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What’s involved in servicing an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Ultra
‘By failing to prepare, you prepare to fail’ is a longstanding quote which resonates throughout the world of motorsport and Bathurst-based Schumacher Motorsport is giving its Audi R8 LMS GT3 Ultra a thorough overhaul ahead of Sandown.
Driver Brad Schumacher leads the GT Trophy standings by 25-points from the Nissan GT-R GT3 of Brett Hobson ahead of the Sandown round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS.
The break between rounds has enabled Schumacher Motorsport to give the R8 not only a significant service, but the opportunity to resolve a couple of problems emerging after the most recent round at The Bend Motorsport Park.
“With any of these GT cars, the manufacturer gives you a base guideline on what needs servicing and the life of components in the car,” said Schumacher.
“We are at the point where the car has ticked over 15,000km in total, so there are particular things that need doing.”
So which components are the focus during servicing? In a nutshell, pretty much everything as Schumacher detailed.
“The gearbox is coming out again to get its revision after 5000km, it’s already on its way to Holinger in Melbourne where it will be dismantled and rebuilt,” Schumacher explained.
“The shock absorbers at 15,000km require servicing, so they get taken to Bilstein.
“Driveshafts are a couple of 1000 off service life, but we had to replace one with a second hand item within in our parts inventory after the crash along Conrod Straight at Bathurst. We are just going to replace both with new components now.”
“Brake Calipers get extremely hot, so we’ll rebuild those and its good practice. We’ll replace all the piston seals and bleed nipples because with heat those can expand, retract and get stuck.
“Suspension geometry components, wishbones, tie rods and all those parts, we’ll replace the rod ends under routine maintenance measures, plus all of the other components will get crack tested to make sure there are no issues.
“We’ll also send the OZ racing wheels to get crack tested as well, just to make sure they are all ok.”
Overseas companies play a key role in servicing certain components forming the Audi package and the mid-season break ensures those items will return before Sandown.
“The Megaline air compressor is a serviceable part, which must get sent back to Germany to get serviced,” Schumacher continued. “It’s actually there being overhauled as we speak, I think they put a new piston kit, seals and things in those.
And in Schumacher Motorsport’s case, a component was sent overseas to troubleshoot problems emerging after the previous round.
“After The Bend, we had an issue with our Bosch data logger dash,” said Schumacher.
“It was working perfectly fine at The Bend, but then when we got the car back to the workshop here in Bathurst and got it out of the truck, the dash wouldn’t fire up.
“It’s an issue Audi Sport Customer Racing had not heard of in Australia before so it had to be sent back to Bosch in Germany as well where they found a minor issue. It is receiving a refurbishment and will be sent back.”
Further highlighting Schumacher Motorsport’s meticulous preparations, the appearance of the Audi will be different at Sandown as the team repair stone chips and light panel damage, while a new ‘retro’ Kelso Electrical livery is being discussed.
The next round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Powered by AWS will be held at Sandown on September 17-19.