Audi look forward to its Japanese premiere
Audi has known enormous success wherever it has raced, most particularly at the 24 Hours of Le Mans where it has taken 11 victories in 13 years and, in June this year, an historic first win for a hybrid-powered car. But, surprisingly, on Sunday 14th October the German marque will be making its racing debut in Japan in the 6 Hours of Fuji and it is up against strong opponents, notably Toyota Racing entry who are determined to do well on home soil.
After coping with the intense heat of Bahrain, the five drivers now face more uncertain weather conditions at the track which is in the shadow of Mount Fuji. However, a little rain will hold no fear for the super-successful line up which includes Fuji experts André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer who have the benefit of many years of racing in the Land of the Rising Sun. The German relocated his career to Japan in 2003 and the Frenchman has spent as many as twelve years of his life as a racer in the Far East. Tom Kristensen spent several seasons driving in Japan in the 1990s and Allan McNish also has a large number of test and race kilometres under his belt at a number of different circuits in the country. Only Marcel Fässler has never been to Japan.
Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): "We’re looking forward to the race at Fuji. It’ll be held in completely different conditions than the past round. Instead of the high temperatures and desert sun I’m expecting around ten degrees less and changeable conditions. Two of our drivers - André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer - have an enormous wealth of experience at Fuji. I’m hoping for us to be able to show a similarly strong performance in Japan as in Bahrain."
Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest): "Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer are traveling to Japan with a relatively comfortable advantage. If our cars had finished in reverse order in Bahrain our two driver squads would only have been separated by half a point [in the drivers’ championship]. The battle remains thrilling. André and Benoît know the track well because they’ve got many years of experience in Japan. I’m looking forward to a nice battle between our cars and a fierce competition with Toyota."
Tom Kristensen, No.2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro: “I love being in Japan, I spent an important part of my career there. From 1992 to 1995, I was regularly driving in Japan and sporadically again in 1996. I celebrated my sports car debut there as well, as team-mate to Eddie Irvine and Jacques Villeneuve. And I also won the Le Mans 24 Hours for the Japanese Team Goh once. I’ve got very close ties to the country and its people and owe them a lot. Now I’m returning to Japan with Audi and Audi Sport Team Joest. Back in those days I was living in Gotemba and now we’re racing at Fuji, just a few kilometres away from there. I’m basically familiar with the track but the modified final section is new to me too.”
Allan McNish, No. 2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro: “I’ve spent a lot of time in Japan as a racer, for instance as a Formula 1 test driver in the nineties, then as a sports car driver and again in Formula 1. I’m expecting the fans to show a really positive response to the Fuji 6 Hours. I’m familiar with the new track layout which I came to know at the wheel of an Audi R8 V10. The circuit has retained a lot of its traditional characteristics. The first part is fast and fluid and the last one very technical and difficult with a lot of camber change and general elevation change as well. This section of the track can heavily influence the race result, both due to the vehicle set-up and the time loss when lapping other cars. The weather at Fuji is unpredictable in October. When it rains in this mountain region it pours.”
Fiona Miller (quotes from Audi Motorsport press release)
Photo: AUDI SPORT TEAM JOEST DRIVERS (left to right): Tom Kristensen, Marcel Fässler, Allan McNish, Benoît Tréluyer, André Lotterer with Dieter Gass, Audi’s Head of Racing Commitments
