Audi achieved another near perfect race result at the Le Mans 24 Hour race today taking the first victory of a hybrid vehicle at Le Mans with a stunning 1-2 for the Audi R18 e-tron quattro, and filling the third place on the podium with the R18 Ultra Diesel. Both Toyota hybrids didn't finish and neither did the Nissan Delta.
After qualifying so well, with second and sixth places on the grid with the Audi R18 ultra and first and fourth with the two R18 e-tron quattros, the Audi Sport Team Joest R18s were the quickest and most reliable cars in the race.
After 378 laps, last year’s winners Marcel Fässler (CH), André Lotterer (D) and Benoît Tréluyer (F) at the wheel of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro designated as car number “1” were again the front runners.
Dindo Capello (I), Tom Kristensen (DK) and Allan McNish (GB) were the runners-up and gave the Audi R18 e-tron quattro a one-two result.
Le Mans rookie Marco Bonanomi (I), Oliver Jarvis (GB) and Mike Rockenfeller (D) in the best conventionally powered Audi R18 ultra completed the fourth one-two-three victory for Audi at the Le Mans 24 Hours after 2000, 2002 and 2010.
Romain Dumas (F), Loïc Duval (F) and Marc Gené (E) at the wheel of the second R18 ultra finished in fifth place.
With its eleventh victory at Le Mans, Audi has extended its lead in the World Endurance Championship. Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish as the runners-up recaptured the lead in the drivers’ world championship.