With WEC victory at Spa, Audi remains unbeaten

Audi Press Release

•          One-two-three success of the R18 e-tron quattro at WEC round two
•          Victory makes Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer new leaders of the standings
•          New body version for Le Mans successfully tested

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Audi Sport Team Joest arrives at Spa - New long-tail included

By Johan Laubscher

Round two of the FIA World Endurance Championship will be at Spa this weekend. A lot is expected from this event, as it will be the first joint appearance of Audi and Toyota’s 2013 specification race cars.

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WEC Spa: Audi presents long-tail R18

Audi Press Release

•          First fielding of three Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars
•          Premiere of a new aerodynamic variant
•          Last race preparation for the Le Mans 24 Hours

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Audi launches title defense in the WEC‏

Audi Press Release

•          2013 FIA World Endurance Championship starts at Silverstone
•          WEC season opens in UK, Europe’s second-most important market
•          Thrilling hybrid duel expected with Toyota

Ingolstadt, April 5, 2013 – Last year, Audi won the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at Silverstone. April 14 will mark the beginning of the “title defense” objective with the further developed Audi R18 e-tron quattro hybrid sports car at the 6-hour race on the tradition-steeped English race track. 

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Latest X15 magazine issue - including Audi at Sebring

By Johan Laubscher

The latest issue of the X15 Magazine has just been released. It features a diverse spectrum of motorsport coverage, including this month: F1, Sebring, DTM, FIA GT, Indycar, Drag Racing, and much more.

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Audi and quattro at the Tourist Trophy for the first time in 16 years

By Johan Laubscher

The 2013 World Endurance Championship will begin at Silverstone. Today it was announced that the WEC event will be awarded one of the oldest and most prestigious titles in the sport. The WEC Silverstone winners will receive the 2013 RAC Tourist Trophy. The prestigious award is a 108 years old and will be awarded to the race winners on April 14th 2013.

Two Audi R18 e-tron quattros will take part at the opening WEC event. This will be the first time in 16 years that an Audi and quattro will compete in the Tourist Trophy. The brand was last seen in the event in 1996 and 1997 with the Audi A4 quattro STW Super Touring cars.

Below we have included an embedded YouTube video featuring the 1997 RAC Tourist Trophy. The Super Touring Cars took part in this historical event that year. The event was the scene for the last ever official quattro race in British Super Touring. Four-wheel drive was banned in Super Touring at the beginning of 1998, forcing the 1998 BTCC Audis to be front-wheel drive. The 1997 race saw five Audis entered. Two A4 quattro STW's each from Audi Sport UK and ABT Sportsline. The fifth car was the #18 Audi Sport UK entry which was the debut of the front-wheel drive Audi A4 STW in Britain. It is a fantastic video with spectacular Super Touring action. Enjoy:

Photos by AudiFans.net and Audi Sport

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Audi drivers battle for title at WEC finale‏

Audi Press Release

•          Drivers’ World Championship to be decided in China
•          Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer are 16.5 points ahead of Kristensen/McNish
•          Audi R8 LMS Cup to be held as part of supporting program

Ingolstadt, October 19, 2012 - Suspense through to the end: At the finale of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at Shanghai, China, on October 28, two Audi driver teams will be battling for the world champion’s title. 32,000 fans most recently witnessed a close battle for victory in Japan. 11.223 seconds separated Audi and challenger Toyota when the cars saw the checkered flag at the Fuji 6 Hours. With that, the seventh round of the season delivered the closest result to date in the competition between the two automobile manufacturers. 

Audi won the manufacturers’ classification in the new world championship as early as in August - subject to the publication of the results by the FIA. Now the Audi racers will be competing for the title in the drivers’ championship on the 5,451-kilometer Grand Prix circuit at Shanghai. Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer, last and this year’s Le Mans winners with Audi, improved their chances of clinching the title when they finished the round in Japan as the runners-up. They are 16.5 points ahead of their team-mates Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish.

If the Dane and the Scotsman win the qualifying session and the final race, the leaders of the standings have to take fifth place as a minimum to secure the title, which is an achievable task: Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer mounted the podium six times in succession, clinching three victories in the process. All of the Audi R18 cars in the field are extremely reliable and have finished every race this year, scoring five victories and a total of 16 podium places.

Aside from the factory-fielded sports prototypes, motorsport fans in China can look forward to another highlight. The Audi R8 LMS Cup is holding rounds nine and ten together with the WEC finale at Shanghai. 16 drivers are battling for trophies and points in the company’s first one-make cup that has been held in China as of this year. The GT3 sports car delivers a power output of 411 kW (560 hp). Marchy Lee from Hong Kong is currently leading the standings.

The race weekend in China not only has a special significance for Audi from a sporting perspective. Since 2011, the country has been the largest single market for the brand based in Ingolstadt. In the first three quarters of the current year, Audi delivered 297,060 vehicles, which is 31.4 percent more than in the same period last year. Since 1988, Audi has been manufacturing vehicles at the FAW-VW joint venture in Changchun. In 2013, production operations will be launched at the new plant in Foshan, South China.

As usual, Audi will broadcast the race live on the internet for six hours at www.audi-liveracing.com, offering cockpit perspectives, telemetry data and summaries of the racing action. The "Audi Sport" iPhone and Android apps guarantee current WEC coverage on smartphones with live tickers, news, pictures and results. In addition, Audi’s racing fan community will be kept up to speed on Facebook and Twitter.

Topics of the weekend

-How close will the result between Audi and Toyota be this time?
-Will Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer be able to convert their lead in the standings into the title win?
-Will the winners of the season opener, Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish, manage to triumph at the finale?

