LMS: Audi R18 TDI drivers on 1000k of Spa results |  |
| LMS: Audi R18 TDI drivers on 1000k of Spa results Posted: 09 May 2011 08:15 PM PDT Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “Naturally, the result of the race at Spa is disappointing for us because the Audi R18 TDI was clearly beaten below its potential on its debut. We were on a par with Peugeot in terms of pure speed but there were simply too may small things that went wrong – and unfortunately with all three cars. That was certainly frustrating. We’ll take home the positive finding of having a fast car that we’ll have to make better use of though. We’ve learned a lot today in racing conditions. Now we’ve got to put these findings into action before Le Mans.” Dindo Capello (Audi R18 TDI #3): “It was a difficult race for me. On my first stint I was really struggling with the car. The front didn’t have any bite at all. I had the feeling that there was way too little downforce or a lot of pick-up on the front tires. It was strange that the car was suddenly feeling normal again toward the end of my second stint. That was a bit confusing.” Tom Kristensen (Audi R18 TDI #3): “That was an action-packed weekend. We had a few problems in the race at first. But the car kept getting better after we adjusted the tire pressure. I was on the advance when I started suffering a slow puncture. Unfortunately, I had to drive a whole lap with this handicap but managed to bring the car to the pits safely. That wasn’t easy but (our engineer) Howden (Haynes) did a fantastic job and kept telling me the pressure levels over the radio. Still, the slow puncture destroyed our race because toward the end we had to make an additional pit stop to refuel. That I was ‘kissed’ by a GT vehicle just about at the same time I had the flat tire almost made no difference any more.” Allan McNish (Audi R18 TDI #3): “A podium is always a good result, also with a view toward the championship. But to be honest: It’s a bit frustrating dropping to third place after starting from one, two and three on the grid due to minor problems. The Audi R18 TDI was competitive at its first race from the outset. It was a very close battle between us and Peugeot during some of the phases. Unfortunately, in the end it didn’t turn out in our favor.” Timo Bernhard (Audi R18 TDI #1): “That was a very tough race today. The positive thing about it is that we can take a lot of things with us with respect to Le Mans because it was a test in racing conditions. Our car was lacking a bit of racing luck today. That was a shame because in the beginning I was definitely in contention. I was running in second and third place the whole time, everything was right, actually. But then an LMP2 unfortunately touched the rear of my car, which damaged the rear hood. Things like this can happen in a field of 55 cars.” Romain Dumas (Audi R18 TDI #1): “That was a pretty crazy day. We were strong throughout the weekend. Qualifying was great and we were running really well for the first hour and a half of the race. We had a fantastic battle with our main rival. Unfortunately, we lost ground due a lot of small things which made the difference in the end. The race at Spa didn’t go well for us. Last year it was similar here – and instead Le Mans was all the better.” Mike Rockenfeller (Audi R18 TDI #1): “We had pretty high expectations before the race. Timo (Bernhard) fought a great battle at the beginning. Up to the incident with the LMP things were looking really good. We changed the rear lid but decided against replacing the whole rear body part although the damage was more extensive. That made the car extremely difficult to drive for Romain (Dumas) and me. Actually, we were just rolling around. I still tried to save diesel fuel but that didn’t really work out either. The positive thing is that we’ve learned a lot. And we were competitive. If we eliminate the mistakes for Le Mans our prospects should be pretty good.” Marcel Fassler (Audi R18 TDI #2): “My car had oversteer. The aerodynamic balance had shifted somehow. The second stint in particular was difficult. I had three hairy moments, one in Blanchimont and two in Eau Rouge. That forced me to realize that it didn’t make any sense to continue to attack. In the end, I reduced my pace. There was no danger from behind and there was nothing I could do to push forward. For me, it was simply important to bring the car home.” Andre Lotterer (Audi R18 TDI #2): “The start was great. I had a good lead. Things were beginning to get more difficult when the tires started becoming more slippery. That allowed the others to come closer again. The fight with the Peugeot was pretty nice. At the pit stop we lost some time because we had to push the car back. I was able to attack again afterward and make up some ground to the Peugeot. But ‘Ben’ subsequently suffered a huge amount of misfortune with some really strange things. Twice he had an enormous amount of pick-up on his tires. We’ve still got to get a handle on a large number of minor issues before Le Mans to be well set there.” Benoît Treluyer (Audi R18 TDI #2): “The car was really good before we started having the pick-up problem. I had to make an unscheduled pit stop and shortly afterward it happened again. The pick-up was probably due to the fact that we had to