The 24 Hours of Le Mans is without doubt one of the most difficult and spectacular races on the motor sport calendar. The Circuit de la Sarthe since 1923 has hosted this event that the extreme demands of both the car and the drivers. In the preview of the edition of 2012 seemed Audi, winner of 6 of the last 7 races, all the cards in your hands. The factory team from Ingested came with no less than 4 cars to France while Peugeot's largest competitor in recent years, conspicuous by their absence. Moreover, two Audi equipped with a hybrid powertrain, E-tron Quattro baptized. Although Toyota announced some months ago to step back into the long distance racing, the TS030 Hybrid few opportunities imputed.
Start
Soon after the start it was clear that the young Japanese team - until next year at full strength at the start will appear - hardly had to do for the Audi R18's. Although the # 1 Audi took the lead reason Toyota's long time on the third and fourth place. In absolute top speed was the Japanese hybrid accountability to the German version, but with clever tactics and less pit stops knew the TS030 nice to stay on track. In the GTE-Pro class was a long time very similar to number 74 between the Corvette and the Aston Martin Vantage (# 97) which ensured a fascinating pursuit.
Highs and lows
shortly after eight o'clock at night reached the excitement in the Toyota garage a peak when their car # 7 Audi E-Tron # 1 catches up on the long Mulsanne straight stitch direction and thus lead in the game takes over. The excitement was short-lived, half an hour later the race was neutralized by a serious accident. The Toyota # 8, with Anthony Davidson behind the wheel, tried a quick turn of the AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia on the inside to catch up. This amateur rider from the GTE class has the much faster Toyota probably overlooked because while the maneuver he tapped the rear of the LMP1 car. The speed of well over 250 km / h caused the Toyota tens of meters through the air and flew, like the Ferrari hard into the tire stacks ended. The Ferrari driver came with a fright, Anthony Davidson climbed out of the car itself but appeared later in hospital having suffered a broken back.
Exit Toyota
the long safety car period that was necessary to the barriers and guardrail back in order to get ended with a second setback for Toyota. At the resumption caused the traffic sure Toyota # 7 came in contact with the experimental Delta Wing Nissan (# 0). This car, which rode out of competition, was a favorite of the audience and the disappointment was great when this futuristic racer by Toyota in the wall was printed. The collision also meant damage to the TS030 for a long time in the garage had to bring through. Although the car then still on the road has gone deep into the night was also decided the last Toyota garage door to close. The team, however, with his head back to Japan next year and is undoubtedly capable of Audi's more resistance.
Le Mans at night
the night of Le Mans is particularly quietly expired, after a few glitches drove everybody around when the sun came up. At the head was the reshuffling between the two Audi E-trons while the Dutchman Jeroen Bleekemolen very creditable fifth place riding around in the LMP1 car of Rebellion Racing. The Aston Martin GT's was now dropped out and got the number 51 Ferrari to take advantage of trips to the gravel of the leading Chevrolet Corvette.
Audi dominates
in the morning of the race is clear that the rule of Audi this year is no longer threatened. Two of the R18's slip still in the job but the professional pit crew knows the material injury within a short time to repair. In the final laps of the race, the Audi's positioned so that all the cars together on the finishing line. A brilliant triumph. The R18 diesel-hybrid E-tron Quattro, the first two places climb, making it the first hybrid ever to win Le Mans know. The third and fourth place for the 'normal' R18's Ultra, which otherwise the fastest lap on the board managed to bring. Four cars at the start, 24 hours later, four cars crossed the finish line, Audi has at this year's Le Mans once again demonstrated that his own motto literally honors, lead by technology.