Quotes by the officials

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): "At Shanghai, we’re competing in a market that’s very important for Audi. The track there is new to all of us. A highly varied inaugural season of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) is about to culminate in China. For us, it’s still about the title decision in the drivers’ championship which, after the early title win in the manufacturers’ championship, is crowning an exceptional endurance racing season for Audi. After the open race at Fuji, it’s guaranteed that we’ll be in for a thrilling finale."

Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest): "There’s only one weekend again between the round at Fuji and the finale at Shanghai - that’s putting another pretty heavy strain on the whole team. That’s why we decided not to fly back to Europe but to enjoy a couple of free days in Asia. Besides relaxing there we’re focused on fostering our team spirit. We’re very much looking forward to the race at Shanghai. In each of the past two years, we drove the season finale in China and have fond memories of the country."

Facts and quotes by the Audi drivers

Marcel Fässler (36/CH), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1
-Was on podium with Audi in China last year, in third place
-Is the only Audi racer who knows the track at Shanghai
"For us, the last race of what has so far been a very successful season, is now coming up. I’ve driven a race at Shanghai before, albeit not on the GP track version but on a shorter variant. It’s a great track on which we’ll no doubt have a lot of fun with our sports prototypes."

André Lotterer (30/D), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1
-Only knows China from running as a guest entrant at the 2011 Audi Q3 Trans China Tour
"The track is completely new to me. That’s why I want to learn it on the simulator. I’m sure it’s not an easy track. The first turn, which tapers down quite a bit, is absolutely unusual. For us, it’s about achieving a big aim: the World Championship title. Up to now, I’ve been concentrating on every single race but now the decision will be made."

Benoît Tréluyer (35/F), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1
-Has never competed in China before
"Shanghai is said to be a very special track. Many of the turns are relatively complicated, such as the spiraling first bend. We want to battle for race victory at the finale - it’s important for us to finish in front of Toyota. At the same time, for my team-mates and me, it’s also about the drivers’ world championship."

Tom Kristensen (45/DK), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2
-Together with team-mate Allan McNish took second place for Audi in China in 2010
-Has previously competed at various motorsport events in China
"It’s been a tremendous season so far which started with victory for Allan (McNish) and me at the Sebring season opener. After the round in Japan, which meant a lot to me, we’re now ending the season in China. I’ll be driving a race for the fifth time in this country: twice I ran at Zhuhai in sports prototypes, contested a race with the DTM in downtown Shanghai and competed in the Race of Champions at the National Stadium in Beijing. For the WEC finale on the challenging Shanghai GP circuit, our wish is to achieve victory."

Allan McNish (42/GB), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2
-Has already run twice in an Audi LMP sports car in China
"The WEC finale at Shanghai will be held on a track I don’t know yet. If you look at the layout you can see similarities to the previous circuits in Bahrain or at Fuji because most of the turns are long and driven at low speed. The race will be the high point of the season. That’s when the drivers’ world championship will be decided. For Tom and I to have any chance left at all we’ll have to clinch victory."

The Audi drivers at Shanghai

Marcel Fässler (CH): *May 27, 1976 in Einsiedeln (CH); residence: Gross (CH); married to Isabel, four daughters (Shana, Elin, Yael and Delia); height: 1.78 m; weight: 78 kg; Audi driver since 2008; Le Mans victories: 2; WEC races: 7; WEC victories: 3; WEC pole positions: 0; WEC fastest laps: 1; best result Shanghai: -

Tom Kristensen (DK): *Jul 07, 1967 in Hobro (DK); residence: Monaco (MC); single (partner: Hanne), two sons (Oliver and Oswald) and one daughter (Carla Malou); height: 1.74 m; weight: 72 kg; Audi driver since 2000; Le Mans victories: 8; WEC races: 7; WEC victories: 1; WEC pole positions: 0; WEC fastest laps: 0; best result Shanghai: -

André Lotterer (D): *Nov 19, 1981 in Duisburg (D); residence: Tokyo (J); single; height: 1.84 m; weight: 74 kg; Audi driver since 2010; Le Mans victories: 2; WEC races: 7; WEC victories: 3; WEC pole positions: 2; WEC fastest laps: 1; best result Shanghai: -

Allan McNish (GB): *Dec 29, 1969 in Dumfries (GB); residence: Monaco (MC); married to Kelly, one son (Finlay), one daughter (Charlotte); height: 1.65 m; weight: 60 kg; Audi driver since 2000; Le Mans victories: 2; WEC races: 7; WEC victories: 1; WEC pole positions: 2; WEC fastest laps: 0; best result Shanghai: -

Benoît Tréluyer (F): *Dec 07, 1976 in Alençon (F); residence: Gordes (F); married to Melanie, 1 son (Jules); height: 1.78 m; weight: 68 kg; Audi driver since 2010; Le Mans victories: 2; WEC races: 7; WEC victories: 3; WEC pole positions: 1; WEC fastest laps: 0; best result Shanghai: -

Track info

Track length: 5.451 km
Race distance: 6 hours

Marcel Fässler about Shanghai: "I remember Shanghai as a very nice track. I particularly like turn 1 because you enter it at high speed in sixth gear before it tapers down and you’ve got to downshift into second. I don’t know the second track sector yet because I’ve only driven on the short version previously. In the third section, there’s a long left-hander. It’ll be great fun with our Audi R18 e-tron quattro thanks to the high downforce. In the next sector, you’ve got to take a lot of momentum onto a small straight. A narrow left-hand turn is followed by a right-hand whose radius opens up. You enter it in second gear and then upshift all the way into fourth. The turn takes us onto the longest straight at the end of which you brake hard and downshift all the way into first. When exiting the right-hand turn, traction is important because on accelerating the car continues to follow the course of the turn. On exiting the last left-hander, you’ve got to take a lot of momentum onto the start and finish straight to achieve a good lap time."

