Preview

WEC

Audi set on battling for victory at Spa

Two aerodynamic versions of the hybrid sports car on the grid.

Published: Apr 25, 2014, 3:16 PM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

#1 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18 e-tron quattro: Lucas di Grassi, Loic Duval, Tom Kristensen

Ingolstadt - For the first time this year, Audi will be entering three R18 e-tron quattro cars in the WEC race at Spa (Belgium) on May 3 at round two of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The preparation phase for this event was particularly intensive. The accident damage sustained by the two cars in the season opener resulted in a lot of work.

The two accidents at Silverstone (Great Britain) were unfortunate for Audi in two respects. For the first time ever, the team of Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich and Chris Reinke, Head of LMP, had to endure the retirement of all cars and the total loss of valuable championship points. The incidents caused considerable vehicle damage. The two monocoques of the hybrid sports cars were damaged. Consequently, cars number 1 and 2 had to be prepared again completely from scratch. As a result, the WEC World Champions at Audi are tackling an extreme workload between Easter and May 1.

In comparison, the preparation of the third race car seems almost like a routine task. Audi has traditionally been using the 6-hour race at Spa to prepare its Le Mans squad for the years most important endurance race.

#2 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18 e-tron quattro: Marcel Fässler, Andre Lotterer, Benoit Tréluyer

Photo by: Daniel James Smith

Whereas Lucas di Grassi/Loïc Duval/Tom Kristensen (BR/F/DK) and Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer (CH/D/F) compete in all eight World Championship rounds, the #3 R18 e-tron quattro will exclusively run at Spa and in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Belgium will see Marco Bonanomi (I) returning to the race car cockpit. Alongside Bonanomi, Filipe Albuquerque (P) will be celebrating his WEC debut with Audi after switching from touring cars to sports cars last winter. Oliver Jarvis (GB) has been released from the race at Spa and the test day at Le Mans he will be battling for Championship points in the Japanese Super GT racing series at the same time. For the Le Mans 24 Hours, he will return to the R18 e-tron cockpit as the team-mate of Albuquerque and Bonanomi.

At Spa, car #3 continues an idea which Audi tested for the first time last year. The additional race car has a different body that can be recognized at first glance by the longer rear overhang. Its use in Belgium is very valuable for the Audi engineers, as the data generated by car #3 assists in validating the simulations which Audi previously performed. By the same token, the team can test how to handle the special body version and other technical modifications in racing conditions.

All three Audi driver squads are united in pursuing a single aim on the 7.004-kilometer circuit in the Ardennes with its unique combination of turns. Following the victories in 2012 and 2013, Audi is set on battling for the best positions at Spa again in 2014. The fastest single lap set by Tom Kristensen in qualifying at Silverstone and the best race lap achieved by André Lotterer show that the diesel hybrid sports car from Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm is fast on a single lap in the battle with Porsche and Toyota. In Belgium, Audi will be able to see for the first time whether this also strategically applies across the entire race distance when the effects of the energy regulations and the different ratings of the three hybrid concepts manifest themselves in the field.

Topics of the weekend

-Will qualifying be as thrilling as it was at Silverstone?

-What race strategy will result from the requirements of the new regulations?

-Will Audi be able to continue its good form this year as in the past at Spa?

-How will Filipe Albuquerque and Marco Bonanomi fare in their first joint WEC commitment?

Quotes by the officials

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): Weve got to prepare two new cars between now and Spa, which imposes an extreme load on the squad. Then were going to concentrate on running an impeccable race. At Spa, we want to rectify the unfortunate race at Silverstone. In the past years, Spa was a very good track for us.

Chris Reinke (Head of LMP): Were definitely going to attack again at Spa! Within only two weeks, the team has had to handle a tough workload. After the somewhat rocky start of the season at Silverstone, its now particularly important for us to focus on our next tasks until Le Mans. The squad has to get used to its processes. But Spa is more than just a test for Le Mans. We aim to win in Belgium and score points for the WEC.

Ralf Jüttner (Team Director Audi Sport Team Joest): We all have the aim of showing that Silverstone was an absolute exception. Were now in the unusual position of the hunter and need to score points. The team will be giving everything. Well be on the grid with three newly prepared cars. Were definitely not lacking motivation. Were going to strike back.

Facts and quotes by the Audi drivers

Lucas di Grassi (29/BR), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
-Was on podium with Audi at Spa last year
Im very much looking forward to Spa because the track is simply great and our Audi R18 e-tron quattro is very well developed. For us, the second round will be about scoring as many points as possible for the manufacturers and drivers classifications in the WEC.

