Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Press Release
The Belgian Audi Club Team WRT got very close to the podium in the
season-opener of the Blancpain Endurance Series, held on the legendary
Autodromo Nazionale di Monza.
Following a breath-taking final stint, Laurens
Vanthoor finished less than one second short of the third step of the podium
and two seconds from the second spot ! With his team mates César
Ramos and Marc Basseng, the young Belgian could probably have some regrets about
a first pit-stop that wasn’t perfect. Disappointment was bigger for James Nash,
Frank Stippler and Christopher Mies, as the Brit was hit by a McLaren at the
first chicane in the initial stint of the race. He managed to bring back the
car to the pits, but even if Frank Stipppler rejoined the race, the Audi R8 LMS
ultra was too badly damaged and had to be withdrawn. It was a lively race for
Christian Kelders, Jean-Luc Blanchemain and Yves Weerts too. They were in
contention for a podium position in the Gentlemen Trophy, when they were slowed
by a sudden electrical problem and then a visit into the gravel trap.
Eventually, they concluded fifth in their category.
Once again, Laurens Vanthoor shone among the top stars in the opening
round of the Blancpain Endurance Series. Literally unleashed at the wheel of
the Audi R8 LMS ultra #1, the Belgian kept the suspense alive by fighting for
second until the very final metres of the race. Despite his fighting spirit,
Laurens and his team mates, César Ramos and Marc Basseng, concluded in fourth
position, something that left them with some sour taste at the end of the
3-hour race. « I have done everything I could », admitted
Laurens. « We had the speed, as proven by my final charge. Ten
minutes from the end, I was behind the McLaren of Andy Soucek, but could never
get past. Our Audi had to concede something to the McLaren in top speed on the
straight and that, on such a fast track as Monza, made things difficult. I
tried once to attack, but with no success. In addition, because of racing very
close to Andy’s car, my brakes started to heat up. As it was crucial for the
team to score points, I preferred not to take any risks and bring home a
fourth…”
Starting from P5 on the grid, the Audi #1 had lost a few positions in
the initial laps, but it was mostly at the first pit stop that things didn’t go
as planned. « César Ramos, who did the first stint, stopped a little
bit past the ideal mark », explained Team Principal Vincent Vosse, « By
the time we moved the wheels and the tools, fifteen seconds were gone….»
Fourth at the half-race mark, 51 seconds from the leader,
Ramos-Basseng-Vanthoor didn’t give up, as proven by the gap (7 seconds) from
the winner at the end of the race. « Without this little hiccup,
on which we will work in order it doesn’t happen again, it was a very good
race, and both the drivers and the team have done an excellent job”,
commented Vosse. « Monza is not the most favourable track for our
Audis R8 LMS ultra, because of the little handicap in top speed. This fourth is
not a bad result, although we hoped for something more. I can assure you that
we will be fighting for more next time ! »
Revenge is also something James Nash, Frank Stippler and Christopher
Mies will go for at Silverstone. The trio of the Audi #3 have been forced to
follow the end of the race from the pits. “I was starting from 9th on
the grid, but my start wasn’t that great”, reckoned the former WTCC
driver. « After four laps, I was in P23 but started to climb
through the field. At some point, after having past a McLaren, it missed its
braking point at the first chicane, hitting me on the back and sending me into
a spin. I could go back to the pits, but the car had endured some serious
damage.”
The WRT mechanics managed to repair and Frank Stippler took the track
again, « but the car’s behaviour wasn’t the good one”, as
explained Vosse.“There was nothing to be gained by pursuing the race and we
preferrednot to take any risks”.
For the first time in the Blancpain Endurance Series, the Belgian Audi
Club Team WRT is also competing in the Gentlemen Trophy with Belgium’s
Christian Kelders and Yves Weerts associated with Frenchman Jean-Luc Blanchemain. « It
has not been a very relaxing weekend for us», told Christian Kelders. « We
were competitive during free practice, but an electrical short prevented us to
do well in qualifying. In order to start the race with fresh tires, we
kicked-off from the pits. The pace was good and I could charge back to third in
the category, but then, all of a sudden, the car stopped because some
electrical issue. We managed to start again, but after losing quite some time.
