Final sprint in FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC)
- China is Audi’s largest sales market
- Audi victorious in 6-hour race at Shanghai a year ago
Ingolstadt, October 27, 2014 – The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) is wound up to a high pitch. Within the space of three weeks, sports car fans have been thrilled by the lead in the manufacturers’ championship changing twice. Following two one-two victories in succession, Audi had taken the top spot in the standings at the season’s midpoint. Although the brand had to relinquish its lead in the race in Japan, it remains in striking distance of the leader of the standings. Now the World Championship decision is coming to a head, as the sixth of eight WEC races is on the agenda at Shanghai on November 2.
The brand with the four rings is separated by merely eight points from leader of the standings Toyota in the manufacturers’ classification, while the brand’s advantage over the third-placed brand, Porsche, is 66 points. A total of 132 points are yet to be awarded until the finale. The WEC round in China has special significance for Audi for several reasons. The track is regarded as very challenging, the team achieved victory there last year, and the ‘Middle Kingdom’ has evolved into the largest sales market for AUDI AG. In China, the company delivered 415,704 automobiles between January and September – 16 percent more than a year ago. Audi operates production sites in the cities of Changchun and Foshan.
Its extreme configuration makes this race track unique. The Shanghai International Circuit features the longest corners in the motorsport world in the form of helical bends. In addition, the sequence of several long straights, interrupted by very narrow turns, results in a downright ‘stop-and-go’ rhythm that provides good overtaking opportunities. A year ago, the brand with the four rings scored its first victory in Mainland China: Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer (CH/D/F) decided an extremely thrilling 6-hour race in the WEC in their favour with an advantage of 15.374 seconds. In addition, the brand, in 2013, recorded an early win of the drivers’ world championship by Loïc Duval/Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish (F/DK/GB) there. This year, the FIA WEC is more thrilling than ever before because an early decision of the title is mathematically impossible in China in the manufacturers’ championship and highly improbable in the drivers’ championship.
The Chinese racing fans can look forward not only to seeing the two WEC sports cars from Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm. On the first weekend in November, the Audi R8 LMS Cup will be held there as well. In 2012, the series was Audi’s first one-make cup in Asia. Thrilling close battles between the 570-hp GT race cars are guaranteed in rounds 9 and 10 of the season, as the decisive stage in the contest for the title has begun in the Cup too.
In Germany, fans can watch the final stage of the WEC race live on Sunday, November 2, from 8.30 to 10.00 on the TV channel Eurosport.
Topics of the weekend
- How will last year’s winners Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer fare in China?
- Will Loïc Duval, Lucas di Grassi and Tom Kristensen again be running in front of their team-mates, as they last did in Japan?
- How many points will Audi be able to score in China?
Quotes by the officials
Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “The Chinese market is one of the most important ones for us on an international scale. Therefore, we’re committed to our claim of making a successful appearance there in motorsport as well. A year ago, we managed to decide the round at Shanghai in our favour with a very good showing and a strong team performance, although the track doesn’t suit our race car concept particularly well. This year, we’re again going to leave no stone unturned to achieve a good result.”
Chris Reinke (Head of LMP): “The WEC race at Shanghai has a special significance for us. China as a market has long become something like a second home for Audi. As we’re always received with open arms, we’re traveling there with great enthusiasm. Even though the prerequisites are anything but easy, we’re set on battling for the top spot like last year.”
Ralf Jüttner (Team Director Audi Sport Team Joest): “Although Shanghai wasn’t easy for us in the past season, we won. In the second half of the race in changing track conditions and with clever tire management we were able to turn the tide in our favour. That was a sensational success and gives us tremendous motivation this year.”
Facts and quotes by the Audi drivers
Lucas di Grassi (30/BR), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
- Has mounted the podium three times this year
“Shanghai is an amazing track that I know from Formula One. Driving a race in this metropolis is a real highlight. And everybody knows how important the country is for Audi. I can hardly wait to drive the R18 e-tron quattro on this track for the first time.”
Loïc Duval (32/F), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
- Became World Champion last year with Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish in China
“I’m looking forward to China because Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish and I won the drivers’ world championship there. China was a success for our whole team as well. In the end, Audi decided a very thrilling race in their favour.”
Tom Kristensen (47/DK), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
- Was previously on the grid with Audi in the DTM, ILMC and WEC racing series in China
“I’ve been competing with Audi for many years in China. The enthusiastic Chinese fans are becoming more and more knowledgeable about motorsport every year. And they have close ties to our brand. The track is very special. For example, it has the world’s longest corner following the start and finish. It’s so long that we divide it into sections 1 and 2. This event is fantastic and we’re set on achieving a good result.”
Marcel Fässler (38/CH), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
- Celebrated victory a year ago in China with André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer
“The memories of last year are still very much alive. Audi Sport Team Joest’s strategy was excellent and Benoît Tréluyer’s recovery remarkable. We’re traveling to Shanghai with great motivation, knowing that every point counts.”
