Nico Müller clinches 2020 #RaceHome title early
The penultimate sim racing round of the 2020 #RaceHome season was characterized above all by the thrilling duel for the drivers’ title. Only Robin Frijns was in the running to deny an early championship triumph for his teammate Nico Müller in the ninth round on the virtual circuit of Fuji Speedway. The two drivers from Abt Sportsline, the winners of the teams’ title, were separated by 16 points. Unlike Frijns, Müller missed the direct entry into the semi-finals in his qualification round. But, the Swiss withstood the increasing pressure and took the chance in the last qualification sprint race to still secure a spot in the semi-final. There was an exchange of contact between the two remaining title contenders. Frijns tried all he could to keep as many positions between him and his teammate, while trying to reach the final by finishing in at least second place. Müller did his best to oppose this with his Castrol Edge Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo. However, on the second lap, the Swiss did not leave enough room for his opponent Frijns at the exit of the first corner in order that he could safely return to the track. Müller received a request from the race director Frank Biela to return his position, but he did not do so and was disqualified. Nevertheless, Frijns finished third and missed the opportunity to score the ten necessary points in the final super finale, which would have kept the title decision open. The battle for the day’s victory was between Audi DTM driver Mike Rockenfeller and guest driver Thomas Poizot, the winner of the design competition. Rockenfeller started from pole position in his long-awaited first #RaceHome final, but he lost the lead immediately after the start. While braking into the Dunlop chicane, Rockenfeller was able to overtake Poizot again, but the Frenchman stayed close behind Rockenfeller and used the slipstream on the long straight to cross the finish line as the winner with an advance of only eleven thousandths of a second.
24h Le Mans hour 5: record breaking laps for Audi
Man of the fifth hour during the 24-hour race at Le Mans was Filipe Albuquerque: on his 30th birthday, the Portuguese repeatedly bettered the existing lap record in the Audi R18 e-tron quattro #9 before leaving the new mark at 3m 17.647s. As a result, he was able to catch the leading Porsche #17 of Brendon Hartley before each refueling stop. The race to catch up continued for the other two R18: Benoît Tréluyer ran second at 20.00 in R18 #7 only 44 seconds behind the leader. In R18 #8, Lucas di Grassi moved ever closer to the sixth and seventh placed Toyotas ahead of him. Positions after 5 hours: 1 Porsche #17 2 Audi #7 3 Audi #9 4 Porsche #19 5 Porsche #18 6 Toyota #1 ... 8 Audi #8
24h Le Mans Hour 6: #9 Audi leads for the first time
For the second time an Audi has taken the lead in the Le Mans 24 Hours: with consistently fast lap times, Filipe Albuquerque in the #9 Audi R18 e-tron quattro moved into position one at 20.25 before pitting for the next refueling stop 20 minutes later, handing the leading position back over to the #17 Porsche. The group of front runners moved together in the third hour: at 21.00, the leading #17 Porsche, the #7 Audi and #9 Audi were within ten seconds of each other. Lucas di Grassi in the #8 R18 pushed himself in front of both Toyota cars. After the first quarter of the race, that meant that all three Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars of Audi Sport Team Joest were back in the top six. Positions after 5 hours: 1 Porsche #17 2 Audi #7 3 Audi #9 4 Porsche #19 5 Porsche #18 6 Audi #8
24h Le Mans Hour 20: Drive-through penalty for the #7 R18
Between 10.00 and 11.00 the next driver changes were scheduled in the 24-hour race at Le Mans. Marco Bonanomi took over driving duties of the third-placed Audi R18 e-tron quattro #9 from René Rast, André Lotterer car number ‘7’ from Marcel Fässler and Loïc Duval number ‘8’ from Oliver Jarvis. Against the #7 Audi R18 e-tron quattro a drive-through penalty was imposed for a violation of the regulations in a ‘slow zone’ in the previous hour. Positions after 20 hours: 1 Porsche #19 2 Porsche #17 3 Audi #9 4 Audi #7 5 Audi #8 6 Porsche #18
Audi shows concept for Formula E car of the future
Aggressive rear wings, a distinctive fin behind the cockpit and a new front with exposed wheels – with the Gen2 EVO, Formula E already provides a glimpse of the all-electric racing series’ future. Before the official unveiling of the car at the Geneva Motor Show at the beginning of March, Audi is now showing its concept design for the Audi e-tron FE07 to be fielded starting next season. At the end of 2020, Formula E will enter its seventh season and be held as an official FIA World Championship for the first time. Aside from the visual modifications that are identically specified for all teams, the development of the powertrain remains the manufacturers’ prerogative. Thus, Formula E will continue to provide an opportunity for Audi to demonstrate its expertise in electrified powertrains going forward.