61st Annual 12 Hours of Sebring

Another historic success for Audi
First triumph of a hybrid race car at Sebring
One-two victory of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro on U.S. debut
Fässler/Jarvis/Tréluyer win endurance classic
Ingolstadt/Sebring, March 17, 2013 – Another historic racing success for Audi: The Audi R18 e-tron quattro’s victory marked the first ever of a hybrid race car at the Sebring (Florida) 12 Hours in the history of the U.S. endurance classic.
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On the – provisionally – last running of the LMP1 sports cars that feature sophisticated technology at Sebring, Audi Sport Team Joest achieved a commanding one-two victory. Right from the start, the two Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars set the pace, during the entire race an Audi was at the front of the field made up of 42 prototypes and GT sports cars. The third-placed Lola-Toyota was trailing the winner by five laps at the finish.
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For twelve hours, the two Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars fought a fierce duel for victory and repeatedly overtook each other in close battle. In total, the lead between the two R18 cars changed 20 times. A damaged under-floor of car number “1” that was ultimately victorious caused some headaches for Audi Sport Team Joest. The necessary repairs could be performed without any major time loss during caution periods though.
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In the thrilling duel between the team’s two cars the current Le Mans winners and World Endurance Champions Marcel Fässler (CH) and Benoît Tréluyer (F) plus Sebring newcomer Oliver Jarvis (GB) prevailed by a narrow margin. All three celebrated their first Sebring triumph. For Jarvis, after the GT success with the Audi R8 GRAND-AM at the Daytona 24 Hours, this marked the second victory at a classic U.S. endurance race.
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With a gap of only 7.679s, Lucas di Grassi (BR), Tom Kristensen (DK) and Allan McNish (GB) completed the Audi one-two result. A 60-second time penalty due to a collision with a slower sports prototype had been imposed against the 2013-specification Audi R18 e-tron quattro shortly before the end of the third hour.
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In 14 races at Sebring with Le Mans prototypes, this marked Audi’s eleventh overall victory. Eight times the brand with the four rings celebrated one-two results. The premium manufacturer’s tally reflects 24 podium places. Ten times an Audi started from the pole position – more often than any other manufacturer in the history of the race that has been held since 1952. The Audi R8, the R10 TDI and the R15 TDI each celebrated victorious debuts at Sebring. With the first victory of a diesel sports car in 2006 and now the first triumph of a hybrid race car Audi achieved two historic victories. Audi took the first podium and the first win at a sports car race at Sebring as well. In addition, Audi regularly used the track in Florida to prepare for the Le Mans 24 Hours.
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This time, Audi Sport Team Joest will again stay at Sebring after the race for tests with the Audi R18 e-tron quattro that has been subjected to further development. It still remains to be seen whether or not there will be a future for Audi at the U.S. endurance classic. After the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and the GRAND-AM Series merged to form the new “United SportsCar Racing” series no LMP1 sports cars will be permitted to run anymore as of 2014.
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U.S. fans will be able to see the Audi R18 e-tron quattro soon again in the United States nonetheless. On September 22, the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) will visit the Circuit of the Americas in Austin (Texas).
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Quotes after the race
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Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “That was a perfect finale! I’m very happy about this one-two victory in a race in which both of our cars battled against each other all the way to the finish and delivered a fantastic show to the many fans. The entire squad worked hard, so winning after a long twelve hours is the sweetest reward. After victories with TFSI and TDI technology, Audi on clinching the win today with a hybrid car has continued the success story at this race.”
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Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest): “This is an outstanding result for what has at least provisionally been our last run here at Sebring. I’m happy about this one-two victory at which either of our two teams would have deserved first place. In the beginning, both cars were running on different strategies. At some point in time they were nearly in parallel and at the finish not even ten seconds apart. We’ve been enjoying the atmosphere here at Sebring with brilliant weather and unique fans. This victory is a nice reward for the whole squad some of whom worked through the whole night before the race and then delivered perfect pit stops for twelve hours straight.”
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Marcel Fässler (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1): “Celebrating Audi’s last race here at Sebring with a victory is simply fantastic. It was an incredibly close race in which both cars would have deserved to win. In the end, we were the slightly more fortunate ones. The pole position yesterday, victory today, great team-mates – things couldn’t be any better today.”
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Oliver Jarvis (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1): “What a start into the 2013 season! This isn’t a dream; it’s a lot more than that. Winning with Audi at Daytona already was an incredible experience. But now an overall victory on my first run at Sebring on top of that is more than I’d ever dared to hope for. A huge thank you to Audi and to Marcel (Fässler) and Ben (Tréluyer) – they’ve been the best team-mates I could imagine.”
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Benoît Tréluyer (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1): “We won the last race of the LMP1 sports cars at Sebring – we’re very proud of this. I think that the fans witnessed a thrilling race in which we had to give one hundred percent to beat our sister car. For us the American dream has come true today. Thank you to Marcel (Fässler) and Oliver (Jarvis) fora great week here at Sebring. Normally, André (Lotterer) is part of our team as well – I’m sure that he’d have been on top of the podium here too.”
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Lucas di Grassi (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2): “This was my first 12-hour race, my first race in the dark and my first run at Sebring – the podium position is a brilliant conclusion of the weekend. It was a very close race with a few incidents and a controversial penalty. More would have been possible for us but as far as I’m concerned the joy about the second place with Audi outweighs anything else.”
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Tom Kristensen (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2): “It was a memorable, tough and fast race. We had the chance ourselves to win today – but we didn’t make it. So, ‘well done’ to the guys from the ‘sister car’ and all other winners here at Sebring. Aside from our second place I’m taking a lot of memories home with me from all the years and the fastest race lap on today’s farewell. It’s for a man who has given me the passion for motorsport.”
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Allan McNish (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2): “What a fantastic race! We arrived here with Audi in order to say goodbye to our fans at Sebring with a thrilling performance – and I believe we managed to do that. It was a fierce battle from the first to the last lap. I’d like to congratulate the team of our ‘sister car.’ On a very personal note, I’m absolutely pleased with the race. Some of my stints were the best I can remember in the past few years.”

