The Audi R15 Plus starts with a victory

Audi, as in 2009, is launching its season in the best possible way, with a victory. However, the success during the 12 2009 Hours of Sebring was not confirmed by a good performance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This is why, since then, the Audi R15 has been profoundly revised, whether in terms of mechanical reliability or aerodynamic efficiency.

Before going to Castellet, the Ingolstadt firm had already tested the waters, by multiplying the test sessions, and will also continue its preparation work this week in the Var. Even if the Audi staff arrived at Paul-Ricard on tiptoe, with humility, this Sunday?s victory can only comfort Dr. Ullrich?s team. The Audi R15 Plus did not encounter any reliability problems, took the reins from the start of the race and never left the lead thereafter, increasing its lead as it progressed.

« It's fantastic, commented Allan McNish after the race. Dindo (Capello) and I gave the R10 and the first R15 their first victory, and now we are giving this new car its first success. It?s great and it doesn?t happen every day, so we can be proud of it. »

Its great rival, Peugeot 908 HDi FAP from the Var team Oreca – who would race like at home? also reassured. She certainly finished more than eight laps behind the Audi R15 but this was due to a problem at the time of the race (changing the "grip" of the pneumatic jack, which allows the car to be lifted for gear changes). tires) that the hopes of victory were gone. After returning to the track, the Oreca Peugeot 908, driven by Nicolas lapierre, Stéphane Sarrazin and Olivier Panis displayed a very good pace, comparable to that of the Audi R15 Plus, and were able to move up the peloton over the hours to climb to fourth place.

Between the two diesel cars, we find the Lola Aston Martin Racing in second place, and the Lola Rebellion n°13 on the third step of the podium. The Aston Martin Racing Lola, which won the 2009 Le Mans Series, shows its great consistency. By playing cat and mouse at the start of the race, especially taking advantage of the lack of grip of the 908, the No. 009 even played spoilsport for a few minutes.

In LMP2, victory went to the HPD ARX-01c of Strakka Racing, which ultimately won ahead of the No. 35 Pescarolo-Judd of Oak Racing. In GT2, it?s Porsche 997 GT3 RSR n°77 which won, while the 997 n°88 secured the double for the Felbermayr-Proton team. There Ferrari F430 n°95 from AF Corse, the one driven by Jean Alesi and Giancarlo Fisichella, finished third in the category.