Rotek Racing have announced that British Touring Car Championship fan favourite rob Austin will join the team for this weekend’s Nürburgring 6 Hours, racing an Audi RS4 alongside Robb Holland, Danny Kubasik and Bill Caswell.
The six hour race will function as a non-compulsory qualifier for the 24 Hours endurance event that takes place at the ‘Ring between the 19th and 22nd June. Rotek Racing will field two cars this weekend, with an Audi TTRS entered into the SP4T class and an Audi RS4 entered into the SP8 class.
The team’s Audi TTRS will be piloted by experienced World Touring Car Championship racer Rob Huff, with American sportscar racer Kevin Gleason and Brit Richard Meins.
The team’s RS4 will be driven by BTCC racers Holland and Austin, with multiple VLN winner Kubasik and internet rally legend Caswell joining in.
“This will be my first visit to the Nürburgring since driving my 1976 Surtees TS19 around the track while filming for Rush and I haven’t really clocked up many miles at all on the Nordschleife during my career,” said Austin after the announcement was made on the BTCC’s popular ‘Tin Top Tuesday’ radio show.
“But while I’m expecting it to be completely different to anything I’ve done before and a big learning curve, it’s a challenge I feel I’m ready for,” added Austin. “In fact, it’s an incredibly exciting opportunity and will be a privilege to join Robb (Holland) and Rotek Racing on such a historic and evocative circuit – racing on the Nordschleife is actually high on my bucket list, so it’ll be nice to tick it off!”
Holland added that he was pleased to welcome a driver of Austin’s calibre and charisma to his team for the weekend and to assist with preparations for the main event in June.
“I’m thrilled to have somebody of Rob Austin’s calibre joining Rotek Racing’s line-up for the Nürburgring 6 Hours – he’s a huge character who’s well-loved by the BTCC’s fans and he’s quick to boot,” said Holland. “I’m sure he’ll acclimatise to the Audi RS4 in no time and I know he’s going to enjoy racing ‘The Ring’.
“I think the team is in good shape to achieve something big in both the SP4T and SP8 classes with such talented individuals behind the wheel and it’s going to set us up perfectly for the big race – the 24 Hours in June!”