Victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 25 years back: Audi's Domination in the Second Race
On the 17th and 18th of June 2000, Audi was making its mark at Le Mans, one of the most prestigious endurance races in the world. With the powerful Audi R8s and a team of nine exceptional drivers, the Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm teams were poised for success.
Their ambition was proven right as they clinched the victory after a grueling 24-hour race on the 18th of June, marking their first triple win in Le Mans history. This triumph underscored Audi's potential to excel in a new motorsport discipline, fulfilling the promises made after their successful debut the previous year.
Originally, the 1999 entry featured two Audi R8R (open) and two R8C (closed), which evolved into the R8 Sport prototype for the 2000 race. The open, 3.6-liter V8 vehicles were crewed by top driver trios, boosting Audi's confidence in their chances for a victory. As sports director Wolfgang Ullrich put it, "With our successful debut last year and the double victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring in March, we now have a team with which we can confidently go for Audi's first Le Mans victory."
Following the race, the Audi drivers secured the top four places in the driver's championship. Though there were moments of tension during the race, the three R8s ultimately stood on the podium at the end. Frank Biela, Tom Kristensen, and Emanuele Pirro took first place, followed closely by Laurent Aiello, Allan McNish, and Stéphane Ortelli in second. Christian Abt, Michele Alboreto, and Rinaldo Capello completed the podium with third place.
The Reinhold Joest team was instrumental in Audi's success, offering their expertise and extensive experience in endurance racing. Le Mans veterans like Joest, with his 24-hour awake eyes, became the X-factor that set Audi apart from their competitors.
Even though sometimes the race seemed too close to call for Audi, the team never failed to impress, standing on the winner's podium in every race except the last one. By the end of 2000, Audi drivers had racked up an impressive 13 wins at Le Mans.
One of the highlights of the 2000 race was a last-minute parts delivery from Ingolstadt, expertly arranged by team manager Ralf Jüttner and Audi engineer Romolo Liebchen, who transported the essential components on his motocross motorcycle amidst heavy traffic. Despite the challenges, Audi persevered and made history, paving the way for future victories.
Sources:- von Wegner, Alexander and Krone, Lars. "Audi at Le Mans."- "Audi's F1 Plans Still Face Major Hurdles."- "Historical Results: Le Mans 24 Hours."- "Le Mans 24 Hours: Audi's Formula One Ambitions."- "Audi's F1 History."
The press was abuzz with the news of Audi's victorious foray into grand-prix racing, specifically auto-racing events such as Le Mans, after their triple win in June 2000. Moreover, their dominance extended beyond the winner's podium, as Audi drivers secured the top four places in the driver's championship, showcasing their bid for success in new motorsport disciplines.
