Congratulations from the team for win number 8
Taking the Lead
Leading in the Rain
Taking the Win
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Taking the Lead
Ingolstadt/Le Mans – With consistency and efficiency Audi has taken the lead during the third hour of the Le Mans 24-Hour race. At 6 p.m., the #2 Audi R10 TDI driven by Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish held a 35.7-second lead of the second placed Peugeot.
The Peugeots were setting the faster times in the opening stages of the race. During the first three hours, however, the Audi R10 TDI cars were increasing their pace. Also, they were able to stretch out twelve laps of a tank of Shell V-Power Diesel while the competition had to stop one lap earlier every time – another proof for the efficiency and the low fuel consumption of the Audi TDI technology.
As usual, Audi Sport Team Joest showed perfect pit-stops allowing Allan McNish to take the lead for the first time shortly after 5 p.m. The Scotsman completed four stints in a row before handing over the R10 TDI to Dindo Capello after 2:45 hours.
Lucas Luhr stayed as long at the wheel of the Audi R10 TDI with starting number 3 which was running in fourth position at 6 p.m. On the #1 Audi R10 TDI, the front bodywork had to be changed at the third pit stop. Despite that, last year’s winners were able to improve from seventh on the grid to position five.
Leading in the Rain
Ingolstadt/Le Mans – The battle between Audi and Peugeot keeps thrilling the spectators at the Le Mans 24 Hours. During the night, Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish remained in contact to the leading Peugeot before they retook the lead in the early morning hours when it started to rain.
On the wet track, the Audi R10 TDI cars were a class of their own on early Sunday morning. Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish were able to put almost a full lap on the second placed Peugeot 908. Shortly after 9:30 a.m. Dindo Capello lapped the Peugeot.
The two other Audi R10 TDI prototypes threatened the third placed Peugeot in the rain. Five hours before the end of the race, the top five was covered by just two laps.
Audi Sport Team Joest’s three Audi R10 TDI cars continued to run without any technical problems throughout the whole night. All pit stops were perfect, and the Audi drivers were almost faultless in the difficult conditions.
When the rain started, it paid off that Audi had opted for a set-up which was a good compromise for both a dry and a wet track and that the Audi R10 TDI is good to drive in the rain. The Audi drivers also enjoyed a better view in their open cockpit compared to the competitors in the closed cars.
The 76th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours will definitely make it into the history books as one of the most exciting and will end on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. Audi has the chance to clinch a second hat-trick after 2000, 2001 and 2002: three Le Mans victories in a row with the same team. Since the year 2000, Audi technology is undefeated at Le Mans.
The Radical was able to share in Audi's glory but make no mistake, it was Audi's day
Taking the Win
Ingolstadt/Le Mans – The Audi R10 TDI remains unbeaten in the Le Mans 24 Hour race: in its third attempt, the diesel sportscar won the French endurance classic yet again. After the incredible thrill of the 76th edition of the race, Dindo Capello (Italy), Tom Kristensen (Denmark) and Allan McNish (Scotland) triumphed at the wheel of the Audi R10 TDI number 2.
The widely anticipated duel between Audi and Peugeot definitely kept its promise: in front of a record crowd of 258,500 spectators, the two car manufacturers entered into a thrilling battle with their diesel sportscars which Audi finally won by a margin of 4m 31s.
During the entire race distance, the winning Audi R10 TDI and the best Peugeot 908 was never separated by more than a lap. After Peugeot initially set the pace, both the reliability and efficiency of the Audi R10 TDI gained the upper hand at night. After rain set in at Le Mans, Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish took the lead at 05:17 and held it until the finish at 15:00 hours.
On a rain-soaked track, the Audi drivers fully profited from the superiority of Audi TDI Power and led the field by a margin of one lap. In addition, they took advantage of the fact that Audi Sport Team Joest had entered the race with a set-up that was the best compromise for both dry and wet track surfaces. Whilst the opposition had to change their cars during the race to a rain set-up, Audi only needed to change tyres.
Changing tyres, however, was an exercise that was practiced frequently as the conditions changed throughout the second half of the race owing to the weather. Slicks, intermediates, and rain tyres – it was crucial to take the most suitable tyres at the correct time.
Audi Sport Team Joest and the Audi drivers fully exploited their experience and operated faultlessly. The only frightening moment occurred in the dramatic final phase when there was a collision between the leading car and a backmarker involving the innocent Tom Kristensen. In that situation, the sheer strength of the Audi R10 TDI became visible as well. The car ran faultlessly without the slightest technical lapse during the 24 hours.
Scotsman Allan McNish scored his second Le Mans victory after his inaugural 1998 triumph – 2008 being his first win with Audi. Tom Kristensen, from Denmark, extended his existing record to eight Le Mans victories now. Italian Dindo Capello won for the third time after 2003 and 2004.
For Audi Sport Team Joest, it was the third successive victory with the Audi R10 TDI. Thus, a hat-trick has been achieved for the second time after 2000, 2001 and 2002: three Le Mans victories achieved by one team. The Le Mans winners’ trophy that normally needs to be returned 12 months after each single victory is therefore in the possession of AUDI AG for good.
The other two Audi R10 TDI cars finished fourth and sixth. Youngsters Lucas Luhr, Alexandre Prémat and Mike Rockenfeller were in contention for a podium finish until shortly before the end and had previously occupied third place. In the penultimate hour of the race, however, the oil filter of their V12 TDI engine had to be changed.
Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Marco Werner also encountered bad luck: the winning trio of 2006 and 2007 lost all chances for a better result on Sunday morning when a clutch had to be changed owing to a spin and the subsequent re-start in second gear.
In its tenth attempt, Audi has won the Le Mans 24 Hour race for the eighth time. Since 2000, Audi technology has been victorious at Le Mans. "This was a success of drivers, team and the efficiency of the Audi TDI technology – a triumph of reliability”, said Rupert Stadler, Head of the Board of Management of AUDI AG who followed the race at Le Mans personally in the Audi pit garage. "It was the most tense Le Mans race I remember. We had a very strong opponent who had an extremely fast car. But once more, it became obvious that Le Mans particularly rewards reliability and efficiency. I am proud of this team. And every Audi employee and customer can be proud, too.”