WEC drivers’ standings after 7 of 8 rounds
1 Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer, 157.5 points; 2 Kristensen/McNish, 141; 3 Jani/Prost, 86.5; 4 Capello, 77; 5 Lapierre/Wurz, 70; 6 Dumas/Duval, 67; 7 Kane/Leventis/Watts, 56; 8 Belicchi/Primat, 50.5; 9 Potolicchio 49.5; 10 Gené, 49.

WEC manufacturers’ standings after 7 of 8 rounds
1 Audi, 191 points; 2 Toyota, 70.


Schedule (local times; Friday/Saturday CEST -6 hours, Sunday CET -7 hours)

Friday, October 26
10:35-12:05 Free practice 1
15:30-17:00 Free practice 2

Saturday, October 27
09:15-10:15 Free practice 3
13:55-14:15 Qualifying LMP1 & LMP2
14:25 FIA WEC press conference

Sunday, October 28
08:00-08:20 Warm-up
11:00-17:00 Race
17:15 FIA WEC press conference

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Audi occupies two podium places in Japan

Audi Press Release

•          Le Mans winners extend their lead of the standings at Fuji
•          Sporting penalty thwarts battle for victory
•          Title decision postponed to finale in China

Ingolstadt/Fuji, October 14, 2012 - Two podium places in the Far East: Audi had to settle for positions two and three at the seventh round of the FIA World Championship (WEC). A sporting penalty deprived the number "1" Audi R18 e-tron quattro of all chances for victory at Fuji.

Up to the six-hour race’s mid-point, Audi was fighting a thrilling battle for victory with Toyota. At the beginning of the race, André Lotterer in the number "1" R18 e-tron quattro constantly remained within striking distance of Toyota driver Alexander Wurz. Benoît Tréluyer, who took over driving duties of the hybrid prototype from Lotterer, continued the chase and took the lead after a thrilling duel. However, shortly after the race’s mid-point, a GT vehicle collided with the Audi in a lapping maneuver. Due to the resulting damage, a pit stop was made to change the front hood. This cost a further 24 seconds in addition to the regular duration of the pit stop. When the race directors decided that the Audi was to blame for the accident and issued a stop-and-go penalty, car number "1" dropped to third place. André Lotterer drove good lap times and recovered to second place in the penultimate hour of the race. Only 11.2 seconds separated him from the winning Toyota in the end. With this result, the three Le Mans winners Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer extended their lead of the standings by three to 16.5 points.

At this point in time, Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen were struggling with the handling of their number "2" Audi R18 e-tron quattro. The reason was that in the fourth hour of the race, a LMP2 prototype had hit Audi’s prototype, damaging various small aerodynamic components at the front of the R18 in the incident. The team, however, decided not to change the hood, as this would have cost more valuable time. Consequently, the Anglo-Danish duo ultimately took third place.

Although Audi, despite a good race performance, was deprived by the sporting penalty of any chance of taking its sixth victory of the season, the entire squad can look forward to the finale at Shanghai two weeks from now. After the early win of the manufacturers’ world championship* by Audi in August, the title in the drivers’ championship will be awarded at the finale. Irrespective of whether the decision will be in favor of Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer or Kristensen/McNish - Audi will win this classification in the inaugural season of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) as well.

* Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA



Quotes after the race

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): "We delivered a very good race today. If you’re just eleven seconds behind, although a repair and a stop-and-go-penalty made car number ‘1’ lose ground, this shows how good the performance basically was. We battled for victory and it would have been possible to achieve it, but unfortunately not everything came together today. Toyota was very strong here and won the home race. Congratulations on that!"

Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest): "The large number of spectators in Japan experienced a nice six-hour race with a really close outcome. Congratulations to Toyota on winning their home race. We were exactly on course with our strategy and the fuel consumption of our car is known to be very favorable. Unfortunately, Benoît Tréluyer on lapping a GT vehicle became entangled in an accident. The repair of the front hood and the harsh drive-through-penalty cost us time. In all fairness, we’ve got to admit that the subsequent yellow period was advantageous for us on the other hand. A big compliment goes to our squad. Part of the team spent the night at the track due to a repair and still showed a top performance on race day."

Marcel Fässler (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1): "We could have achieved victory today. But it’s always possible for incidents to happen in the race. I think the drive-through-penalty was a bit harsh. The race was very thrilling. I only drove once because we changed our strategy toward the end. That way, André was able to drive a double stint on one set of tires and we didn’t have to change tires again."

André Lotterer (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1): "We drove a great race and no doubt had the potential to win. The team and all the mechanics did a top-notch job. Unfortunately, we lost ground due to the penalty - that was bitter. But you can’t always win in motorsport, even though I’d have been particularly happy to have done so in Japan, my second home. Now we’ve got to settle for second place. Two weeks from now, in China, we want to win the title."



Benoît Tréluyer (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1): "In the end, our day wasn’t so bad, even though our aim had been to win the race in front of Toyota. We had to attack straight from the start and take certain risks. Unfortunately, I had a collision with an opponent in traffic. It’s disappointing to lose by just a narrow margin of eleven seconds. But in the World Championship we’re running in front and have extended our lead."

Tom Kristensen (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2): "This was a disappointing day for number ‘2’ because our car felt really good in longer distances before the race. We’d have liked to be in contention for victory but the rubber on our tires that we picked up from the track cost us a lot of time. Unfortunately, Allan was involved in an accident - in which the front hood of our car was damaged. Towards the end, I was struggling with a lot of oversteer. It’s been a difficult day. We’re hoping for a nice finale in China."

Allan McNish (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2): "It was a very difficult race. I had a good start and a good initial phase. After André Lotterer overtook me, my car started picking up rubber from the track. This caused heavy vibrations. Tom had the same problem. We continued to battle but were not consistently quick enough. In the end, third place was the maximum. With a view towards the championship, the result is disappointing. We’re now facing a very difficult challenge at Shanghai. The aim can only be to win the race."