André Lotterer (32/D), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
- Is in third place of the drivers’ standings together with his team-mates
“Winning in China a year ago was a brilliant experience. It was particularly great for Audi also because the market is so important. Our team-mate Benoît Tréluyer was running incredibly well last year. Now we’re going to give our very best again.”
Benoît Tréluyer (37/F), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
- Set the fastest race lap in China last year
“At Shanghai in 2013, we made a strong showing. The pace was right. Now we’d like to continue that, even though we know that this is no mean feat because the track doesn’t suit our current car. In the battle for the title, the crucial stage is coming up now. Of course we’re going to give everything to come home with trophies.”
The Audi drivers at Shanghai
Lucas di Grassi (BR): * Aug 11, 1984 in São Paulo (BR), residence: Monaco (MC); married to Anna; height: 1.79 m; weight: 75 kg; Audi driver since 2012; Le Mans victories: 0; WEC races: 8; WEC victories: 0; WEC pole positions: 0; fastest WEC laps: 1; best result WEC Shanghai: –
Loïc Duval (F): * Jun 12, 1982 in Chartres (F); residence: Geneva (CH); married to Gaëlle, two sons (Hugo and Martin); height: 1.78 m; weight: 70 kg; Audi driver since 2012; Le Mans victories: 1; WEC races: 15; WEC victories: 4; WEC pole positions: 2; fastest WEC laps: 1; best result WEC Shanghai: 3
Marcel Fässler (CH): * May 27, 1976 in Einsiedeln (CH); residence: Gross (CH); married to Isabel, four daughters (Shana, Elin, Yael and Delia); height: 1.78 m; weight: 78 kg; Audi driver since 2008; Le Mans victories: 3; WEC races: 21; WEC victories: 8; WEC pole positions: 2; fastest WEC laps: 1; best result WEC Shanghai: 1
Tom Kristensen (DK): * Jul 07, 1967 in Hobro (DK); residence: Hobro (DK); single (partner: Hanne), two sons (Oliver and Oswald) and one daughter (Carla Marlou); height: 1.74 m; weight: 72 kg; Audi driver since 2000, Le Mans victories: 9; WEC races: 21; WEC victories: 4; WEC pole positions: 0; fastest WEC laps: 2; best result WEC Shanghai: 2
André Lotterer (D): * Nov 19, 1981 in Duisburg (D); residence: Tokyo (J); single; height: 1.84 m; weight: 74 kg; Audi driver since 2010; Le Mans victories: 3; WEC races: 21; WEC victories: 8; WEC pole positions: 4; fastest WEC laps: 6; best result WEC Shanghai: 1
Benoît Tréluyer (F): * Dec 07, 1976 in Alençon (F); residence: Gordes (F); married to Melanie, one son (Jules); height: 1.78 m; weight: 68 kg; Audi driver since 2010; Le Mans victories: 3; WEC races: 21; WEC victories: 8; WEC pole positions: 3; fastest WEC laps: 2; best result WEC Shanghai: 1
All Shanghai winners (since 2012)
2012 Lapierre/Wurz (Toyota)
2013 Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer (Audi)
Track info
Track length: 5.451 km
Race duration: 6 hours
Qualifying record on this track: Nicolas Lapierre/Alexander Wurz (Toyota), 1m 48.013s (181.678 km/h), Nov 08, 2013
Race record on this track: Nicolas Lapierre (Toyota), 1m 48.815s (180.339 km/h), Oct 28, 2012
Pole position 2013: Nicolas Lapierre/Alexander Wurz (Toyota), 1m 48.013s (181.678 km/h), Nov 08, 2013
Fastest lap 2013: Benoît Tréluyer (Audi), 1m 49.066s (179.924 km/h), Nov 9, 2013
FIA WEC World Championship titles
2012 Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer (Audi)
2013 Loïc Duval/Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish (Audi)
Tom Kristensen about the track at Shanghai
“Shanghai has unique characteristics. There are two corners featuring the shape of a helix. The first turn closes and another one opens this way. After the start and finish section, we brake from 270 km/h down to 85 km/h while the radius becomes increasingly narrow. Conversely, we accelerate in the second helix from 80 to 180 km/h. Two fast and several slow turns are in between. A long straight, on which we reach a speed of 290 km/h, is followed by what is arguably the narrowest section on the calendar, which we drive through at 55 km/h. This is followed by a left-hand turn and then we pass the start and finish. The rhythm heavily changes on a single lap. The engineers have to work out a good compromise for us in the set-up.”
Schedule (local times; CET = –7 hours)
Friday, October 31
10.45–12.15 Free practice 1
15.30–17.00 Free practice 2
Saturday, November 1
09.30–10.30 Free practice 3
13.55–14.20 Qualifying LMP1 and LMP2
Sunday, November 2
11.00–17.00 6-hour race
