GT: Audi scales back 24-hour race entries

Audi has downscaled its assaults on the 24-hour classics at Spa and the Nurburgring from four to two factory cars.

The WRT and Phoenix teams will again run the factory campaigns in the two enduros, but will each field a solo R8 LMS rather than two cars as in 2015. The Belgian WRT squad, twice a winner of the Spa 24 Hours round of the Blancpain Endurance Championship, will enter its factory car for Laurens Vanthoor, Rene Rast and Nico Muller in its home event.

Markus Winklehock, who was part of the WRT line-up in 2014-2015, moves over to the Phoenix R8 to drive alongside Christopher Mies and Frank Stippler in the Belgian classic on July 30-31.

WRT will defend its Nurburbring crown with Vanthoor, Muller and Mies, who were in the winning car last year, and Pierre Kaffer.

The Phoenix entry for the event on May 28-29 will be shared by Rast, Stippler, Winkelhock and Christopher Haase.

Outgoing head of Audi Sport customer racing Romolo Liebchen said: "At both events, we'll be meeting with strong competitors and feel that we're well set with these teams and drivers."

Originally on Autosport.com