Race results

1 Wurz/Lapierre/Nakajima (Toyota) 233 laps
2 Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer (Audi R18 e-tron quattro) + 11.223s
3 Kristensen/McNish (Audi R18 e-tron quattro) + 1m 32.565s
4 Prost/Jani (Lola-Toyota) - 6 laps
5 Brabham/Chandhok/Dumbreck (HPD-Honda) - 7 laps
6 Leventis/Watts/Kane (HPD-Honda) - 7 laps
7 Belicchi/Primat (Lola-Toyota) - 8 laps
8 Martin/Graves/Nakano (Oreca-Nissan) - 13 laps
9 Potolicchio/Dalziel/Sarrazin (HPD-Honda) - 14 laps
10 Lahaye/Nicolet/Pla (Morgan-Nissan) - 14 laps

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Audi qualifies on front row at Fuji‏

Audi Press Release

·         Benoît Tréluyer in second place is best Audi driver

·         Tom Kristensen starts from position three in Japan

·         Thorough race preparation with the Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars

Ingolstadt/Fuji, October 13, 2012 - Good starting base for Audi at the seventh round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC): The two Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars will start the race on Sunday from the front two rows.

In qualifying, Benoît Tréluyer converted his track knowledge at Fuji into a good grid position. The Frenchman, who drove in Japan for twelve years in his career, missed pole position by just a very narrow margin at Fuji on Saturday. In the end, with his lap time of 1m 27.639s, the 35-year-old two-time Le Mans winner was lacking merely 14 hundredths of a second to Kazuki Nakajima, who managed to set the fastest time in the Toyota.

The number "1" Audi was directly trailed by Tom Kristensen in the sister car. The Le Mans record winner at the wheel of the hybrid vehicle designated as car number "2" set the third-fastest lap at 1m 28.370s.

Audi’s intermediate result remains clear on the seventh weekend of the season. The brand has achieved the fastest time in qualifying as many as five times this year. On Sunday, Audi is set on battling for the sixth victory of the season. The adjustment of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro to the 4.563-kilometer track that is within viewing distance of Mount Fuji started with testing on Wednesday. The facility, which is the home track of competitor Toyota, is characterized by unusual corners and cambers.

The seventh WEC round starts on Sunday at 11:00, local time (4:00 CEST) and can be watched live on the internet: www.audi-liveracing.com broadcasting the entire race. The TV channel Eurosport will air the last 90 minutes live.

 
Quotes after qualifying

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): "With a difference of only 14 hundredths of a second between Toyota and Audi, qualifying was very close. We started to realize that it would become a tough battle, but then it turned out to be even a bit closer than expected. The most important thing is that in the practice and qualifying sessions we’ve put ourselves in a good position for the race on Sunday. I’m expecting a thrilling race. And the large turnout of spectators on Saturday gives us reason to hope for a big crowd on Sunday."

Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest): "Qualifying was a thriller because the three quickest cars were out on track at the same time. The lap by Benoît Tréluyer was good but Kazuki Nakajima drove a very good time and bumped us from position one. I congratulate him on that. He’s intimately familiar with this circuit - it’s Toyota’s home track. The gap between us and him isn’t very large. Tom Kristensen wasn’t able to make optimal use of his tires. But the two front rows are okay with respect to the race."

Tom Kristensen (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2): "It’s a nice feeling to be racing again in Japan where my sports car career started exactly 20 years ago. We did a good job of preparing for the race and I gave my best in qualifying. Unfortunately, my first lap wasn’t so good and I was quick only in the third sector. Afterwards, I wasn’t able to repeat my performance in this track sector. That’s why I didn’t make another attempt because we’ve got to start the race on this set of tires."

Allan McNish (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2): "We worked intensively on the test day and on the two practice days. Our main focus was always on working out a good balance for our car in the race. The track is challenging and demands a car that is consistent and has good driving stability. For long distances, we’ve achieved exactly these aims. We knew that Toyota might be a bit stronger in qualifying. And, unfortunately, Tom didn’t always catch a perfect, free lap."

Marcel Fässler (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1): "Benoît delivered a brilliant lap. In the end, he was only trailing Toyota by a very narrow margin. That’ll bother him a little, I’m sure. Still, it was a superb achievement on his part. He was very pleased with our car. And that’s the main thing for the race. It shows that our Audi’s got a lot of potential. We want to do a good job of putting that on track in the race."

André Lotterer (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1): "Ben really drove a tremendous lap. He knows the track here well and showed all of his talent. Obviously, with such a small deficit of just one and a half tenths of a second you think, ‘What a shame, a little bit more would have been possible.’ But that’s what you think after almost any qualifying session. Tomorrow we’ll probably experience a fierce battle that I’m already looking forward to."

Benoît Tréluyer (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1): "It was a good lap even though it’s possible that I could have driven a bit faster. I don’t know, though, if it would have been enough to take the pole position. The car was very good. I’m a little disappointed because you always want to be at the very front, particularly here in Japan where I spent the major part of my career. A large number of fans have come to the track here and given me a warm welcome. I’d have liked to thank them and the team by taking pole."

