Sebring victory bodes well for Le Mans

The new Audi R15 TDI sports car has achieved victory on its debut race.

The Sebring race takes place in Florida and lasts for 12 hours. Audi’s main competition is from Peugeot, and after a 12 hour race Audi won by a margin of just 22 seconds.

Lead driver Allan McNish commented: “Our brand new R15 TDI was faultless throughout the race and allowed Audi to secure another Sebring debut victory. This must go down in the history books as one of the best Sebring 12 Hour races ever when you take in to account the competition, the intensity from start to finish making it a sprint race, with the final two hours especially typifying what Audi Sport is all about – grit and determination – the entire team can be proud in taking the laurels back to Ingolstadt.”

McNish had led the way from the green light and established an early lead to hand over to team-mates Tom Kristensen and Dindo Capello. Peugeot fought hard though and its lead car, driven by Toro Rosso Formula 1 driver Sebastien Bourdais, Franck Montagny and Stephane Sarrazin stayed within seconds of the McNish/Kristensen/Capello R15 for almost the entire race, sometimes ahead and sometimes behind.

A puncture on the Peugeot separated the cars on the track, and changed the tactical battle. Now the Peugeot could go all the way to the chequered flag in its final stint whereas the Audi would have to stop for a splash of diesel. That’s when McNish made the difference. Kristensen handed him a 38-second lead, which he extended to over a minute, giving him time to pit, take on fuel and reach the chequered flag 22 seconds ahead.

Battle between the R15 TDI and the Peugeots will be rejoined at Le Mans on 13 and 14 June and all the signs are that it will be a classic race.