TRIUMPH AT LE MANS: AUDI DEFEATS PORSCHE AND TOYOTA
June 16, 2014 by Audi Motorsport![TRIUMPH AT LE MANS: AUDI DEFEATS PORSCHE AND TOYOTA](images/articleimages/audi-wins-2014-lemans-01-400.jpg)
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Major misfortune was suffered by the squad of the third Audi R18 e-tron quattro with Filipe Albuquerque, Marco Bonanomi and Oliver Jarvis. Following a strong early phase, car number '3' during a safety car period in pouring rain, was hit in the rear at high speed by a GT Ferrari on the Hunaudières straight. The powertrain of the R18 was so heavily damaged in the incident that Marco Bonanomi was forced to retire after just an hour and a half. In the hectic first hours, the fascinating Le Mans prototypes of Audi, Porsche and Toyota were fighting captivating duels on the Le Mans high-speed circuit that kept the spectators in awe. The fans experienced one of the most gripping races in Le Mans history until noon on Sunday. The decision in favor of Audi was only made in the penultimate hour. 'It was a race of the kind you can only experience at Le Mans,' said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. 'There were many incidents and none of the top cars made it across the distance without any problems. The decisive factors were that our Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars were able to drive consistently fast for 24 hours, our drivers made no mistakes and our squad responded properly and quickly to the issues that occurred. In Porsche and Toyota we had two really strong rivals who, as expected, did not make life easy for us. I always believed that, in spite of the particularly difficult prerequisites for us this year, we'd be able to succeed and that we've got the most efficient race car. That we succeeded again makes me feel proud. 'Thanks' also from me to the whole squad, but to our Management Board and our Group as well that make it possible for us to demonstrate 'Vorsprung durch Technik' at le Mans year after year. But I also express my respect for the performance delivered by Porsche on their return to Le Mans.' For Audi, this marked the 13th victory in the '24 Heures,' the eighth one with TDI Power and the third one with a hybrid race car. The team of Reinhold Joest celebrated its 15th success in the world's most important endurance race. Marcel Fassler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer, after 2011 and 2012, achieved their third Le Mans triumph.
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