Qualifying results

1 Wurz/Lapierre/Nakajima (Toyota) 1m 27.499s
2 Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer (Audi R18 e-tron quattro) 1m 27.639s
3 Kristensen/McNish (Audi R18 e-tron quattro) 1m 28.370s
4 Prost/Jani (Lola-Toyota) 1m 29.871s
5 Leventis/Watts/Kane (HPD-Honda) 1m 30.051s
6 Brabham/Chandhok/Dumbreck (HPD-Honda) 1m 30.410s
7 Belicchi/Primat (Lola-Toyota) 1m 30.682s
8 Baguette/Kraihamer/Sato (Oak Pescarolo-Honda) 1m 30.912s
9 Potolicchio/Dalziel/Sarrazin (HPD-Honda) 1m 32.367s
10 Martin/Graves/Nakano (Oreca-Nissan) 1m 32.548s

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Audi banks on full equality of opportunity in battle for the FIA WEC title‏

Audi Sport Press Release

• Two Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars to be fielded from Bahrain race on
• First run of Audi’s sports prototype on the desert track
• Night race and high temperatures pose major challenge

Ingolstadt, September 20, 2012 - In the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the two Audi driver line-ups are fighting a thrilling battle for the title. As of the sixth of the season’s eight rounds in Bahrain on September 29, a new strategy will guarantee absolute equality of opportunity. Audi will start to compete with two hybrid vehicles to set the agenda for the future.

Audi entered the 2012 endurance racing season with two different vehicle concepts. The Audi R18 ultra makes full use of the potential of a conventionally powered LMP sports car with a TDI engine whereas the R18 e-tron quattro as the brand’s first hybrid race car rang in a new era. That both concepts have their particular fortes was obvious on several occasions. While the R18 e-tron quattro made history by achieving the first victory of a hybrid vehicle at the Le Mans 24 Hours and subsequently won the 6-hour race at Silverstone, the R18 ultra managed to score a debut victory at Spa. With the better grid position and fastest race lap by Lucas di Grassi at the fifth round in Brazil, the conventionally powered TDI sports car proved its potential through to the most recent event.

There are good reasons for the change in strategy nonetheless. Whereas the R18 ultra has always been very competitive on a single lap, the R18 e-tron quattro has notable advantages in certain topographic track conditions and when lapping other cars in traffic. As Audi is convinced of the future of hybrid drive, the engineers are now starting to fully concentrate on the development of the race car with an electrified drive system. In addition to the experiences that can be gathered for the future during the second half of the season, this decision assures perfect equality of opportunity. Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer, after scoring two victories this season in the number "1" R18 e-tron quattro, are leading the WEC drivers’ standings. With 78 points yet to be awarded, Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish trail by only 7.5 points. The Danish-Scottish driver duo of car number "2" is returning to hybrid drive in Bahrain after having run twice before in the R18 e-tron quattro, at Spa and Le Mans. 

For Audi Sport Team Joest, this involves a challenging task, which thanks to Audi’s uncompromising commitment to the shared components principle is made considerably easier. After transporting the race cars from South America, the number "2" Audi R18 will be converted from a conventional to a hybrid drive and the body will receive completely new graphics.

In Bahrain, the teams can expect to find unusual overall conditions. The race is held in the middle of the desert on the Sakhir circuit south of the capital Manama. Extreme temperatures, high humidity and sand particles mean tough conditions for the drivers and the cars. For the Audi factory drivers and Audi Sport Team Joest, the track in the island state is new territory. The sixth race of the season is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. local time and will thus take place mostly during hours of darkness.

Like at all WEC rounds, Audi is offering comprehensive coverage to the spectators at home: www.audi-liveracing.com will broadcast the race for six hours on the internet and also offer cockpit camera perspectives and summary reports of the race. The Audi Sport iPhone and Android apps provide WEC coverage on smartphones with live tickers, news, pictures and results. In addition, Audi’s racing fan community is kept up to speed on Facebook and Twitter.

Topics of the weekend

-How will the competition between Audi and Toyota develop?
-How well will Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish fare on returning to the Audi R18 e-tron quattro?
-Which team will do the best job of coping with the desert heat?
-Will the close battle for the drivers’ world championship produce a change?

Quotes by the officials

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): "We decided to compete with two hybrid vehicles in Bahrain. Our analysis has shown that we’ve got an advantage in traffic with the R18 e-tron quattro. It makes it easier for our drivers to overtake other vehicles. This means that with two hybrid vehicles we’re in a better position in the battle with Toyota. At the same time, we’re giving both our driver teams identical material in the battle for the title. Bahrain will be a completely different race than the previous rounds. We’re expecting very high temperatures. Unlike the most recent round in Brazil, Bahrain also takes a high toll on the brakes, which require good cooling. Handling the tires will be crucial too."

Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest): "In Bahrain, we’ll hopefully manage to get revenge for the race in Brazil. We’ll leave no stone unturned to return to the top of the podium. A desert race is a new experience for all of us. In addition, we’ve got to convert car number "2" into an e-tron quattro on location. That’s a huge task for the team. It’ll make the close battle for the drivers’ world championship even more exciting because it leads to greater equality of opportunity. We’re looking forward to this."

Facts and quotes by the Audi drivers

Marcel Fässler (36/CH), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1
-Continues to run with his two team-mates André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer
"I’ve never been to Bahrain. On TV, I’ve gained a very positive impression of the race track so far. There’s no doubt about one thing: it’ll be pretty hot. For us drivers, this means a high strain in the cockpit. Physical fitness will really be paying off there."

André Lotterer (30/D), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1
-Aims to extend the lead in the standings together with his team-mates
"I don’t know yet what’s awaiting us at the next race. I’m going to try out the track on the simulator and carefully memorize the layout. A new race track is always interesting and marks the next challenge for all of us. I’m happy about the chance to drive a race in this part of the world. Obviously, we want to finish on the top spot of the podium."

Benoît Tréluyer (35/F), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1
-Like his fellow Audi drivers is running in Bahrain for the first time
"We learned a lot in Brazil so that we can make the right decisions for the next race. This makes me very optimistic for the Bahrain Six Hours. As drivers, we’re challenged to get to know yet another track. As always, I’m going to prepare for it in the simulator. At this race, we’ll be in for very demanding overall conditions."

