Audi second at Fuji after strong battle

Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer in the sister car suffered a setback. Tréluyer was in position four when the motor generator unit (MGU) of the hybrid system on the number 7 Audi R18 failed on lap 18. In order to be able to continue driving, Audi Sport Team Joest had to remove the front drive shafts. Marcel Fässler subsequently resumed the race, while Audi consulted with the FIA WEC to clarify the situation with respect to the technical regulations. However, according to the Technical Stewards, the LMP race car no longer complied with the homologation rules. Consequently, Audi withdrew the car. “Obviously, that’s a real shame,” said Dr. Ullrich. “Because the squad demonstrated a tremendous spirit and did everything to make a central idea of endurance racing reality, which is to finish even under circumstances like these.”

Stefan Dreyer, Head of LMP of Audi Sport, said: “Lucas di Grassi, Loïc Duval and Oliver Jarvis showed a tremendous fighting spirit and were beaten by an incredibly narrow margin: a sincere thank you for this superb team performance on site, in Neuburg an der Donau and in Neckarsulm. Unfortunately, our number 7 suffered a setback once more due to a technical issue. I’m very sorry for our guys that this happened. We’re hoping to be in contention for victory again in the next race, and to be the front runners then.”

Round eight of nine this season is coming up in just three weeks’ time. On November 6, the FIA WEC will be held at Shanghai in China – Audi’s largest market.

Race results

1 Conway/Kobayashi/Sarrazin (Toyota) 244 laps

2 Di Grassi/Duval/Jarvis (Audi R18) +1.439s

3 Bernhard/Hartley/Webber (Porsche) +17.339s

4 Buemi/Davidson/Nakajima (Toyota) +53.779s

5 Dumas/Jani/Lieb (Porsche) –1 lap

6 Imperatori/Kraihamer/Tuscher (Rebellion) –15 laps

7 Brundle/Rusinov/Stevens (Oreca-Nissan) –21 laps

8 Albuquerque/Gonzalez/Senna (Ligier-Nissan) –21 laps

9 Lapierre/Menezes/Richelmi (Alpine) –21 laps

10 Gelael/Giovinazzi/van der Garde (Ligier-Nissan) –21 laps

– End –