12 p.m. from Sebring – Audi’s dual mission

Ten victories and 22 podiums in 13 starts. Between Audi and the 12 Hours of Sebring, it's a love story. The firm with the rings was therefore very disappointed to learn that in the future, the LM P1 category would no longer be accepted at the start of the Foridian classic. The reason ? The merger of the two ALMS and Grand-Am championships, which will make the DP and LM P2 the premier category. The Director of Audi Sport, Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, therefore wanted to make the trip, to once again add this race to his prize list, and to greet the Florida public one last time.

“Sebring has been part of our calendar since our debut in the prototype category in 1999, insists the latter. And this is justified in particular by the fact that it is a particularly complicated, difficult and very demanding track for the driver and the machine. Anyone who survives these 12 hours without seeing the slightest problem is generally well equipped for all other challenges. This race will once again constitute an ideal dress rehearsal before the racing season. WEC and 24 Hours of Le Mans."

On this occasion, the R18 e-tron quattro will make its racing debut on American soil. Two copies will be lined up. One in 2012 version for the trio Benoît Tréluyer-Marcel Fässler-Oliver Jarvis, and one in 2013 version for Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish and Lucas di Grassi. “The race this year will require an additional technical effort from us since we are sending two cars of different generations there, continues Ralf Jüttner, Technical Director of Audi Sport Team Joest. However, it is obviously very interesting to be able to test the latest evolution of the R18 e-tron quattro in racing conditions. It's always very beneficial to prepare for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. »

The objective will therefore be twofold, prepare for the 24 Hours of Le Mans by testing the latest evolution of the car, and achieve an 11th victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring. If in pure performance, the Lola-Toyota of Rebellion Racing, that of Dyson Racing and the HPD of Muscle Milk Pickett Racing should have a hard time competing with the LM P1s marked with the four rings, the Audi drivers will have to be wary of traffic that is still particularly dense and difficult to negotiate on this former American military airport.