Lucas Luhr
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Lucas Luhr (born July 22, 1979, in Mülheim-Kärlich) is a German race car driver, currently racing in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters for the Audi factory team.
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[edit] Early career
Luhr began his career in karts in 1989. Throughout the early 1990s, he won several local and national karting trophies. He became a factory driver for the CRG company in 1994, winning the European Karting Championship and placing 4th in the World Karting Championship. In 1995 he moved to the Jolly Kart factory team, competing in the European and World championships.
Luhr moved to cars in 1996, becoming vice-champion of the German Formula Ford championship. He raced in German Formula 3 in 1997 and 1998, winning the 1998 season opening round at the Hockenheimring.
[edit] Porsche factory career
Luhr became a Porsche factory driver for the 1999 season. He won the 1999 Porsche Supercup championship driving for the UPS Junior Team. In 2000, he moved to the American Le Mans Series, driving a Porsche 911 GT3-R for Dick Barbour Racing and partnering with Dirk Muller. He collected class wins in the 12 Hours of Sebring, 24 Hours of Le Mans, 1000km Nurburgring, and Race of 1000 Years in Adelaide, as well as the ALMS GT class championship in his first season.
Luhr began the 2001 season with a class win in the 24 Hours of Daytona, driving for White Lightning Racing. In the ALMS, he partnered with Sascha Maassen at Alex Job Racing, again in a 911. The duo won the 12 Hours of Sebring, but had an disappointing season as the BMW M3 GTRs dominated the season. Luhr and Maassen finished 4th in the championship.
In 2002, Luhr and Maassen dominated the ALMS GT class, winning seven of ten races, including Sebring and Petit Le Mans. Luhr also won the GT class at Le Mans, driving with Kevin Buckler and Timo Bernhard for The Racer's Group.
For 2003, Luhr continued his winning ways with Maassen and AJR. The duo Sebring for the third straight year, giving Luhr his fourth straight class win, tying him with Bob Holbert for most consecutive class wins. In June, the pair, joined by Emanuelle Collard, captured the GT class at Le Mans. Luhr and Maassen would take 5 wins from 9 races and win the ALMS GT championship for the second straight year.
After a second place at Sebring, Luhr moved to the FIA GT Championship for the 2004 season. He and Maassen won 6 races driving for Friesinger Motorsport and won their third consecutive championship together.
In 2005, Luhr's primary job was the development of the new Porsche RS Spyder, which was to make its full-time debut in 2006. He also raced in the big events in 911s, winning the 12 Hours of Sebringand the Spa 24 Hours. Luhr also won the Laguna Seca 4 Hours LMP2 class, in the debut race of the RS Spyder.
For 2006, Luhr rejoined Maassen, but moved to Penske Racing to drive the RS Spyder. The duo had a rough start to the season, netting only one class win. Luhr would finish the season driving with Romain Dumas and take two more victories to end as vice-champion with Maassen. Luhr also won the 24 Hours Nurburgring overall, driving with Timo Bernhard, Marcel Tiemann, and Mike Rockenfeller.
[edit] Audi career
For 2007, Luhr became a factory Audi driver. Luhr's main task will be the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) series, driving an Audi A4 DTM for Audi Sport Team Rosberg. He will also participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving the LMP1 class R10 TDI.
[edit] Accolades
- American Le Mans Series LMP2 class champion: 2006
- American Le Mans Series GT class champion: 2000, 2002, 2003
- FIA GT N-GT class champion: 2004
- 24 Hours of Le Mans GT class winner: 2000, 2002, 2003
- 12 Hours of Sebring GT/GT2 class winner: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005
- 24 Hours Nurburgring overall winner: 2006
- Spa 24 Hours GT2 class winner: 2005
- Petit Le Mans GT class winner: 2002
- 24 Hours of Daytona GT class winner: 2001
- Porsche Supercup champion: 1999
