Audi celebrates their Le Mans Series success
Audi
Peugeot
Charouz
Porsche
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Audi
Angolstadt/Silverstone -- After the triumph at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the early title win in the American Le Mans Series, AUDI AG performed another feat with the Audi R10 TDI diesel sportscar: At the 1000-kilometre race at Silverstone (Great Britain), Audi Sport Team Joest -- clinching victory as well as fourth place -- secured also the champion's title in the European Le Mans Series (LMS).
In front of a record turnout of 53,000 spectators (throughout the weekend) Dindo Capello (Italy) and Allan McNish (Scotland) at the season's finale scored the first victory of the Audi R10 TDI, which is powered by over 650 hp, in the Le Mans Series. For Alexandre Premat (France) and Mike Rockenfeller (Germany) a fourth place at Silverstone was sufficient to win the drivers' title in the LM P1 class. The LMS manufacturers' and team titles went to Audi as well.
From the outset, the two Audi R10 TDI cars of Audi Sport Team Joest were able to keep the pace of the two Peugeot 908s in the race and put the French diesel sportscars under massive pressure. As a result, Peugeot driver Nicolas Minassian in a duel with Allan McNish spun as early as in the first turn and later retired due to an accident.
After the premature end of the race for their only remaining rivals in the fight for the drivers' title, Alexandre Premat and Mike Rockenfeller would have merely needed a sixth-place finish to win the title. The two youngsters were leading the race most of the time, did not take any unnecessary risks and were heading for the title win when they were forced to make an unscheduled pit stop 20 minutes before race end due to a defect on the right rear suspension. Thanks to a quick repair the car bearing number 2 in the race lost only four laps.
A slight contact and a stop-and-go penalty due to overtaking under a yellow flag caused some additional drama on the final laps. In the end, Premat/Rockenfeller crossed the finish line in fourth place, though, and thus secured the champion's title.
Another nerve-racking experience was the victory drive of Dindo Capello and Allan McNish. Due to a quicker pit stop Audi Sport Team Joest in the second hour of the race managed moving their R10 TDI past the previously leading Peugeot. When Peugeot driver Stephane Sarrazin after a safety car period tried overtaking Capello on the outside in turn 1, he turned in too early and collided with the Audi. Capello together with Sarrazin spun off the track, losing three laps in the gravel trap and due to a cut tyre.
From 17th place, Capello and McNish managed to make up ground again with consistently fast lap times, a good strategy and perfect pit stops to take the lead again 20 minutes before race end. This locked in the first victory of the Audi R10 TDI in the LMS as well as Audi's title win in the manufacturers' classification.
Quotes after the race at Silverstone
Dr Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): "That was a placatory end of a difficult championship. We're proud to have won the Le Mans Series straight in our first year against such strong rivals. Maybe we dreamt that we'd be going home from here with race victory and the championship title but it was hard work. The whole team did a great job. The pit stops and the strategy were very good and the boys drove a constantly fast pace. We were at the level of our strongest rivals who took themselves out of the race due to accidents, and we made the maximum of the situation. Well done to the whole squad!"
Dindo Capello (Audi R10 TDI #1): "First of all, congratulations to our team-mates Alex (Premat) and 'Rocky' on their well-deserved title win. For Allan (McNish) and me it was a nice end of the Le Mans Series. We were fast at the first four races as well but always had some kind of problems. After the accident with Stephane Sarrazin, in which I feel -- 101 per cent -- that I was not at fault, I thought that this race was over for us as well. But we never gave up. Seasoned drivers, an experienced team and a great car make for a good combination to win a race which -- just like Le Mans -- seemed to have been lost already on paper. This race showed that people with a lot of will power and commitment can make the seemingly impossible possible. That's why Allan and I are proud to be part of this fantastic team. Audi won Le Mans, the ALMS and the LMS. Now I'm firmly keeping my fingers crossed for Audi to win the DTM title as well."
Allan McNish (Audi R10 TDI #1): "I believe that Dindo (Capello) and I deserve this victory, and so does everyone in the team -- both the exploit at the finale and the champion's title. We fought hard this year. For Dindo and me things weren't always going as well as they should have. We had incidents when we were in the position to win races. I think 24 hours ago nobody would have expected Audi to win the race and the manufacturer's title and 'Rocky' and Alex (Premat) the drivers' title. Audi has had a clean sweep in sportscar racing this season: Le Mans, the American Le Mans Series and the now the Le Mans Series. A great year for Audi Sport."
Alexandre Premat (Audi R10 TDI #2): "It's simply fantastic for everyone in the team and of course for 'Rocky' and I. I think we did a good job all weekend as well as thoughout the year. The race was tough. Up to the final lap we were on edge because 20 minutes before the end of the race we had a damaged suspension. That was close! Fortunately, the mechanics did a great job yet again. Thank you, Audi. Thank you, Team Joest. Thank you also to Allan (McNish) and Dindo (Capello) from whom we were able to learn a lot this year."
