Saturday, March 29, 2014

FIA WEC: Audi fastest during the final session - but Porsche fastest overall at Paul Ricard


By Johan Laubscher

The official FIA World Endurance Championship test days concluded at Paul Ricard on Saturday. Audi Sport Team Joest showed good pace during the two-day test.

The FIA World Endurance Championship hosted The Prologue this week, the official two-day test at Paul Ricard. All three of the factory LMP1 teams took part: Audi, Porsche and Toyota.


Audi Sport Team Joest entered two new 2014 Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars at the test session, the same two driver combinations that are entered for the full 2014 FIA WEC season.

The #1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro was driven by Tom Kristensen, Loïc Duval and Lucas di Grassi. The sister #2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro was driven by Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer.

Five sessions were spread across the two days of testing, three on Friday and two on Saturday.


Audi topped the first test session and then set the second and fourth fastest times during the afternoon and night sessions. Saturday morning again saw Audi at the top of the time sheets and again during the final session during the afternoon.

The fifth and final session concluded with the #2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro setting a 1:43.423 lap time, the fastest during the session. They were ahead of the #8 Toyota, the duo of Porsches (#20 and #14) and the #7 Toyota. The #1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro was sixth fastest.

The overall results for the weekend revealed that the 1:41.289 lap time, set by the #20 Porsche 919 Hybrid, was the fastest time overall. The #2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro was second fastest, ahead of the #14 Porsche, the #7 Toyota, the #1 Audi and the #8 Toyota.


Overall LMP1-H results:

1. #20 Porsche 919 Hybrid - 1:41.289
2. #2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro - 1:42.073 + 0.784
3. #14 Porsche 919 Hybrid - 1:42.126 + 0.837
4. #7 Toyota TS 040 Hybrid - 1:42.356 + 1.067
5. #1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro - 1:42.407 + 1.118
6. #8 Toyota TS 040 Hybrid - 1:43.615 + 2.326

The full results from the weekend’s testing can be seen HERE

Silverstone will be hosting the opening round of the 2014 FIA WEC on 20 April.