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Race report
Stuttgart. By winning the fourth race in a row with the
How the race went for car number 17:
After almost 40 minutes behind the safety car and with light rain still falling, finally the race goes green. Mark Webber starts on full wet tyres from pole position, but goes off the track in turn three, re-joining the race in P4. An issue with the hybrid system causes a lack of boost, so the sister car overtakes on lap 23 and Webber drops back to fifth. From lap 31 until the number 1 Toyota pits after lap 42, the spectators see a great battle between the Toyota and the
How the race went for car number 18:
As the long period behind the safety car finally is over, Romain Dumas starts on full wet tyres from P2, but immediately loses positions because the pit limiter comes on. When the sister car is in trouble with an hybrid issue, Romain improves to P4 and then gets past the number 1 Toyota on lap 25 to take P3. On lap 36 Romain overtakes the number 8 Audi and is now in second. After 44 laps the number 18
Fritz Enzinger, Vice President LMP1: “It was a difficult race in changing conditions, but we accomplished what we wanted. By another one-two result we have extended our lead in the manufacturers’ standings and also in the drivers’ championship Timo, Brendon and Mark are now leading. The team did a sensational job, it is a pleasure to work like we do and I want to thank everyone involved.”
Andreas Seidl, Team Principal: “Despite extremely challenging conditions, we strategically got everything right today. Every single decision by the team proved to be the right one. All six drivers did a great and completely errorless job. In the end of the race they showed true teamwork. Although we are a very young team, we also proved that we are able to manage and win a difficult race. Audi did put us under pressure right from the start. Many thanks to all the employees and team members here on site and back home in Weissach for the perfect preparation which was the base for our success.”
Drivers
Timo Bernhard (34, Germany): “We have achieved our target to get another one-two result for the manufacturers’ standings. This, for me, is the most important news. Normally it would have been the day for our sister car, as they had deserved to win. Our race was difficult and we are grateful for the full points. But to win the title, there is still a long way to go as we have two more six-hour races ahead of us.”
Brendon Hartley (25, New Zealand): “Before I began my double stint in the middle part of the race we had lost a huge amount of time to our sister car, and this was because the full course yellow came out just when we had done our pit stop and their stop was due. I went out on intermediate slick tyres in tricky conditions. Initially the wet tyre would have been quicker, but we kept ours on for two stints, so in the end it was the right tyre choice. I had a bit of fun with the number 7 Audi out there. He was able to overtake me when I was busy with some switches in the cockpit. Then I had a good battle with him. It was nice and clean and good fun.“
Mark Webber (39, Australia): “My first stint was pretty tricky with very little grip. After the start I almost lost the car in turn three. Shortly later a hybrid issue occurred, so we had lots of talk on the radio. I was very happy with the second half of my double stint. I had a good battle with the number 7 Audi and it was good to get our cars back to the front.”
Drivers
Romain Dumas (37, France): “The conditions weren’t easy for sure. After the start the pit limiter came on on my car – maybe I pressed it, I don’t know – but I lost places. Then a Toyota pushed me out and I had brake issues for about 20 laps. But I enjoyed the second part of my double stint a lot because I was catching everybody.”
Neel Jani (31, Switzerland): "For us it was the first race since Silverstone without any problems. The car was good, the strategy worked out, my teammates were top. I got it together as well, and then we also had some luck with the timing of the full course yellow. We had a lead of over one minute, but with the problems in earlier races we had lost our chances for the championship. So we handed today’s win over to our sister car. Of course it hurts, but I try think with the part of me that is Indian, and like to believe there will be another opportunity and the karma will be with me.”
Marc Lieb (35, Germany): “I did a double stint in the middle of the race. The first one was a bit tricky in the beginning, because the track was quite slippery for intermediate tyres. The rain didn’t stop as quickly as we hoped it would. It was challenging, but it worked well, and the pace was good. Also in the second stint everything was fine. Having a lead of almost one minute, I was able to take care of the brake temperatures, which were rather high, and save the tyres. At times we were the fastest car on track, it was good.”
1. Bernhard/Hartley/Webber (DE/NZ/AU),
2. Dumas/Jani/Lieb (FR/CH/DE),
3. Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer (CH/DE/FR), Audi R18 e-tron quattro, 1 lap behind
4. Di Grassi/Duval/Jarvis (BR/FR/GB), Audi R18 e-tron quattro, 2 laps behind
5. Davidson/Buemi/Nakajima (GB/CH/JP), Toyota TS040 Hybrid, 2 laps behind
6. Wurz/Sarrazin/Conway (AT/FR/GB), Toyota TS040 Hybrid, 13 laps behind
Drivers:
1. Bernhard/Hartley/Webber (D/NZ/AUS),
2. Lotterer/Tréluyer/Fässler (D/F/CH), Audi, 128
3. Dumas/Jani/Lieb (F/CH/D),
4. Di Grassi/Duval/Jarvis (BRA/F/GB), Audi, 79
5. Tandy (GB),
6. Davidson/Buemi (GB/CH), Toyota, 59
7. Bamber/Hülkenberg (NZ/D),
8. Nakajima (J), Toyota, 55
Manufacturers:
1.
2. Audi, 211
3. Toyota, 119
All reports on the previous season can be found in our archive.