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The 24 Hours of Le Mans 2008: Audi holds off Peugeot for Dramatic Finish
The Race: Twenty four hours is a lifetime when you are evaluating the 1,440 minute time period methodically with each minute being just as relevant as the next. From sunshine to sunset to sunrise, and of course weather imperfections such as rain, the French endurance race held on a 8.5-mile circuit challenges the technical capabilities of the teams and the emphatic hearts of the drivers. It’s the 76th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the stakes are high for every competitor in each of the four classes: LM P1, LM P2, LM GT1 & LM GT2. Hundreds of thousands of spectators had ventured from all over Europe, Asia and across the pond to support their countrymen in the day/night race and witness firsthand the waving of the prestigious checkered flag. The ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest) which organizes the 24 Hours of Le Mans is to thank for yet another spectacular year.
 The Winner: Literally the Super Bowl of racing, this year’s grandiose race saw a Magic Johnson versus Larry Byrd style showdown with Audi (LM P1) defending four previous and consecutive wins (seven in the last 8 races) against Peugeot’s magnificent 908 HDI FAP prototypes which were running faster than Audi’s R10 TDI. But in the end experience became the determining factor as the Audi #2 car driven by Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen and Dindo Capello took it all even after a crash almost 22 hours into the race with the #32 Barazi Epsilon Zytek 07S. The R10 came out unscathed but the Zytek had to hit the pits. Kristensen finished the race victorious for Audi in 381 laps. "The Audi team has been very impressive and intimidating. We have really been beaten by the drivers. The Audi drivers were very strong," sadly stated Peugeot’s Jacques Villeneuve. Peugeot was leading for the first half of the race when I turned it in for some sleep. Upon awakening I quickly learned that Audi’s Kristensen had stole the lead on the 234th lap in the rain from Villeneuve’s #7 Peugeot. “The best place on earth for any racing driver is up here on the podium of the Le Mans 24 hours. After we had to retire last year, I really thought that our chance had gone by and that we would never get the opportunity again. Audi did everything they could for this to become possible this year, and they made it happen here, before your eyes,” said an ecstatic Capello.
 Audi MotorSport History: Now with eight victories in nine attempts, Audi MotorSport adds yet another year of bragging rights as one of the premier motorsports companies in the world. Such accomplishments not only showcase the German marque’s dominance on the track but exemplifies its position as a world class builder of road ready sportscars as is the case with the Audi R8 and R8 TDI Le Mans which features a twelve-cylinder turbo-diesel. It allows engineers to experiment with race technologies such as braking, transmissions, direct injection, turbo charging, etc.
 The R10 TDI: Yet, the most defining technology is Audi’s TDI engine which offers increasing power from a special formula of Shell V-Power Diesel. Its powerful aluminum 5.5-liter V12 TDI engine produces 650 massive horses and 811 pound-feet of torque. As a replacement to the R8, the newer R10 won 2006 and 2007 and gave Audi Sport reason to believe in the future of its advanced technologies. The twin turbocharged prototype blows by fast and quietly like ninja sneak attacks on the track. Audi also has Michelin to thank for supplying not only the tires but years of experience in racing technologies. For it was tire strategy and technology that ultimately won the race for the R10 on a wet course. And with so much torque to the pavement and operating with a heavier vehicle, Michelin had to devise the proper formula for all three types of tires (slicks, intermediates, rain tires). In total, Michelin supplies 8,000 tires to 60% of the teams with each team using approximately thirty sets of slicks and a range of intermediates and rain tires.
 LM P2, GT1 & GT2: Bragging rights also goes to Porsche in the LM P2 category with a one-two finish. Aston Martin defended their 2007 title this year with a win by the DBR 9 and Ferrari killed the competition in the LM GT2 class with 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place finishes.
The Le Mans Experience: Whether you are a driver, spectator or team owner, Le Mans attracts all those that have an incurable passion for motorsports. Many even use this time period as a vacation as did some of my media colleagues. In our case we flew into Paris on Thursday and spent a day as tourists wandering the magnificent city with micro maps and enjoying French cuisine. Friday, I woke up early and jumped in the new 2009 Audi A4 with my driving partner George Achorn and preceded three hours south for Le Mans. And best believe you haven’t experienced anything until you drive in Paris. Nope. Not even New York can compare. Later that day at Le Mans, a small city town that only seems to liven up during the second week in June, we enjoyed the enduring parade which kicks off the race. Samba girls, classics, race cars, bikes, and more entertained us for hours. The next day, Saturday, we headed to the track for the big day. The place was filled with thousands of tents from hardcore spectators, sponsor exhibits, a carnival, and of course VIP lounges. Three p.m. hit and the race began. Three Peugeots led for a good while. Yet, you know how this story ends!
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Audi Teams Get Ready
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Hardcore Campers |
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2009 Audi A4 in Paris
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Aston Martin Motorsports |
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Audi at the Parade
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Audi Drivers in Parade |
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Audi Drivers
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Audi R8 TDI Le Mans |
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Audi Safety Car
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Grand Marnier Crepes |
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Kimatni & Road & Track's Sam Mitani
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2007 Le Mans winning Audi R10 TDI |
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Ferrari FXX at the Parade
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Audi Teams Get Ready |
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Happy at the Parade
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Kimatni's Race Dreams |
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Time to Celebrate
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Shell at work |
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Kimatni & Audi driver Dindo Capello
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Michelin Dominance |
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