 

Tom Kristensen (45/DK), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2
-Is returning to a cockpit of an Audi R18 e-tron quattro
-After Lucas di Grassi’s wild-card run in Brazil is competing again as a duo with Allan McNish
"In Bahrain, a large number of challenges are awaiting us that we’re all looking forward to. It starts with the hot climate, but the desert sand and driving in darkness are special too. Allan and I are expecting a lot of the R18 e-tron quattro after we were able to make good use of the car’s strengths at Le Mans. That’ll hopefully help us in the battle for the title."

Allan McNish (42/GB), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2
-Is the runner-up in the drivers’ world championship standings together with his team-mate Tom Kristensen
-Has been to Bahrain several times but has never driven on the track there
"I think the race in Bahrain will be a lot different from our run in Brazil. With Le Mans, Silverstone and Interlagos, we’ve been experiencing a nice variety since June, and now something completely different is coming up again. Temperatures in the Middle East at this time of year can go up to 35 or 40 degrees. We’ll only be driving about an hour and a half or a maximum of two hours in daylight. But even when it’s dark the temperatures will hardly drop. I’m expecting a lot of the R18 e-tron quattro, which has been developed quite a bit further since Le Mans."

The Audi drivers in Bahrain

Marcel Fässler (CH): *May 27, 1976 in Einsiedeln (CH); residence: Gross (CH); married to Isabel, four daughters (Shana, Elin, Yael and Delia); height 1.78 m; weight 78 kg; Audi driver since 2008; Le Mans victories: 2; WEC races: 5; WEC victories: 2; WEC pole positions: 0; WEC fastest laps: 1; best result Bahrain: -

Tom Kristensen (DK): *Jul 07, 1967 in Hobro (DK); residence: Monaco (MC); single (partner: Hanne), two sons (Oliver and Oswald) and one daughter (Carla Marlou); height: 1.74 m; weight: 72 kg; Audi driver since 2000; Le Mans victories: 8; WEC races: 5; WEC victories: 1; WEC pole positions: 0; WEC fastest laps: 0; best result Bahrain: -

André Lotterer (D): *Nov 19, 1981 in Duisburg (D); residence: Tokyo (J); single; height 1.84 m; weight 74 kg; Audi driver since 2010; Le Mans victories: 2; WEC races: 5; WEC victories: 2; WEC pole positions: 2; WEC fastest laps: 1; best result Bahrain: -

Allan McNish (GB): *Dec 29, 1969 in Dumfries (GB); residence: Monaco (MC); married to Kelly, one son (Finlay), one daughter (Charlotte); height: 1.65 m; weight: 60 kg; Audi driver since 2000; Le Mans victories: 2; WEC races: 5; WEC victories: 1; WEC pole positions: 1; WEC fastest laps: 0; best result Bahrain: -

Benoît Tréluyer (F): *Dec 07, 1976 in Alençon (F); residence: Gordes (F); married to Melanie, 1 son (Jules); height 1.78 m; weight 68 kg; Audi driver since 2010; Le Mans victories: 2; WEC races: 5; WEC victories: 2; WEC pole positions: 1; WEC fastest laps: 0; best result Bahrain: -

All Bahrain winners

No races in a Le Mans Series have been held to date

Track info

Track length: 5.412 km
Race duration: 6 hours
Qualifying record on this track: -
Race record on this track: -
Pole position 2011: -
Fastest lap 2011: -

Marcel Fässler about Bahrain: "I’ve never been on the grid in Bahrain before but the impression I’ve gained from the media tells me that the track has quite a few special characteristics. The start-finish straight is more than a kilometer long, followed by a hard braking maneuver in front of the narrow first right-hand turn. After a small left-hander, we enter the next long straight. Then there’s a a right-hand turn followed by a downhill section with a fast S-turn. The next short straight leads into a narrow right-hand turn. Then we drive uphill and into a long left-hand bend that consists of a faster plus a very narrow turn. On the back-straight behind the pit lane, we drive through a quick left-right sequence which is followed by a right-hand corner. It leads into the last long straight at the end of which a sharp right-hander takes us back to the start and finish."

WEC drivers’ standings after 5 of 8 rounds
1 Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer, 114.5 points; 2 Kristensen/McNish, 107; 3 Capello, 77; 4 Dumas/Duval, 67; 5 Jani/Prost, 62,5; 6 Gené, 49; 7 Wurz/Lapierre, 44; 8 Heidfeld, 42.5; 9 Dalziel/Potolicchio, 41,5; 10 Primat/Belicchi, 34.5.

WEC manufacturers’ standings after 5 of 8 rounds
1 Audi, 147 points; 2. Toyota, 44.

Schedule (local times; CEST +1 hour)

Thursday, September 27
16:00-17:30 Free practice 1
20:30-22:00 Free practice 2

Friday, September 28
10:50-11:50 Free practice 3
16:30-16:50 Qualifying LMP1 & LMP2

Saturday, September 29
12:25-12:45 Warm-up
16:00-22:00 Race
22:15 FIA WEC press conference

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Audi aims to continue string of endurance race victories in England

Audi Sport Press Release

·         Le Mans winning trio on grid in Audi R18 e-tron quattro

·         Allan McNish shares R18 ultra with Tom Kristensen at home round

·         Competition of the concepts at Silverstone

Ingolstadt, August 17, 2012 - Audi is entering the crucial phase of the season with the momentum of three victories achieved by the R18. At Silverstone (Great Britain), the fourth of eight rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship will be held on August 26.
 
Sports car fans are looking forward to the upcoming race in the United Kingdom with eager anticipation. After Audi clinched its eleventh victory at Le Mans, and celebrated the first win of a hybrid vehicle, the next challenges are now to be tackled. For the first time in two decades, the FIA is sanctioning a world championship title for the sports car sector and this battle is now entering its crucial phase. Within the space of just nine weeks, the WEC is holding events in five countries on three continents, starting at Silverstone in Great Britain. 

