Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer, with seven podium places in succession, have maintained their chances for the championship title up to the end. In second place of the standings, they are traveling to Bahrain with a twelve-point deficit, with 26 points yet to be awarded in the island state. “This is arguably the most thrilling season of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The decision will only be made in the final race,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “My thanks for this go to an untiring squad that has never given up, continued to develop the Audi R18 e-tron quattro, and worked hard.”
A statistical characteristic underscores the quality of this title race: no other driver squad has been on podium this year as often as Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer. They celebrated two victories, a second and four third places.
At the same time, Audi is aware of how difficult a feat winning an FIA WEC title for the third time after 2012 and 2013 will be. Even if Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer, as in 2012, were to lead an Audi one-two victory in Bahrain, such a result would not secure success in the championship for them. In this case, the current leaders of the standings, Timo Bernhard/Brendon Hartley/Mark Webber, would have to finish in no better than fourth place for the Audi drivers to claim the title. “We’re going to give everything and hope for a little fortune to still win the championship,” says Chris Reinke, Head of LMP at Audi Sport. “Giving up is out of the question for us – the opposite is true. As long as there’s a chance, we’re going to battle for the title. In tough conditions such as those in Bahrain, quite a bit is possible.”