Audi R18 e-tron quattro Makes History: 12-Hours at Sebring
Audi R18
Published by Autobahn Buzz (Audi R18)
Ingolstadt/Sebring, March 15, 2013– The Audi R18 e-tron quattro echos great pride on its first auto racing dedication in the United States. In getting the 12-hour race at Sebring (Florida) both hybrid race vehicles from Audi Sport Team Joest plainly topped the previous qualifying performance history.
In the cabins of both Audi R18 e-tron quattro vehicles, Marcel Fässler (CH) and Allan McNish (GB) fought a close battle for the leading spot on the grid in the 15-minute qualifying session on Friday mid-day. Eventually, the Swiss with a razor-thin benefit of 0.009 secs dominated versus his Scottish team-mate. The two-time Le Mans winner and present World Endurance Champion took his very first pole position in a Le Mans prototype plus his very first one as an Audi factory driver.
Fässler on his fourth flying lap handled setting a time of 1m 43.886 s. The Audi racer hence defeated the fastest time of the conventionally powered Audi R18 TDI from in 2012 by almost 2 secs– as well as the previous certifying monitor record specified by Marco Werner in 2007 in the Audi R10 TDI (1m 44.974 s).
At the– provisionally– last last run of an LMP1 sports cars at Sebring, Fässler is discussing the cockpit of a 2012-specification R18 along with Oliver Jarvis (GIGABYTES) and Benoît Tréluyer (F). Lucas di Grassi (BR), Tom Kristensen (DK) and Allan McNish (GB) are driving the 2013-specification Audi R18 e-tron quattro that is celebrating its racing debut in Florida and completed preliminary examination laps in its most present setup on Monday. A collision by Allan McNish in Thursday morning’s free of cost technique cost valuable track time.
In turn 1, Audi is exhibiting four of its Sebring-winning cars this weekend break. In addition to the Audi factory drivers who are energetic at Sebring, four Sebring winners– Frank Biela (D), Dindo Capello (I), Emanuele Pirro (I) and Marco Werner (D)– are on location.
The 61st running of the 12-hour race at Sebring will certainly start on Saturday at 10:30, regional time (15:30 CET).
Audi R18 Team Quotes after qualifying
Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “Qualifying was a thrilling wedding due to the fact that both of our automobiles were constantly extremely close with each other. The race however will reveal us though that the spaces will not remain as comfortable.
Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest): “Qualifying yet again revealed what we’ve been seeing below the whole time. That’s good and assures a thrilling race.
Marcel Fässler (Audi R18 e-tron quattro # 1): “It was a really nice sensation to go up out of the auto and see my label at the really top of the moment screen. It was another extremely close battle between Allan (McNish) and me– present I came out on best ultimately. In addition to a thrilling certifying session, this is clearly an excellent starting foundation for the race on Saturday.”.
Oliver Jarvis (Audi R18 e-tron quattro # 1): “I like motorsport in the USA. There’s so much that could take place in a 12-hour race– not just with regard to our sibling auto yet also pertaining to the remainder of the competition.”.
Benoît Tréluyer (Audi R18 e-tron quattro # 1): “Simply great! I like this monitor and the individual setting here at Sebring. Marcel (Fässler), Oliver (Jarvis) and I simply feel comfortable as a team of three– in the car similar to in the pits and off the track. It was enjoyable to enjoy Marcel in certifying. He gave every little thing and then acquired out of the car within a big grin.”.
Lucas di Grassi (Audi R18 e-tron quattro # 2): “This is my initial ever before race weekend in the USA. For the time being, this will certainly be Audi’s last run listed here at Sebring and that makes it a really special occasion.
Tom Kristensen (Audi R18 e-tron quattro # 2): “I’ve obtained to confess that I feel a little bit of unhappiness thinking regarding all the years and the races we experienced here at Sebring. We’re doing not have a bit of steering time from Thursday plus I only showed up at Sebring at the last moment– still, I’m certain that we’ve got an excellent possibility of gaining listed here on Audi’s last run.”.
Allan McNish (Audi R18 e-tron quattro # 2): “What a qualifying session! Although we anticipated it to turn into a duel between the 2 Audi cars we wouldn’t have believed that the outcome would certainly be this close. The conditions on the monitor have continually improved because the other day to make sure that I had the ability to actually push.”.
In the cabins of the 2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro vehicles, Marcel Fässler (CH) and Allan McNish (GIGABYTE) combated a close battle for the leading area on the grid in the 15-minute qualifying session on Friday mid-day. Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “Qualifying was a thrilling occasion due to the fact that both of our vehicles were always extremely close with each other. Marcel Fässler (Audi R18 e-tron quattro # 1): “It was a really nice feeling to go up out of the car and see my name at the really leading of the time monitor. Lucas di Grassi (Audi R18 e-tron quattro # 2): “This is my first ever race weekend break in the USA. Tom Kristensen (Audi R18 e-tron quattro # 2): “I’ve obtained to accept that I feel a little bit of sadness believing regarding all the years and the races we experienced here at Sebring.
The starting grid at Sebring
1 Fässler/Jarvis/Tréluyer (Audi R18 e-tron quattro) 1m 43.886s
2 di Grassi/Kristensen/McNish (Audi R18 e-tron quattro) 1m 43.895s
3 Prost/Heidfeld/Jani (Lola-Toyota) 1m 46.456s
4 Graf/Luhr/Dumas (HPD-Honda) 1m 46.478s
5 Beche/Cheng/Belicchi (Lola-Toyota) 1m 46.689s
6 Dyson/Smith/Leitzinger (Lola-Mazda) 1m 48.407s
7 Tucker/Franchitti/Briscoe (HPD-Honda) 1m 51.159s
8 Tucker/Hunter-Reay/Pagenaud (HPD-Honda) 1m 51.271s
9 Kimber-Smith/Zugel/Lux (Zytek) 1m 51.366s
10 Sharp/Cosmo/Brabham (HPD-Honda) 1m 52.703s
