Jörg Zander: “We think we are well prepared”

Winner on the track at Silverstone, the Audi brand lost its victory after the No. 18 R7 was downgraded for technical non-compliance, the stewards having noted excessive wear on the control pad located under the flat bottom of the car.

In Belgium, Audi this time made it happen with the No. 8 sister car of the trio Lucas di Grassi, Oliver Jarvis and Loïc duval, despite performance lagging compared to Porsche. “We actually suffered compared to the No. 1 Porsche, but Lucas didn't fall too far behind, admits Jörg Zander, technical director of the ring firm. But we were able to defend our positions against the Toyota. At the beginning, the difference was clear, and was explained by the fact that the Toyota tires deteriorated less because they were more adapted to the external conditions than ours. »

Jörg Zander also expressed his confidence to us before the next meeting of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With new hybrid technology used this year (batteries), questions about reliability naturally arise. “Our endurance simulation went very well and was really positive. We think we are well prepared. » indicated the technical manager.

Find our complete interview with Jörg Zander and the report and analysis of the 6 Hours of Spa, in issue 2062 of AUTOhebdo, available in digital version and on newsstands.