Loïc Duval (31/F), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
-Won at Spa on his debut with Audi in 2012
-Finished as the runner-up last year
The configuration of the track is unique. And Ive got fond memories of my victory in Belgium on my debut with Audi two years ago. In the Ardennes, theres always a possibility for rain and temperatures may be very cool. Im eager to see what well be able to achieve there. Were going to battle for victory. Our motivation is high.

Tom Kristensen (46/DK), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
-Set the fastest single lap at the WEC season opener in qualifying
-Together with Loïc Duval, travels to Spa as World Champion
Every race driver looks forward to the challenge of mastering a track like Spa. Weve got to finish and score many points. This is particularly important because our tally of points is still blank after Silverstone.

Marcel Fässler (37/CH), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
-Has won six WEC rounds with his team-mates
-Has previously celebrated a 24-hour GT race victory at Spa
I always look forward to Spa. This is my favorite race track, no matter what car I drive there. In the Audi R18 e-tron quattro, this will be a special pleasure. Last year, we achieved victory there. At Silverstone, we were also able to drive a good pace. Thats why Im confident that this time well again be looking good at Spa.

André Lotterer (32/D), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
-Is driving together with Marcel Fässler and Benoît Tréluyer for the fifth year
-Set the fastest race lap in the season opener at Silverstone
In 2013, we saw an outstanding race at Spa. Im hoping that well be able to continue this form this year. This is one of my favorite tracks. I grew up in Belgium and still feel at home there. Im highly motivated to drive there. Weve got a lot of ground to make up.

Benoît Tréluyer (37/F), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2 (Audi Sport Team Joest) -Won at Spa last year with Marcel Fässler and André Lotterer
-Is driving together with his team-mates for the fifth year
At Spa, were continuing our competition with the other four hybrid sports cars and the other entrants. At Silverstone, we had a very good beginning of the race. That made the fact that we didnt finish even more regrettable. Im very eager to see our potential across a full race distance.

Filipe Albuquerque (28/P), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #3 (Audi Sport Team Joest) -Is celebrating his WEC debut with Audi at Spa
-Looks forward to gathering a lot of driving practice with team-mate Marco Bonanomi
Following all the tests, Im now excited about my first race in the Audi R18 e-tron quattro. We prepared step by step and are hoping for a good race. The car is great fun. I can hardly wait for my stint.

Marco Bonanomi (29/I), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #3 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
-Was on podium at Spa in 2012 on his WEC debut with Audi
-In the Ardennes, is contesting his first race in the 2014 season
Im very happy about being able to race for Audi again. Well be driving a car with different aerodynamics than the two sister race cars. We do this to prepare for our Le Mans commitment. After our tests with this body version, Im confident. And within the squad of Audi Sport, Audi Sport Team Joest and among the drivers the atmosphere is good, too.

Audi

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article Porsche 919 Hybrid: Dress rehearsal for Le Mans

Next article Nissan to provide engine and driver support to Onroak Automotive’s development of new Ligier JS P2

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

Spy shots of 2027 NASCAR Ford Mustang testing at Charlotte, but what's different?

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Charlotte II

1 h

Spy shots of 2027 NASCAR Ford Mustang testing at Charlotte, but what's different?

Five key takeaways from F1's big African Grand Prix reveal in Rwanda

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1 2 h

Five key takeaways from F1's big African Grand Prix reveal in Rwanda

Niels Koolen makes switch to Abel Motorsports ahead of 2027 Indy NXT campaign

Indy NXT

IndL Indy NXT 3 h

Niels Koolen makes switch to Abel Motorsports ahead of 2027 Indy NXT campaign

GT World Challenge Portimao: All you need to know about season finale featuring Max Verstappen

GT World Challenge Europe Endurance

WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 3 h

GT World Challenge Portimao: All you need to know about season finale featuring Max Verstappen

Feature

Discover prime content

How Ford is “hitting milestones” ahead of its WEC Hypercar push

WEC

By Gary Watkins

How Ford is “hitting milestones” ahead of its WEC Hypercar push

Why there’s no perfect solution to the WEC safety car conundrum

WEC

Fuji

By Gary Watkins

Why there’s no perfect solution to the WEC safety car conundrum

How an “informed gamble” enabled Toyota to beat Alpine in the Fuji 6 Hours

WEC

Fuji

By Gary Watkins

How an “informed gamble” enabled Toyota to beat Alpine in the Fuji 6 Hours

The debate on whether WEC prioritised 'entertainment' over 'sport' in Austin

WEC

COTA

By Gary Watkins

The debate on whether WEC prioritised 'entertainment' over 'sport' in Austin

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts