Audi will return to the Intercontinental GT Challenge next year to defend its 2018 manufacturers’ title.

The German manufacturer will enter at least two 2019-spec Audi R8 LMS GT3s in each race of the five-round championship, which gets underway in February with the Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.

Audi won three out of four races this year, including the season-ending California 8 Hours at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

It secured its third consecutive manufacturers’ title with that result, although Mercedes-AMG’s Tristan Vautier went on to win the drivers’ championship.

The 2019 Intercontinental GT Challenge will comprise of the returning Bathurst 12 Hour, Total 24 Hours of Spa, Suzuka 10 Hours and the California 8 Hours, as well as a new nine-hour race at Kyalami in South Africa.

Audi has also confirmed its involvement in next year’s Nürburgring 24, although specific details of the program have not yet been released.

Attempto Receives First Evo Delivery

Audi customer squad Attempto Racing has become the first team to receive the latest version of the R8 LMS GT3 racer, which makes its global competition debut next year.

Head of Audi Sport customer racing Chris Reinke formally handed over the upgraded car to team principal Arkin Aka at the manufacturer’s Neuberg an der Donau complex.

The German operation became an Audi customer this year after having previously run Lamborghini machinery in the Blancpain GT Series.

In its first season with the current-generation Audi, Attempto finished third in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup drivers’ standings with Kelvin van der Linde and Steijn Shchothorst.

The Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo made its first competitive appearances in the final two rounds of the VLN series last month with Car Collection Motorsport and Montaplast by Land-Motorsport, respectively.