Mike Rockenfeller (Audi R10 TDI #2): "I always believed that we could make it -- and now it's come true. In a championship you've got to consistently score good points and we did that at the first four races. And today we scored the necessary points as well. Of course we'd have liked to win this race. But I'm extremely happy that our 'sister car' clinched this exploit here for Audi. Allan (McNish) and Dindo (Capello) had a lot of misfortune this year. Audi won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the last race of the LMS and the championship -- it's hard to top that. For Alex and me it was very important to clinch this title."
Ralf Juttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest): "That was a strange and difficult race. Previous races already showed that Peugeot tends to make mistakes when they're under pressure. In my opinion, the Peugeot drivers clearly made mistakes here. Perhaps they got a little nervous because they didn't manage to drive away from us. After number 7 was out of the race, Alex (Premat) and 'Rocky' were able to drive very cautiously. Fortunately, we managed to eliminate the technical problem quickly. In the end, they only missed third place by a few seconds. But that doesn't matter: they're the champions and Allan (McNish) and Dindo (Capello) have won the race. The two pushed like hell and deserve this win. A fantastic result for Audi!"
Peugeot
At the end of a closely fought season, the results of Team Peugeot Total provide abundant proof of the intrinsic competitiveness of the car, the drivers and the team itself. Peugeot scored four wins from the five LMS races including a one-two finish, two cars on the podium at Le Mans, with three cars finishing the race, and every pole position this season, including the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Following a hard-fought battle with the competition today at Silverstone, the N°7 908 HDi FAP crashed out of the race through contact with a slower competitor. The second 908 HDi FAP, with Stéphane Sarrazin at the wheel, collided with the N°1 Audi after having overtaken it. The car returned to the pits for repairs to a broken wishbone, hydraulic line, water radiator and rear crash box. Sarrazin restarted 25 minutes later, and went on a charge in order to climb back through the field. He broke the fastest race lap six times, finally leaving it at 1m 31.166s. It once again demonstrated the high level of performance of the team’s engineers and technicians, as well as underlining the mechanical quality of the car.
2008 was a second extremely hard-fought season against a competitor which has been competing in endurance racing for a decade. Team Peugeot Total claimed major wins throughout an exciting championship, which was characterised by the unstinting competition between two major players in world motorsport.
In 2009, Peugeot’s motivation to win in the Le Mans Series and at the Le Mans 24 Hours will be as great as ever.
Furthermore, Peugeot has once again proven that it is at the cutting edge of automotive technology, as the first manufacturer use top-level motorsport to introduce and develop a hybrid competition car: the 908 Hy.
When the 2009 season begins, all Peugeot will be right behind Peugeot Sport, supporting the team throughout what promises to be another compelling season.
Peugeot's European season had an undignified and sad end
Charouz
Charouz Racing System finished second in Silverstone!
The Charouz Racing System scored a great result in the last race of the Le Mans Series 2008. They finished second both overall and in the LMP1 class in the 1000 km race at Silverstone. The crew Jan Charouz and Stefan Mucke finished fifth in the championship which belongs to the biggest successes of the Czech motorsport.
The Czech team with the Aston Martin powered LMP1 prototype was once again clearly the best petrol powered car and was beaten only by favoured turbodiesel. Today's race brought second podium finish for the team, as Antonin Charouz's team was third in the season opener at Barcelona.
Stefan, who qualified the car yesterday, started the race. He put in performance which everyone expects from him now. He dominated the petrol cars and tried to attack competitors ahead. He managed to get through two worrying moments, first went lights off and then one of slower cars drove him out of the road. Also Jan did a great job. He even led the race before the mid point and although he conceded the place to one of the Audis he stayed within three, four seconds through next hour.
The Charouz Racing System car was later delayed after a check of the damaged car caused be a collision with a slower car but fortunately everything was okay and they could continue. When Stefan got back behind the wheel he also managed to keep a quick pace and improved to second overall and also in the LMP1 class. The team equalized its best result in two years in the Le Mans Series, after Jan Charouz, Stefan Mucke and Alex Yoong were second at Valencia last year. The team used an open prototype last year.
Jan Charouz: "It is always nice to be on the podium and especially after such a hard fight like today. We not only confirmed the fact that we are fastest petrol car today but we also beat three turbodiesels, they did various mistakes. We put in consistent lap times with Stefan and it was very important. One slower car damaged the bodywork when I was overtaking him but fortunately it was not a serious problem. It was one of the biggest races for me and I am very happy that we pleased Czech fans with such result. I would also like to invite them to Brno next week when I will drive in the Czech D4 class."
Stefan Mucke: "It was something, was it? A great result and a great team work, so big thanks to the guys. I had two scary moments. The lights simply went off and then with one slower car. I hit him lightly under braking and had to go off to avoid him but it was not serious. I think that it is a really big success to be twice on podium in such strong field and I regard it highly. Like Jan, I will drive at Brno and would be happy to meet Czech fans."
