsports to the four, AMA World Superbike rider Larry Pegram will close out the team's driver lineup for North American competition, as he will also see action behind the wheel of the new Audi R8 LMS. Both Cosmo and Pegram will partner with Bowlin in PWC Sprint-X competition.

"I am excited to drive the new Audi R8 LMS and rejoin the motorsports family at M1 GT," explained Bowlin. "After driving the car on track at Road Atlanta confirmed what I was expecting and I was really impressed. The sound, handling and overall design and concept of the car will provide M1 GT Racing with a solid platform for next season. I am also looking forward to working with Guy (Cosmo) and Larry (Pegram) as they are both legends in their sports and I think the three of us will make for a great team."