Audi R8 LMS retains Bathurst title
Posted 26th February, 2012 in Audi, Motorsport, Videos | Leave a comment
Christer Jöns, Christopher Mies and Darryl O’Young battled through the rain and fog to ensure that Audi’s R8 LMS could secure its “King of the Mountain” title at Bathurst for the second time in succession.
Even a spin into the gravel trap – resulting in a slip back to third place – could not prevent the black number ‘1’ car from taking the win, and providing the Audi Sport customer racing R8 LMS with its 119th win in three-years.
Sadly, the second R8 LMS from Phoenix Racing didn’t enjoy such a great twelve hours at Mount Panorama Circuit. Piloted by Warren Luff, Craig Lowndes and Mark Eddy, the number ‘2’ car started strong, climbing from fifth on the grid up to the front of the field, until a five-minute time penalty for a severed fuel hose saw the white R8 drop back five laps. During lap 157, Mark Eddy lost control in the tricky conditions, hitting a concrete wall, causing terminal suspension damage. Hong Kong’s Frank Yu suffered a similar fate in the Audi R8 LMS of Team United Autosports, retiring with frame damage on lap 60.
“We were fighting for twelve hours straight, from the beginning through to the end, and we did so in difficult overall conditions. We won but two of the Audi cars did not finish due to accidents. In the end, one R8 LMS made it, and our youngsters prevailed with a really cool showing. A tremendous performance!” said Romolo Liebchen, Head of Customer Sport quattro GmbH.
Race results
1 Jöns/Mies/O’Young (Audi R8 LMS), 270 laps in 12h 03m 31.375s
2 Slade/Bleekemolen/Hackett/Curtis (Mercedes) + 1m 13.284s
3 Sun/Baird/Griffin (Ferrari) – 2 laps
4 Tinkler/Johnson/Richards (Porsche) – 16 laps
5 O’Donnell/Niall/McLennon (Porsche) – 26 laps
6 Alford/Leemhuis/Beechey (Porsche) – 33 laps
7 Pye/Barbour/Pither (Holden) – 39 laps
8 Thomlinson/Dippie/Maddren (Porsche) – 42 laps
9 Thomson/Klien/Harley (Lotus) – 43 laps
10 Newman/Lillie/Atkinson (Holden) – 48 laps
[Source: Audi Motorsport]
