Le Mans 24 Hours: Audi celebrates one-two-three result
Premiere at the Le Mans 24 Hours: At the 80th running of the endurance classic, a vehicle with hybrid drive won for the first time. After 378 laps, the Audi R18 e-tron quattro driven by Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer and fitted with a clutch from ZF crossed the finish line as the winner. By seeing the chequered flag as the runners-up behind last year’s winners Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish caused a one-two victory of the new Audi R18 e-tron quattro.
The four Audi R18 cars of Audi Sport Team Joest were the quickest and most reliable vehicles in the field that saw the lead change several times. An accident by Allan McNish three hours before the end of the race meant the preliminary decision of victory. The two conventionally powered Audi R18 ultra cars occupied positions three and five. Clutch modules from ZF operate in each of the Audi brand’s Le Mans prototypes. Maximum loads occur after each pit stop when the engines deliver their extreme torque.
Results, Le Mans 24 Hours, June 16–17, 2012:
1 M. Fässler/A. Lotterer/B. Tréluyer, Audi, 24h 01m 16.128s, ZF
2 R. Capello/T. Kristensen/A. McNish, Audi, - 1 lap, ZF
3 M. Bonanomi/O. Jarvis/M. Rockenfeller, Audi, - 3 laps, ZF
4 N. Prost/N. Jani/N. Heidfeld, Lola-Toyota, - 11 laps
5 R. Dumas/L. Duval/M. Gené, Audi, - 12 laps, ZF
6 D. Brabham/K. Chandhok/P. Dumbreck, Honda, - 21 laps
7 V. Potolicchio/R. Dalziel/T. Kimber-Smith, Honda, - 24 laps
8 P. Thiriet/M. Beche/C. Tinseau, Oreca-Nissan, - 25 laps
9 L. Perez-Companc/P. Kaffer/S. Ayari, Oreca-Nissan, - 26 laps
10 P. Ragues/N. Panciatici/R. Rusinov, Oreca-Nissan, - 27 laps