Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer today strengthened their challenge for the lead of the FIA World Endurance Drivers Championship by taking the No.1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro to victory in the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo, the fourth round of 2013 World Endurance Championship. They led home the No.2 Audi and, in third place overall, the LMP1 Privateer Rebellion Racing Lola Toyota of Prost-Heidfeld-Beche.
LMP2 victory went to the No.26 G-Drive Racing ORECA 03 Nissan, the trio of John Martin, Mike Conway and Roman Rusinov having led from start to finish. They crossed the line one lap ahead of the No.35 OAK Racing Morgan Nissan of Baguette-Gonzalez-Plowman and the No.49 Pecom Racing ORECA of Minassian-Kaffer-Perez Companc.
The nose-to-tail battle for victory in LMGTE Pro went to the No.51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia of Gianmaria Bruni and Giancarlo Fisichella who took the chequered flag 1.4 seconds ahead of the No.97 Aston Martin Vantage of Turner-Mücke. Third in class was the No.91 Porsche AG Team Manthey 911 RSR of Pilet-Bergmeister.
In LMGTE Am, Aston Martin Racing was able to claim a much deserved class victory, the No.96 Vantage V8 of Jamie Campbell-Walter and Stuart Hall crossing the finish line one lap ahead of the No.81 8Star Motorsport Ferrari 458 Italia of Potolicchio-Aguas-Rigon. Porsche was the third manufacturer to mount the podium in the category, the No.88 Proton Competition Porsche 911 GT3 RSR or Ried-Roda-Ruberti taking third place.
Full reports for both LMP1/LMP2 and LMGTE Pro/Am to come soon.
RACE FACTS
18:00:20 Last lap.
17:58:55 A tense moment as Fassler in the #1 Audi passes the battle for GTE Pro Lead with 3 minutes remaining.
17:50:41 Into the final 10 minutes of the race. Positions in prototype categories are stable, but still all to play for the lead in LM GTE Pro.
17:35:01 Bertrand Baguette in the Morgan Nissan #35 is chasing down the G-Drive Oreca Nissan #26, 40 seconds behind with 25 minutes remaining.
17:31:00 Into final 30 minutes the closest chase to the finish is the Ferrari-Aston Martin battle in the LM GTE Pro class between #51 and #97 separated by less than 2 seconds
17:20:08 Final pit stop for #2 Audi. Allan McNish takes over from Duval.
17:16:35 The #24 Oak Racing Morgan Nissan has rejoined after a long stop for repairs, they are now 4 laps behind the back of the LMP2 field.
17:10:27 In LM GTE Am, after the problems for the long time leader #95 Aston Martin, the #96 Aston now leads from the 8 Star Motorsports Ferrari 458 #81
17:08:04 In LM GTE Pro, the #51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 leads by the slimmest of margins from the #97 Aston Martin Vantage V8 and the Porsche 911 RSR #91 in third
17:05:16 G- Drive Oreca Nissan #26 leads LMP2 as they have done consistently from the start, followed by the Morgan Nissan of Oak Racing #35.
17:02:27 Entering the last hour of the race, the #1 Audi leads comfortably overall, 3 laps ahead of sister car #2
Photo: AUTODROMO JOSE CARLOS PACE (INTERLAGOS, SAO PAULO, BRAZIL), 6 HOURS OF SAO PAULO, SUNDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER 2013, RACE. The No.1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro won the 2013 6 Hours of Sao Paulo.
