CONQUERORS OF THE 78th LE MANS
2010-06-18 15:21:47 Author: admin Source:
Audi is basking in the Le Mans limelight following their all conquering performance at the recent 78th edition endurance race. This season's Le Mans race was hailed as the fastest ever in history with Audi achieving its ninth triumph and a clean sweep of the podium. Audi last secured a clean sweep of the podium in 2004 and previously in 2000 and 2004, and for the first time with diesel-powered cars.
With its ninth victory Audi has equalized Ferrari in the roll of honor of the endurance classic which has been held since 1923. Only Porsche with 16 wins (in 60 events) is even more successful. In total, 24 different marques are on the list of winners. Audi's numbers here at the end of the 78th edition stood; 75% percent winning rate, 23 out of 36 possible podiums, 31 finishes or 79.5% success ratio (9 victories, 5 second places and 9 third places).
For the team of Reinhold Joest this was the eleventh victory and the seventh with Audi. If the exploits by Dauer Racing (1994) and Bentley (2003), in which the team was involved as well, are included in the count, Joest Racing has recorded as many as 13 Le Mans successes .
With an average speed of 225.228 km/h, the 78th edition was the fastest in the history of the race. The other two Audi R15 TDI cars, as well, surpassed the so far best mark from the year 1971 (222.304 km/h) with 224.659 km/h and 223.524 km/h.
The victorious Audi R15 TDI designated as car No. 9 completed a total of 397 laps and led 133 of the total laps. Having covered a distance of 5,410.713 kilometers, it broke the 1971 record set by Dr. Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep in the Porsche 917 (5,335.313 km). Despite the extremely high average speed the winning car consumed just 43.43 liters per 100 kilometers of diesel fuel on average - more than 10 percent less as at Audi’s first Le Mans victory in 2000 when the average was just 208.660 km/h.
The winning car completed the entire distance with only eleven sets of yires (including an additional set required due to a slow puncture shortly before the end of the race). This meant that on average 491.9 kilometers were driven on a single set of tyres. In 2009, the tyres had to been changed about every 330 kilometers - a clear sign for the high efficency of the R15 plus. In total, the victorious R15 TDI pitted 33 times and averaged 20 minutes per stop.
The fastest lap of an Audi R15 TDI in the race was driven by André Lotterer at 3:21.541 on lap 334 which was quicker than Mike Rockenfeller's fastest qualifying lap of 3:21.981.
Another intereting fact is that at an average age of 29, Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Mike Rockenfeller were the youngest driver trio to have clinched a victory at Le Mans. Additionally,
Tom Kristensen in his 14th race at Le Mans clinched his eleventh podium position - eight of which were victories and three were third places.
A total of eleven drivers have won at Le Mans in an Audi up to now: Seiji Ara (1), Timo Bernhard (1), Frank Biela (5), Dindo Capello (1), Romain Dumas (1), Tom Kristensen (6), JJ Lehto (1), Allan McNish (1), Emanuele Pirro (5), Mike Rockenfeller (1) and Marco Werner (3).
Edited/Images: Audi
