Ash Samadi has pulled back the covers on his brand new Apartment Hotels/Bondi Wholefoods Audi R8 LMS ahead of the fifth round of the CAMS Australian GT Championship at the Castrol EDGE Townsville 400 next weekend (July 8-10).
The Audi R8 LMS has proved a race winning car both domestically and internationally, with Samadi’s entry continuing the steady influx of new machinery into the CAMS Australian GT Championship.
Having previously competed in an iconic Mercedes AMG SLS GT3, Samadi’s switch to Audi sees him working with Audi Sport Customer Racing Australia for the first time.
“There were two reasons for the change,” Samadi explains.
“The first was I’d heard good things about Audi Sport Customer Racing, and from what I’ve experienced so far I haven’t been disappointed.
“Secondly, global demand for the Mercedes AMG GT3 is so high that it would have delayed the arrival of a new car.”
Samadi sampled the Audi R8 LMS for the first time at Winton on Tuesday, and has been left excited at the prospects of taking his new machine racing.
“I didn’t think I could be surprised after stepping out of the amazing Mercedes AMG SLS GT3, but the Audi was just incredible straight out of the box.
“It was only a shakedown and it will be different when we go racing but it was very exciting!”
The car’s first true test however will come courtesy of the daunting Reid Park circuit, where concrete walls line the edge of the temporary street layout.
It’s challenging task with the circuit sharing much in common with the streets of Adelaide, but one Samadi is already relishing.
“I’ve been to Townsville before and driven a Cup Car there, so I’ve got experience of the circuit.
“It’s a bit like the Clipsal 500 and there are concrete walls but it’s a fantastic circuit that I really enjoy, so I’m looking forward to the challenge.
“There are a lot of great cars on the grid in Australian GT, and it’s great to be part of that.
“I can’t wait to get back in the car!”
The CAMS Australian GT Championship will tackle the Reid Park circuit with two 60-minute races across the weekend.
Track action starts on July 8 with practice and opening qualifying, before a second qualifying session and Race 1 on July 9. Race 2 caps off the weekend on July 10.
