Audi of America customer-racing continues to add new Audi R8 LMS ultra teams ahead of Long Beach race

– CRP Racing chooses Audi R8 LMS ultra to contest Pirelli World Challenge
– James Sofronas from GMG racing looks to defend win from last year
– Rookie driver and GT-A winner of St. Petersburg opener, Andrew Palmer, moved up to GT class

HERNDON, Va. – Audi customer-racing continues to add new teams with the announcement of CRP Racing joining the fold to contest the Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) at the Long Beach race. James Sofronas will look to defend his title in the GT class at his home course and welcomes talented GMG newcomer, Andrew Palmer, to the GT category.

“The entire customer-racing organization has worked very hard to partner with our race teams to provide the best support possible,” said Erin Keating, Sr. Manager of Audi of America customer-racing. “We continue to have discussions with professional and gentlemen race team partners that are interested in racing our Audi R8 LMS ultra.” The number of Audi R8 LMS customer race teams continues to increase in Pirelli World Challenge in part due to the attractiveness of the global GT3 specification used around the world and the emphasis of supporting the teams by the Audi of America customer-racing program.

“We are so excited to be working with the Audi customer-racing team and are thrilled with the Audi R8 LMS ultra that has proven its success around the world,” said Nicholas Short, owner of Competition Race Parts and CRP Racing. “Our team has received great support from Audi and was one of the key reasons for us switching to the R8 LMS ultra.” The CRP Racing Team will be making its Audi R8 LMS ultra debut in Long Beach this weekend with Mike Skeen at the wheel.

While new teams are added, the GMG team continues to have success in PWC. Andrew Palmer, who won the St. Petersburg opener in the GT-A category, has been moved up to the GT Class where he will join James Sofronas. Sofronas, who won the Long Beach race last year, will look to take the checkered flag again and leads a team of three GMG Audi R8 LMS ultras contesting the race in the GT-A class. Jeff Courtney rounds out the GT-A teams in his JCR Motorsports Audi R8 LMS ultra which made its debut in St. Petersburg.

Don Istook will be behind the wheel of his RS Werkes Racing Audi TT RS in the GT-S category.

The PWC Long Beach race can be viewed via live streaming this Sunday, April 13 at 7:30pm EST / 4:30pm PST.

The race will be televised on the NBC Sports Network on Sunday, April 20, 2014 at 7pm EST / 4pm PST