 

RISI FERRARI FINISH SECOND ON RETURN TO ALMS BUT DENIED FAIRY TALE FINISH AT SEBRING
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Sebring, Florida, March 16, 2013.* Until an hour before the end of the 61st Twelve Hours of Sebring, it looked as though Risi Competizione would pull off a fairy tale finish by clinching victory in the GT category.* As it was, the Houston-based team’s No.62 Ferrari 458 Italia crossed the finish line in second place, just 2.7 seconds behind the class winning No.4 Corvette.
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The Houston-based team, which has an illustrious history in the ALMS, was warmly welcomed back to competition by the paddock at large after a year away.* With its talented driver line up of Gianmaria Bruni, Olivier Beretta and Matteo Malucelli, Risi showed its intent to claim victory from the outset of this weekend’s race meeting.* Never out of contention during practice sessions and throughout the once-round-the-clock event, the drivers, team and its F458 performed flawlessly but were ultimately beaten to the checkered flag by the superior speed of the Corvette.
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Faultless and speedy pit work, no penalties, and a sensible strategy by both drivers and engineers put the Ferrari at the head of the field for several periods, the longest of which was for 92 laps in the final quarter of the race. Having pulled out a lead of 65 seconds, confidence was quietly building in the Risi pits until Bruni, who was due to take the finish at the end of a double stint, reported that he was experiencing back pain which led to a lack of feeling is his right leg.
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The change of plan saw ALMS newcomer Malucelli back in the cockpit for the final hour and, despite calm and controlled driving, he was being hunted down relentlessly by a menacing competitor who appeared to have an advantage over its rivals at each refuelling stop.* The 28-year-old Italian was put under intense pressure lap after lap and, with just seven laps to the finish, was passed by the Corvette.* The first two GT cars were the only ones to finish on the same lap and the gap of just 2.7 seconds after 12 hours of hard racing is demonstration of great competition to come for the remainder of the 2013 season.*****
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The disappointment at not winning was huge for all concerned, but there was some reward as the result for Sebring offered double points, which is vital for the season ahead, and the Risi team was awarded the Michelin Green X Challenge trophy for the GT category.
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Matteo Malucelli:* “It was quite hard, I just pushed and tried to do my best but sometimes it’s not enough. We finished second and the result is good points for the championship, a good start for me and Olivier; I’m sure we will win in the next few races.* When I was passed by Milner, I don’t know if I made a mistake or if there was some gravel on the track but honestly they were too fast for me to stay in front.”
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Gianmaria Bruni:* “I think today our rivals were very fast.* It’s happened to me in the past with Ferrari – sometimes you’re so fast and you win and sometimes you’re fast and you don’t.* I think Corvette here was more prepared than us, but it’s a great result for Risi and Ferrari.* This team hasn’t raced for one year and they just finished second behind the 2012 Champions.* I think there’s great potential during the season for Matteo and Olivier to just get better and better!”
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Olivier Beretta:* “I think for the whole group and for the Risi team it’s a good first result.* I’m really happy to race with them.* We’ve shown up and been competitive all week, including during the race.* We led for many laps and I’m happy.* First would have been better than second but everyone did a good job and I’m looking forward to the season.”**
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The Delta Wing looked decently fast in a straight line but rather than flicking it into
turns, it appeared as though the drivers were looping it through the bends, and if
they had to take a turn off line it lost a lot of momentum.

The other notable cars were the Rebellion Toyotas. They were quick but not in the
same class as the Audis. Great looking cars with top drivers such as Heidfeld, Prost
and Jani but they were on the ragged limit in the turns. You could actually hear the
Rebellion's sliding through the turns, particularly in Turn 17 where their tires were
notably protesting announcing their arrival.

A railbird noted this may have been a traction control issue as well.

Great time this weekend, nice to meet you Steve. Will be in touch.

BHW

 

Also seen at Sebring...
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