WEC São Paulo: Audi successful in Brazil
ZF Partner Audi continues to be tipped for success. After four races of the season, the brand with the four rings has remained unbeaten at Interlagos near São Paulo. In Brazil, the number ‘1’ Audi R18 e-tron quattro that was again shared by the title defenders Marcel Fässler (CH), André Lotterer (D), Benoît Tréluyer (F) was victorious. The Le Mans winners Loïc Duval (F), Tom Kristensen (DK), Allan McNish (GB) in the second Audi R18 e-tron quattro were struck by misfortune though. The sister car of the winners lost a wheel after a pit stop and was forced to sit two stop-and-go penalties afterward. ZF equips both Audi sports prototypes with high-tech clutches.
Audi challenger Toyota, another ZF partner, was hit even harder. The only TS030 fielded by the Japanese manufacturer in Brazil retired early following a lapping accident in which the driver was not at fault. This paved the way for an uncontested Audi one-two victory. The next race of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) will be held at Austin, Texas, on September 22.
Result São Paulo (BR), round 4, WEC, 31/08–01/09 2013:
1. Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer, Audi, 24:01.16,436 Std., ZF
2. Kristensen/Duval/McNish, Audi, - 1 Rd., ZF
3. Prost/Heidfeld/Beche, Lola-Toyota, - 5 Rd.
4. Rusinov/Martin/Conway, Oreca 03-Nissan, - 13 Rd.
5. Baguette/Gonzales/Plowman, Morgan-Nissan, - 14 Rd.
6. Perez-Companc/Minassian/Kaffer, Oreca 03-Nissan, - 14 Rd
7. Zügel/Jeanette/Wirdheim, Zytek-Nissan, - 18 Rd.
8. Nicolet/Merlin/Ihara, Morgan-Nissan, - 21 Rd.
9. Bruni/Fisichella, Ferrari F458 Italia, - 23 Rd.
10. Mücke/Turner, Staon Martin Vantage V8, - 23 Rd.