Later, Jean-Luc went off into the gravel, probably because of an oil spot. We
therefore finished fifth in the category. This said, it is positive to be fifth
despite all the problems, it proves we are competitive in this Getlemen Trophy.
In any case, we had a lot of fun at the wheel of the R8, and that is what
matters!”.
Silverstone, on 23-25 May, will host the second round of the Blancpain
Endurance Series. Before that, the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT will focus on the
two first races of the Blancpain Sprint Series, at Nogaro next weekend (18-21
avril) and Brands-Hatch (17-18 May).
Lotterer-Fässler-Tréluyer and Vanthoor-Rast-Winkelhock at the Total 24H
de Spa avec WRT
Audi Sport today confirmed that the Audi R8 LMS ultra #2entered by WRT
at this year’s Total 24 Heures de Spa-Francorchamps will be entrusted to the
trio composed by André Lotterer, Marcel Fässlerand Benoit Tréluyer. Winners of
the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2011 and 2012 and Endurance World Champions in 2012,
the three are certainly determined to add another line to their prestigious
collection of titles!
At the wheel of the car sporting #1, Laurens Vanthoorwill be joined by
René Rastand former GT 1 World Champion Markus Winkelhockto form another
stunning line-up. As a reminder, the drivers of #3 will be BES regulars James
Nash-Frank Stippler- Christopher Mies.
With these three cars entered in the Pro-Cup, WRT will aim at a second
overall win, after the one conquered in 2011, and at a fourth consecutive
podium finish in the race.
Blancpain Endurance Series - Round 1
Monza, Italy
12-13 April 2014
Race results:
1. Parente-Demoustier-Premat (McLaren MP4-12C) 96 tours en
3h01m07s (1. Pro)
2. Sandström-Ortelli-Guilvert (Audi R8 LMS
ultra) + 5s749
3. Estre-Korjus-Soucek (McLaren MP4
12C)
+ 6s880
4. Ramos-Basseng-Vanthoor (Audi R8 LMS
ultra) +7s646
5. Primat-Verdonck-Bukh (Mercedes SLS AMG)
+46s920
27. Kelders-Blanchemain-Weerts (Audi R8 LMS) + 7 tours
(5. GTR)
DNF Nash-Stippler-Mies (Audi R8
LMS)
(+ 49 tours)
Drivers’ provisional standings after Round 1 of 5 (Pro Cup)
1. Parente-Demoustier-Premat (McLaren MP4-12C) 25
points
2. Sandström-Ortelli-Guilvert (Audi R8 LMS
ultra) 18
3. Estre-Korjus-Soucek (McLaren MP4
12C) 15
4. Ramos-Basseng-Vanthoor
(Audi R8 LMS ultra) 12
5. Primat-Verdonck-Bukh (Mercedes SLS
AMG) 10
Drivers’ provisionalstandings after Round 1 of 5 (Gentlemen Trophy)
1. Ehret-Mattschull-Schmickler (Ferrari 458)
25 points
2. Cabbanes-Delhez-Brandela (Ferrari
458)
18
3. Barreiros-Mann-Guedes (Ferrari
458)
15
4. Bachelier-Mallegol-Blank (Ferrari
458)
12
5. Kelders-Blanchemain-Weerts (Audi R8 LMS ultra)10
Teams’ provisional standings after Round 1 of 5 (Pro Cup)
1. ART Grand
Prix 25
points
2. Saintéloc
Racing
18
3. Belgian Audi Club Team
WRT
15
4. HTP
Motorsport
12
5. M-Sport Bentley
10
Photo credit: W Racing Team