overtake the GT cars alongside the racing line. I really don’t know though. We’ll find out and come up with a solution. The good thing is that the car is fast. I was almost always able to close the gap to the Peugeots when things were going normal. Naturally, it would have been nice to win thin this race. But our goal is Le Mans – we’ve got to continue to concentrate on that.” Ralf Juttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest): “We had higher expectations of this race but encountered a lot of strange problems: incidents of body contact, pick-up on the tires and things like that. Mechanically, the cars held up. Still, we collected a long list for Le Mans today which we’ve got to check off. That was a championship round that we would have liked to have won. The Peugeots were quick and had no unusual issues. We’ still got quite a few things to do.” Photos: © 2011 Loek Pictures | oneighturbo.com                                  Related posts:
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| LMS: Audi R18 TDI defeated in race debut at 1000k of Spa Posted: 09 May 2011 07:12 AM PDT Everything leading up to the R18 TDi’s debut race seemed to be going perfectly. From the official Le Mans test days to Spa’s practice sessions and then qualifying, Audi was leading. Even what seemed to be disaster for the factory Peugeot team’s chances during qualifying actually ended up completely opposite for them. Gallery after the jump! If you caught our qualification report, Peugeot missed it big-time. The strategy of waiting caused them a 12th, 18th and 50th on grid. With over 50 cars on track it and Audi in a 1-2-3 position, it was looking like Peugeot would be doomed. It also looked as if Audi would have an easy win. Wrong. Within the first 15 minutes, all Peugeot 908′s are in the top ten with two in the top five. Almost to the minute, Alexander Wurz pulls the no7 Peugeot 908 into the lead. By the fourth hour, it’s a Peugeot 1-2-3. Peugeot could have had a 1-2-3 sweep if Pedro Lamy kept the no9 on track. His off caused suspension damaged and while running in third, Pagenaud had to bring the car in. This gave the podium spot to Tom Kristensen. Photos: © 2011 Loek Pictures | oneighturbo.com [PR] Audi Sport Team Joest experienced a roller-coaster ride of emotions on the new Audi R18 TDI’s race debut atSpa-Francorchamps (Belgium): After a perfect qualifying session and a great showing in the early phases of the race the three Audi R18 TDI cars occupied positions three, four and five. At the beginning of the race the 34,600 spectators saw a strong performance of the new LMP1 sports car of AUDI AG. Andre Lotterer took the lead at the start and defended it almost up to his first pit stop. Timo Bernhard, who had started from pole, and Allan McNish (despite a spin on the first lap) were part of the action at the front of the field during the first hour as well and fought some thrilling duels with their rivals in heavy traffic.
However, a number of minor incidents, which in total had major effects, caused all three Audi R18 TDI cars to lose ground. Andre Lotterer, who had a clear lead in the early phase, had to be pushed backward at his first pit stop and lost valuable time in the process. His team-mate Benoît Treluyer had to make an unscheduled stop after picking up an unusually large piece of rubber on his front left-hand tire. Shortly afterward the same phenomenon occurred again, causing the Frenchman to slide into the gravel trap and losing two laps. Marcel Fassler subsequently complained about a car that was too demanding to drive – he, too, was struggling with pick-up. In the end, the Audi R18 TDI designated as car number “2” finished fifth. Timo Bernhard, who had started from pole position, suffered misfortune as well. In the battle for the top the rear of his car was touched by another vehicle in the fast “Blanchimont” sector. The rear hood and the diffuser were damaged in the incident. Romain Dumas and Mike Rockenfeller were subsequently struggling with handling differences in left- and right-hand turns. Like the other two Audi R18 TDI vehicles car number “1” had to make a brief refueling stop shortly before the finish. With a two-lap gap Bernhard/Dumas/Rockenfeller came fourth. The first podium result for the new Audi R18 TDI was clinched by Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish, who ,like last year, took third place at the Le Mans “dress rehearsal” at Spa. But the cockpit crew of car number “3” was also beaten below its potential. While a spin by Allan McNish on the starting lap had no consequences as the Scotsman quickly made up ground to the front of the field from 16th place, Dindo Capello on his stint accidentally activated the speed limiter for the pit lane and thus lost 20 seconds. After correcting the inflation pressure of the front tires Tom Kristensen was on the advance in the final phase: The Le Mans record winner was already setting his sights on the second-placed Peugeot when one hour before race end the left rear tire was suddenly losing air, which forced him to make an unscheduled pit stop. With a one-lap gap Capello/Kristensen/McNish ultimately finished in third place. Results 1 Gene/Wurz/Davidson (Peugeot) 161 laps in 6h 02m 03.799s Related posts:
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