NaroEscape

Everyone seems to be bailing on Porsche...first TRG, now Flying Lizard.

http://www.lizardms.com/news/releases/2013/nov-11.html

Flying Lizard Announces 2014 Program

Two Audi R8 LMS for Full Inaugural TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Season

November 11, 2013 – Sonoma, California
Following a decade in the American Le Mans Series and coming off of a team championship clinching GTC class win in the final ALMS race at Road Atlanta, Flying Lizard Motorsports today announced that it would join the new TUDOR United SportsCar Championship with two cars to be run in the GT Daytona class for the 2014 season. The team will continue to campaign the No 45 as it has since the team's inception while adding the No 35 to its stable, replacing No 44. Flying Lizard will announce its 2014 driver lineup at a later date.

For the first time in its history, the team is working with a new manufacturer, and has taken delivery of two Audi R8 LMS race cars for the 2014 racing program. Based on the R8 street car, the R8 LMS has had significant success in GT3 format racing worldwide, including victory in the GT class in the 2013 edition of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Team Principal and Driver Seth Neiman on the shift from Porsche: "This is certainly a substantial change for the team as Porsche has been a great partner for many years. Equally, Audi is a great company with a spectacular racing pedigree, a serious commitment to GT racing, and a clear commitment to forging an alliance to continue both of our winning traditions far into the future. They know how to win, we know how to win, and we both are totally focused on doing just that. This is a strong foundation for a long and successful relationship."

Flying Lizard will take to the track with its new cars for the first time on November 16th and 17th at Sebring International Raceway and on November 19th and 20th at Daytona International Speedway for the IMSA sanctioned season opening tests for the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

niche

Wow. Big move

Matt Romanowski

I'm guessing this is a case of follow the $$ as CORE is getting support from Porsche.

jumper5836

Good to see the R8's coming to ALMS. To bad the Lizards have abandoned Porsche.

bgiere

Must have been a bit upset at CORE becoming the factory team. Looking back Porsche has had many different factory supported teams. People and objectives change, I am sure that 2014 will be interesting. Good Luck to the Lizards!

GuyIncognito

wonder who will be driving (or should I say, buying rides) now that the Venezuelan money is gone.

James-GMG

Audi does have a very impressive Customer Support Program for racing in the U.S. as we experienced that this past year in World Challenge. It will be nice to see a more balanced field as there are certainly more Porsches than any other make set up to run TUDOR.
Porsches, Audis, Ferrari's, Vipers, Aston Martin.....maybe a Lambo? Mercedes? Should make some good racing.....

MJR911

Surprising to read but good for them. Will be interesting to see where drivers land throughout the GTD class, as most of the factory shoes will be in GTLM.

I wonder if someone like Spencer Pumpelly will remain with Porsche or ?

Eifeler

Can't say it's surprising since Porsche moved their support.

Another link: http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/ex...audi-for-2014/

bgiere

Be it a Porsche or an Audi...after all the cars and parts are bought Piech still makes out in the end!

ninjacoco

Yep. Not too surprised, but aww. I'll miss them in a 911.

I like the R8, though, and the extra variety is going to be cool.

ChrisFL

Does the competitiveness of the car play a factor into this as well?
Now that Porsche factory is busy trying to win the overall at LeMans this year with the LMP1, how much overall support GT teams will get....

I remember AJR taking a factory prepped R8 to win the 24 at Daytona this year with very little prep time. This was a surprising move from all the Porsches and the now defunct Lotus project they were working on. A mid-engine v10 car has to be a great starting point for a race car....

gums

And now Paul Miller Racing has jumped ship to Audi as well.
Claims are that Porsche is just so arrogant and their support is too feeble.
Audi is offering much much more, not to mention a car that can actually win.

Cory M

Good move for them in GTD. I guess I can put that Lizards decal I have on my Avant now.

brake dust

Don't think that was entirely the case . For whatever reason Porsche has indicated that they will not be able to provide all customers with 991 RSR s until after Sebring. One would think that the LMP 1 effort would not have any impact since most of the personnel has come from outside Porsche (BMW f1). Looks like Core and Falklen are the 2 teams that will have cars at the beginning of the season.