There are several reasons that raise suspense to particularly high levels. No less than three different Audi driver squads have won the first three rounds - with three different versions of the R18 sports car. In addition, challenger Toyota showed a remarkable performance on its premiere at Le Mans, so that a tough duel can be expected in the second half of the season. 
 
There is a third thrilling aspect that makes the LMP sports cars particularly intriguing from a technological point of view. As the conditions for hybrid vehicles vary from track to track there is really no way of telling which concept will ultimately prevail. One of the reasons for this lies in the individual layouts of the various tracks and the other in the definitions by the FIA and WEC sporting authorities. For the 5.901-kilometer circuit at Silverstone, for instance, only four braking zones are planned in which the energy that is recovered in braking events may be released again.
 
Right at the beginning of the season, Audi decided to contest the rounds following the 24-hour race with a hybrid vehicle and a conventionally powered race car. After their second consecutive Le Mans victory, Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer are driving the R18 e-tron quattro hybrid sports car designated as car number "1." Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish, who are running as a duo, are switching to the cockpit of the Audi R18 ultra that will be marked as car number "2." With an advantage of only 6.5 points, they are leading the standings in front of the Le Mans winners.

For McNish, who has been victorious at Silverstone with Audi as many as three times, the fourth race of the season is a home round. And for Audi, the event is about clinching the first victory on this tradition-steeped track in four years. But Great Britain not only has high sporting value for the brand with the four rings, as the United Kingdom has continued to be its second-largest European sales market through the first half of 2012. 
 
Spectators watching the race on a screen have numerous information channels available to them. In addition to national TV broadcasts, www.audi-liveracing.com offers unique cockpit camera perspectives and consolidated race reports. Plus the Audi Sport iPhone app covers WEC reporting with tickers, news, pictures and results. 
 
Topics of the weekend
 
-How will the R18 e-tron quattro benefit from the Silverstone track and how the R18 ultra?
-How well will Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen adjust to the R18 ultra?
-How will the battle with Toyota develop?
-Which driver team will leave Silverstone as the leaders of the standings at the season’s midpoint?

Quotes by the officials

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): "At Silverstone, I’m expecting a very close battle with Toyota. We’ve analyzed the lap times at Le Mans. By applying this knowledge to the specific requirements at Silverstone we’ve got to assume that our opponent Toyota will probably be competing at a high level. So the question of who can deliver the better performance for six hours straight and stay clear of all trouble will be crucial."
 
Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest): "This is guaranteed to be a thrilling race. We’re again running with two concepts and we’ve got to wait and see which of these will be the better one at Silverstone. Toyota showed its capabilities for the first time this summer at Le Mans and lasted for a six-hour distance. It’s true that Audi has won all races so far but the competitive pressure is rising. Not even the manufacturers’ world championship has been decided yet, and the drivers’ championship is wide open. Our aim is to keep a clean slate at the season’s last European race."

Facts and quotes by the Audi drivers

Marcel Fässler (36/CH), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1
-In 2009, as the runner-up, achieved his best Silverstone result
-The Le Mans winner is contesting the remainder of the season with two team-mates
"I’m really happy to continue to drive the R18 e-tron quattro that we were so successful with at Le Mans. I’m very thankful for the opportunity to contest the entire championship. My team-mates and I won Le Mans for the second time. Now the next challenge is following. We want to battle for the title in this new championship because we’ve only got a deficit of 6.5 points. But with five rounds to go it’s still a long road."
 
André Lotterer (30/D), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1
-Has already scored two Le Mans victories
-Has been on pole twice in the first three races of the season
"We’re traveling to Silverstone with a very positive feeling. I’m pleased to be sharing the car with Benoît (Tréluyer) and Marcel (Fässler). We get on really well and are a team. It’s been a long break after Le Mans. I’m happy that there’s a world championship now as well. That’s another motivation boost. When I was racing at Silverstone in Formula 3 I was very familiar with the track but it has significantly changed since then. So I did my home work on my simulator. I’m hoping for us to be able to take the lead of the standings." 
 
Benoît Tréluyer (35/F), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1
-Celebrated his second Le Mans victory in June
-Has never contested a sports car race at Silverstone before
"I’m happy about the trust that is being placed in us. The Le Mans winning trio has been given the opportunity to contest the entire WEC season through to the finale for Audi and fight for the title. The season will be exciting because there are still five races on the calendar. However, I’m not familiar with all the tracks yet that we’ll be driving on. I’ve completed a large number of virtual laps at Silverstone on my new race simulator to optimally prepare myself. Now I’m really eager to see what the real track will be like."
 
Tom Kristensen (45/DK), Audi R18 ultra #2
-The eight-time Le Mans winner was victorious at the WEC opening race in March
-The leader of the standings is sharing the R18 ultra with Allan McNish for the first time
"After Le Mans, there’s been a summer break and now we’re moving forward again on the calendar. All the batteries have been recharged again. We’re leading the standings after Sebring, Spa and Le Mans. Allan (McNish) and I are now sharing an Audi R18 ultra. The battle between the concepts is a nice challenge. The race at Silverstone will no doubt be a thriller. It would be great to be in contention for the top spot on the podium at Allan’s home round."
 
Allan McNish (42/GB), Audi R18 ultra #2
-Has won his home round as many as three times
-Is traveling to Silverstone as leader of the WEC standings
-Started from the first row in the past two years
"Tom (Kristensen) and I are leading the drivers’ world championship. At my home round, before we’re traveling to Brazil, we are clearly aiming to build on our championship lead. Silverstone is a tricky track. You’ve got to master the quick turns but not lose any time in the slow corners either. The same goes for our technical crew."
 
