• Belgian Audi Club Team WRT dominates Blancpain Sprint Series
  • Lucas di Grassi celebrates podium in the FIA Formula E
  • Thousands of spectators at technical scrutineering in Le Mans
Blancpain Sprint Series Zolder 2015
Audi R8 LMS ultra #1 (Belgian Audi Club Team WRT), Laurens Vanthoor, Robin Frijns

Commanding performance at home race: the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT celebrated a start-to-finish victory in the third round of the Blancpain Sprint Series season at Zolder.

Perfect weekend in the Blancpain Sprint Series
The Belgian Audi Club Team WRT celebrated victory at its home race in the Blancpain Sprint Series: in the third event of the season at Zolder, Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns claimed a commanding start-to-finish victory in the Audi R8 LMS ultra with start number ‘1’. Vanthoor/Frijns dominated the entire weekend: Vanthoor took pole position for Saturday’s qualifying race, which the duo also won. After having now taken two victories from the last two events, the Belgian-Dutch duo has extended its lead in the overall rankings to 44 points.

Podium for Sébastien Loeb Racing
Sébastien Loeb Racing claimed a podium finish in the French GT Championship. In the second race of the weekend at Spa- Francorchamps, David Hallyday/Philippe Gaillard/Mike Parisy took third place after 37 laps. The Audi R8 LMS ultra with start number ‘3’ produced a good performance in qualifying for the second race around the demanding circuit in the Ardennes when Mike Parisy set the fastest lap in the race against the clock.

Thousands of fans visit technical scrutineering in Le Mans
The most important motorsport week of the year for Audi started on Sunday in the Le Mans city center. A large audience at the Place de la République enjoyed summery temperatures while following technical scrutineering of the racecars for the 24-hour race. All three Audi R18 e-tron quattro went through the technical checks and are thus eligible to start practice beginning on Wednesday and the race. Eight of Audi’s nine racing drivers were visible on the team photo. Marco Bonanomi was missing, because he was busy competing for a private Audi team in the customer racing program in Belgium where he scored six points.

Lucas di Grassi celebrates podium in Moscow
Lucas di Grassi finished second and his sixth podium result in nine races as Formula E enjoyed its premiere in Moscow. The Audi factory driver, who competes for Audi Sport ABT Formula-E Team in the series for pure electric driven formula cars, moves up to second again in the championship. The final two races of the season are held in London on June 27-28. Beforehand, the Brazilian competes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans again at the wheel of an Audi R18 e-tron quattro.

Tom Kristensen presents book in Le Mans
The nine-time Le Mans winner and long-time Audi factory driver Tom Kristensen will for the first time, in the coming week, present a new book illustrating his entire career – from the early days in karting to the victories in the French endurance classic. “The Book” will be presented in Le Mans on Wednesday of race week and will be available on site and on www.tomkristensen.com. The comprehensive 304-page book is written in English, Danish and German.

Playmate Doreen Seidel is bursting to run in Audi Sport TT Cup
Doreen Seidel has successfully completed the preparation for her first run as a guest driver in the Audi Sport TT Cup. At Audi Sport’s Competence Center Motorsport in Neuburg an der Donau, the 2008 Playmate of the Year climbed into the cup race car for the new one-make cup for the first time. “It was tremendous fun,” Seidel said, summing up the experience. “The race car is not only nice to look at, but very good to drive as well. I already love the car and can hardly wait for the races at the Norisring to start.” The second race weekend of the Audi Sport TT Cup will be held as part of the DTM in Nuremberg on June 27 and 28.

A word from ... Benoît Tréluyer

The Audi driver eagerly awaits the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The most important race event of the year started with technical scrutineering on Sunday. How well did Audi prepare for the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

We tested our new racecars for eight hours during the test day a week ago. The unsettled weather conditions meant that the results were less representative for all the teams. However, as at the first two races in the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC, we saw just how well the team is prepared from the human aspect, technically and organizationally.

The latest generation Audi R18 e-tron quattro is even more economical and, at the same time, quicker than its very efficient predecessor. What impression do you have of the racecar?

The new Audi is agile and comfortable to drive. This is of course worth its weight in gold during an endurance race. The development steps made each year are always amazing for us racing drivers. It’s impressive to see how the Audi engineers work. We have less fuel available, but as compensation our hybrid system recuperates twice as much energy than before and we are several seconds faster. Be it chassis, engine or aerodynamics – the R18 e-tron quattro feels better in every area than its predecessor.

Le Mans is your home race as well. Although you live in the south of France, you come from Alençon 60 kilometers north of Le Mans. Do you still have any connections with this region?

Yes of course, I spent the last few days here. I was invited to a wedding and also visited my parents who live here. It’s a good feeling to come back to your roots regularly. And of course, I’m looking forward to the race week, because this race is incomparable.

You’ve won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times already with your team mates André Lotterer and Marcel Fässler. How do you feel about this year?

With so many illustrious opponents, the competition is the hardest it has been for some time now. I think the race is completely open. As always, it’s all about getting through quickly and reliably and without making any mistakes. I believe that we’ll only really get an idea about who can win at the earliest at sunrise on Sunday. I’ve trained thoroughly for months and come well rested to the race. The week can begin.

Coming up next week
12/06 Loïc Duval turns 33 years of age
13/06 Filipe Albuquerque turns 30 years of age
13-14/06 Le Mans (F), 24-hour race, WEC round 3
13-14/06 Silverstone (GB), GT Cup Championship races 10, 11 and 12
14/06 Jamie Green turns 33 years of age