Allan McNish recorded an encouraging third place in his diesel-engined Audi R18 TDI in Belgium today (7 May) which marked the diesel-engined Coupé’s race début.
The Scotsman along with co-drivers Tom Kristensen (Denmark) and Dindo Capello (Italy) finished a lap behind the winning Peugeot in a 1,000km race at Spa after a puncture necessitated an unscheduled pit-stop late in the race. “A podium position is always a good result especially for the championship but it’s nevertheless frustrating only to get third place after starting one, two three on the grid,” stated McNish.
“It was a very close fight at times with Peugeot but unfortunately after encountering a few problems the end result wasn’t in our favour. We now go away and closely analyse the data of our new R18 TDI in time for Le Mans.”
Audi treated the second round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup staged at the spectacular 4.35-mile Spa-Francorchamps track as a “dress rehearsal” for the Le Mans 24 Hours (11-12 Jun) in which the German manufacturer bids for it 10th race victory since 1999.
The McNish/Kristensen/Capello Audi, which made its public début at last month’s Le Mans official test day in which it set the quickest time, started from third place – behind the two “sister” Audi R18 TDI sports-prototypes – on the 53-car grid following Kristensen’s efforts in qualifying the previous day.
McNish snatched second place but spun while challenging for the lead on the opening lap of the race watched by a crowd of over 35,000 around the Ardennes track bathed in warm sunshine. He resumed 16th but recovered to fourth after 30mins. Capello took over from McNish on 100mins before handing over their fourth placed Audi to Kristensen with just over two hours remaining.
The Dane moved up to third place with 35minutes remaining – having earlier got to within 14-secs of the second placed Peugeot before having to pit with a slow puncture.
The Spa race, which marked the one and only race prior to the Le Mans 24 Hours, saw the “sister” Audi R18 TDI sport-prototypes of 2010 Le Mans winners Timo Bernhard (D)/Romain Dumas (F)/Mike Rockenfeller (D) plus Marcel Fässler (CH)/André Lotterer (D)/Benoît Treluyer (F) finish fourth and fifth respectively after starting from first and second places in an Audi 1-2-3 qualifying “lock out”.
Tréluyer had to make an unscheduled stop after picking up an unusually large piece of rubber “pick up” on his front left-hand tyre. Shortly afterwards the same problem occurred again, causing the Frenchman to slide into the gravel trap.
Bernhard, who had started from pole-position, was touched by another car which damaged the Audi’s rear hood and diffuser which had to be changed while all three Audi R18 TDI sportscars had to make a brief refuelling stop shortly before the finish.
Source : Allan McNish