The Audi drivers at Silverstone

Marcel Fässler (CH): *May 27, 1976 in Einsiedeln (CH); residence: Gross (CH); married to Isabel, four daughters (Shana, Elin, Yael and Delia); height 1.78 m; weight 78 kg; Audi driver since 2008; Le Mans victories: 2; WEC races: 3; WEC victories: 1; WEC pole positions: 0; WEC fastest laps: 1; best result Silverstone: 2
 
Tom Kristensen (DK): *Jul 07, 1967 in Hobro (DK); residence: Monaco (MC); single (partner: Hanne), two sons (Oliver and Oswald) and one daughter (Carla Malou); height: 1.74 m; weight: 72 kg; Audi driver since 2000; Le Mans victories: 8; WEC races: 3; WEC victories: 1; WEC pole positions: 0; WEC fastest laps: 0; best result Silverstone: 7
 
André Lotterer (D): *Nov 19, 1981 in Duisburg (D); residence: Tokyo (J); single; height 1.84 m; weight 74 kg; Audi driver since 2010; Le Mans victories: 2; WEC races: 3; WEC victories: 1; WEC pole positions: 2; WEC fastest laps: 1; best result Silverstone: -

Allan McNish (GB): *Dec 29, 1969 in Dumfries (GB); residence: Monaco (MC); married to Kelly, one son (Finlay), one daughter (Charlotte); height: 1.65 m; weight: 60 kg; Audi driver since 2000; Le Mans victories: 2; WEC races: 3; WEC victories: 1; WEC pole positions: 1; WEC fastest laps: 0; best result Silverstone: 1

Benoît Tréluyer (F): *Dec 07, 1976 in Alençon (F); residence: Gordes (F); married to Melanie, 1 son (Jules); height 1.78 m; weight 68 kg; Audi driver since 2010; Le Mans victories: 2; WEC races: 3; WEC victories: 1; WEC pole positions: 0; WEC fastest laps: 0; best result Silverstone: -
 
All Silverstone winners (since 2000)
 
2000 Müller/Lehto (BMW)
2004 McNish/Kaffer (Audi)
2005 McNish/Ortelli (Audi)
2007 Gené/Minassian (Peugeot)
2008 McNish/Capello (Audi)
2009 Panis/Lapierre (Oreca)
2010 Davidson/Minassian (Peugeot)
2011 Pagenaud/Bourdais (Peugeot)
 
Track info
 
Track length: 5.901 km 
Race duration: 6 hours
Qualifying record on this track: Allan McNish (Audi), Sep 11, 2010, 1m 43.475s (204.954 km/h)
Race record on this track: Nicolas Lapierre (Peugeot), Sep 12, 2010, 1m 44.338s (203.259 km/h)
Pole position 2011: Simon Pagenaud (Peugeot), Sep 10, 2011, 1m 43.924s (204.068 km/h)
Fastest lap 2011: Sébastien Bourdais (Peugeot), Sep 11, 2011, 1m 46.586s (198.972 km/h)

Allan McNish about Silverstone: "Silverstone is the epitome of motorsport in the UK for many visitors. My career in car racing started there as well. At that time, the former airfield was a high-speed facility. Since then, many sections have been modified, which has resulted in a very tricky track. On the one hand, a lot of the fast places, such as Copse, Maggotts and Becketts, have remained. The new first turn is fast as well. But there are several very slow corners too. You arrive at high speed but then the car has to be pleasant to drive even in very narrow places. Principally speaking, our cars were obviously optimized for Le Mans. But that’s a piece of this puzzle: you’ve got to master the fast turns but not lose any time in the slow corners either. This goes for us drivers as well as for the work of the technical crew that sets up our cars."
 
WEC drivers’ standings after 3 of 8 rounds
1 Capello/Kristensen/McNish, 77 points; 2 Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer, 70,5; 3 Dumas/Duval, 67; 4 Gené, 49; 5 Heidfeld/Jani/Prost, 42,5; 6 Dalziel/Potolicchio, 31,5; 7 Dumbreck/Chandhok/Brabham, 22,5; 8 Ayari/Kaffer/Companc 20,5; 9 Bernhard, 18; 10 Kimber-Smith, 16.

WEC manufacturers’ standings after 3 of 8 rounds
1 Audi, 103 points, 2 Toyota, 0.
 
Schedule (local times; CET - 1 hour)

Friday, August 24
11:30-13:00 Free practice 1
16:00-17:30 Free practice 2
 
Saturday, August 25
11:00-12:00 Free practice 3
15:20-15:40 Qualifying LMP1 & LMP2
 
Sunday, August 26
08:55-09:15 Warm-up
12:00-18:00 Race
Approx. 18:15 FIA WEC press conference

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Audi vs Toyota duel to resume, WEC Silverstone entry list

By Johan Laubshcer

Many people had doubted the potential performance of the new Toyota Racing TS030 before Le Mans. After the testing accident and subsequent withdrawal from Spa, few had high hopes for a good showing at the Le Mans debut. But Toyota surprised everyone at Le Mans with very competitive pace and even pressurising the Audi team during the first quarter of the Le Mans 24 Hours race.

The new duel of Audi versus Toyota is set to continue for the rest of the year. Both manufactures are committed to the rest of the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship. The top three cars of the WEC series will be spread over three different models. One Audi R18 e-tron quattro, one Audi R18 ultra and one Toyota TS030 will do battle in the remainder of the season.

Audi announced the names of its driver squads a day ahead of the provisional entry list being published by the FIA. It is a healthy thirty-seven car field that will race at Silverstone on August 26 with two Audis amongst the list.

Audi driver line up:

#1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro - Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer, Benoît Treluyer

#2 Audi R18 ultra - Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish

WEC Silverstone entry list:

More information:

FIA WEC website

FIA WEC FB page

WEC Silverstone entry list

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