Antonin Charouz, Team Principal: "I am overjoyed. Such result is a great way to finish the season. It was an amazing view when we were ran in the same pace like Audi turbodiesel in the middle of the race. I was few times worried - small collision or wiring problem- but we overcame them and we pleased not only ourselves but I believe also Czech fans. Thanks to the whole team for a perfect job through the season."
George Howard-Chappell, Technical Director of Aston Martin Racing: "Today's result of the LMP1 Aston Martin powered prototype is fantastic. Congratulations to both drivers. It was a good season. Furthermore, Aston Martin Racing also enjoyed a great weekend. Not only thanks to the success of the Charouz Racing System but also thanks to wins in the FIA GT Championship and Europeas FIA GT3 Championship at Brno and last but not least thanks to Team Modena LMGT1 win here at Silverstone. We can not forget debut of the Aston Martin Vantage, the car scored points on the British track today."
Porsche
Stuttgart. It was a season final made to measure: The gripping last race of the Le Mans Series (LMS) in Silverstone ended with a double victory for the Porsche RS Spyder in the LMP2 class. Jos Verstappen and Peter van Merksteijn (Netherlands) claimed the fourth win of the season for the Van Merksteijn Motorsport team on the British Grand Prix circuit. Second in the 476 hp sports prototype from Weissach went to Fredy Lienhard (Switzerland), Jan Lammers (Netherlands) and Didier Theys (Belgium) of the Swiss Horag Racing squad. The Danish Essex pilots John Nielsen and Casper Elgaard secured sixth after a sensational charge through the field. With this result, the RS Spyder teams, Van Merksteijn, Essex and Horag occupy positions one, two and three in the LMP2 team championship – and Porsche ranks a clear first in the manufacturers' classification. There was also good reason to celebrate in the near-standard GT2 class. Claiming second at the final race, Marc Lieb (Germany) and Alex Davison (Australia) secured vice-championship honours.
The LMP2 double victory in Great Britain is the crowning of a highly successful maiden season for the RS Spyder in the hands of European customer teams – with wins at the season-opener in Barcelona and on the Nürburgring as well as triple victory in Monza and Spa.
“In all my career, I've never experienced such a fantastic season,” said a grinning Jos Verstappen. “At the first tests with the RS Spyder almost a year ago I said that I'd never driven a better car. And our fantastic car was the key to success today. It was huge fun, especially on this circuit with its extremely fast corners.” The ex-Formula 1 driver, who already claimed the LMP2 drivers' title at the penultimate round on the Nürburgring, can be proud of his achievement. Together with Peter van Merksteijn, he celebrated three victories and one second place (Monza) and in the Eifel he won with his compatriot Jeroen Bleekemolen. The Dutch trio also triumphed in Le Mans mid-June. At the prestigious 24 hour classic, the Van Merksteijn pilots netted first place in the LMP2 class.
It was with mixed feelings that Fredy Lienhard climbed the podium in Silverstone. After the final race of the LMS, the Swiss entrepreneur hung up his helmet after a good 40 years of motorsport as hobby racer – and this on his 61st birthday. “The RS Spyder is a dream,” said Lienhard. “It's wonderful to have driven such a car in my final active year of racing. And second at the last race is a great way to finish my career.” For Horag Racing it marked the third podium result of the season after claiming third in Monza and second in Spa. “The race was not easy,” summarised Jan Lammers. “After countless accidents, spins and offs the track was dirty and slippery. You certainly had to keep your wits about you.”
Satisfied with second in the team classification, but disappointed about missing out of a podium result aptly describes the mood in the Danish Essex camp. From fifth on the grid, Casper Elgaard fought his way through the field with his blue RS Spyder in the first race hour and delivered a spirited duel with Xavier Pompidou (Lola-Judd) for second. In the 62nd lap the two-time Danish touring car champion lost his front wheel. “Luckily I realised that something was not quite right and braked,” said Elgaard. “So I avoided an accident. But by the time I made it back to the pits and could take up the race again we'd lost seven laps to Jos Verstappen and were at the back of the pack.” After a breathtaking charge through the field, Elgaard and 1990 Le Mans winner John Nielsen claimed a sensational sixth. After three third placings and a win in Monza, this was the first time the Danes did not climb the podium.
Porsche works driver Marc Lieb (Germany) and Alex Davison (Australia) secured the vice-championship title in the GT2 class with their 911 GT3 RSR after claiming second in Silverstone. It was the fourth second place result for the Felbermayr-Proton team at the fifth round of the series – and the second straight runner-up title for 28-year-old Lieb, who won the GT2 championship in 2005 and 2006. Extremely bad luck plagued factory driver Richard Lietz (Austria) after qualifying second. He was sitting in a promising second when a competitor catapulted him from the circuit. The hefty collision into the wall signalled an early retirement for Lietz and his team mate Raymond Narac (France, Team IMSA Performance Matmut). “A real shame,” said Lietz. “Our 911 was running like a dream. We would have loved to finish the season with a podium result.”