APR Motorsport will close out first season at Lime Rock

Short, fast, and Unforgiving Circuit leaves no room for Error at Grand-Am season finale

#51 APR Motorsport Motul Audi R8 Grand-Am: Jim Norman, Dion Von Moltke

Photo by: Jackie Buys

With the circuit offering few opportunities to pass, a narrow layout, and one scary-fast, high-speed, downhill corner, spectators will be in for plenty of action as the Daytona Prototypes and GT cars of the Rolex Sports Car Series battle for the final time this season. For the GT cars, simply surviving the two-hour and forty-five minute race without contact will be the key to a strong result.

The race will mark the end of the first season of North American competition for the no. 51 APR Audi R8 Grand-Am. The car, which debuted at this season's Rolex 24 at Daytona and has been driven by Dr. Jim Norman and Dion von Moltke, has been developed throughout the year and has shown increased pace and competitiveness. With only the race at Lime Rock left, both drivers are looking for a breakthrough performance. Von Moltke knows how to win at Lime Rock, having won last season in the ALMS' GT-C class.

"With so many championships on the line, ending the season at Lime Rock Park will be a very difficult task," said von Moltke. "Because Lime Rock is by far the shortest and the tightest race track we race on all year the traffic becomes very difficult to navigate during a race but now with the added pressure of the last race of the year it will be more difficult than ever. Because it is so difficult to overtake around Lime Rock we will really have to focus on track position on our strategy. With that on the minds of all the teams we will be seeing quite a few different race strategies which will make for quite an exciting season finale. Lime Rock is a very demanding circuit on the driver, with no rest and the intense traffic around this short track making sure Jim and I bring our "A" games will be vital to finishing our season off strong!"

For his part, Norman also sees the need to balance his race with keeping an eye out for the Daytona Prototypes who will be lapping the GT field quickly on the short circuit.

"I love racing at Lime Rock," said Norman." It is quick with a few technical sections that are tremendous fun. The biggest challenge here is putting the prototypes and the GT cars together without getting them together!"

The large Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge will run separate races for the GS and ST classes owing to the short length of the circuit. Looking for a strong finish to the season, Nate Norenberg and Josh Hurley will team up in the no. 161 APR VW GTI while Aleks Altberg and David Cheng will look at add to their win tally in the no. 171 APR VW GTI.

Source: APR Motorsport