By Johan Laubscher
The French GT Tour saw a number of Audi R8 LMS and ultra entries during
2013. Saintéloc Racing and Team Speed Car both fielded multiple cars during the
season, which was highlighted by a number of Audi race victories.
The season review has been compiled from the 2013 Audi Motorsport Blog Weekend Round Up posts. Each round has been added as was seen in the individual Weekend Round Up posts during 2013, which can be accessed via the links throughout the review below:
Round 1: Le Mans - Bugatti
The French GT-Tour got underway at Le Mans this weekend. The series
competed on the permanent Bugatti circuit. Four Audi R8 LMS ultra cars (all in
2013 specification) took part, three from Saintéloc and one from Team Speed
Car. The cars performed well with a fourth in the first race and seventh in the
second race. The top placed Audi in both races was the #42 of David Halliday
and Gregory Guilvert.
Round 2: Imola
The French GT-Tour held its second round at Imola, a support event for
the ELMS. Four Audi R8 LMS ultra cars took part in what turned out to be a very
difficult weekend for the Audi teams. The highest Audi finisher this weekend
was the Sainteloc entry who finished ninth during race one, this was the only
Audi top ten finish this weekend.
Round 3: Spa-Francorchamps
The French GT-Tour was in Belgium, running round three at Spa. It was a
weekend to remember for the Team Speed Car squad, as they claimed pole position
and a dominant race one victory, with Vincent Abril and Dino Lunardi behind the
wheel of the #36 Audi R8 LMS ultra. Only two Audis placed within the top ten
during race one. The Team Speed Car squad was in top form again during race
two, as they recovered to another podium finish, this time in third place.
Round 4: Val de Vienne
The French GT-Tour was at Val de Vienne this weekend, with four Audi R8
LMS ultra cars on the grid. Qualifying saw good results for the Audis, two
within the top three for race one, and also a third for the race two grid.
During the first race the highest Audi was the #42 Sainteloc car which was
battling for third, and ultimately finished fourth, the only Audi inside the
top ten. Two Audis entered the top ten during race two, with the #42 as the
highest Audi once again, finishing in sixth, ahead of the Team Speed Car Audi
in seventh.
Round 5: Magny-Cours
French GT Tour headed to Magny-Cours for round five this weekend. Four
Audi R8 LMS ultra cars were originally entered for the races, three from
Sainteloc and one from Team Speed Car. The majority of the Audis were running
in the 2012 specification, to take advantage of the improved performance within
the current BoP regulations. A second Audi R8 LMS from Team Speed Car was also
present, but it was only intended to take part in the sessions for testing.
However, Team Speed Car's #007 Aston Martin blew its engine, thus the team used
their second Audi R8 LMS to replace that car. Qualifying yielded a race one
pole position for the #42 Sainteloc Audi, leading two Audis within the top ten.
Three Audis qualified within the top five for race two. The first race finished
with Team Speed Car taking a sensational win, their second victory of the
season, leading home three Audis within the top ten. Race two saw Team Speed
Car taking victory once again, leading home an Audi 1-2 finish, with Sainteloc
finishing second with the #42 car. Three Audis placed within the top ten during
race two.
Round 6: Lédenon
Lédenon played host to the sixth and penultimate French GT-Tour round.
Five Audi cars were entered this weekend: Sainteloc entered three Audi R8 LMS
ultra cars, along with Team Speed Car entering two cars, one Audi R8 LMS ultra
and one older R8 LMS. Sainteloc suffered a hard crash with their lead car
during the sessions, resulting that their #42 car was out for the remainder of
the weekend. Team Speed Car was the only Audi within the top ten during the
first qualifying session, their #36 R8 LMS ultra qualified sixth. Qualifying
for race two saw the #82 Sainteloc entry taking third on the grid. The first
race concluded with the #36 Team Speed Car Audi R8 LMS ultra finishing in
ninth, the only Audi within the top ten. The second race again only saw one
Audi within the top, the #36 Audi which finished sixth.
Round 7: Paul Ricard
Paul Ricard played host to the French GT Tour finale this weekend. A
total of six Audi cars were entered. Sainteloc entered four Audi R8 LMS ultra
cars and Team Speed Car entered one R8 LMS ultra and one older R8 LMS. The
fourth Sainteloc car was the #43 Audi R8 LMS ultra, a once-off entry which
included Stephane Ortelli as one of the drivers. The #009 Team Speed Car R8 LMS
was on site, but did not take part. Qualifying for the first race only had one
Audi within the top ten, with the #43 Sainteloc car placing tenth. The grid for
race two saw two Audis within the top ten, as the #43 and #82 Sainteloc cars
qualified ninth and tenth respectively. The first race got underway on Saturday
and concluded with Team Speed Car as the highest Audi in fourth with their #36
Audi R8 LMS ultra. Two Audis made it into the top ten, as the #82 Sainteloc car
finished eighth. The second and final race was very hard for the Audi teams.
Only four cars started the race, as the #42 Sainteloc car did not take part.
Only one of the four cars finished the race. The #83 Sainteloc Audi R8 LMS ultra
finished twenty-first, whilst all three of the remaining cars retired.
Photo credit: GT Tour
