Audi 2014 Annual Report Download - page 113

The race flows over the asphalt, resembling a sea of fast-The race flows over the asphalt, resembling a sea of fast-
moving lights that flows from the forest and breaks through the moving lights that flows from the forest and breaks through the
darkness before disappearing again into the dark, blackish-darkness before disappearing again into the dark, blackish-
green on the other side. The # and # Audi cars continue to green on the other side. The # and # Audi cars continue to
hold down places two and three as they pursue the Toyota hold down places two and three as they pursue the Toyota
leading the race.leading the race.
Shortly before  a.m., a problem with the # Audi R e-tron Shortly before  a.m., a problem with the # Audi R e-tron
quattro puts the team of technicians into high alert. quattro puts the team of technicians into high alert.
Tom Kristensen immediately steers the race car into the pit. Tom Kristensen immediately steers the race car into the pit.
The diagnostic systems indicate that an injection nozzle is The diagnostic systems indicate that an injection nozzle is
defective even while the car is still on its way into the pits. The defective even while the car is still on its way into the pits. The
engineers and technicians immediately get to work and engineers and technicians immediately get to work and
complete the complex operation on the heart of the Audi R complete the complex operation on the heart of the Audi R
e-tron quattro in under seven minutes. A tremendous achievee-tron quattro in under seven minutes. A tremendous achieve--
ment at record speed. ment at record speed.
At  a.m., the # Toyota, until then the fastest car, retires At  a.m., the # Toyota, until then the fastest car, retires
with an electrical problem. At first there is no sign of the car with an electrical problem. At first there is no sign of the car
anywhere.anywhere.
The drivers cranked up their ambition a notch. Everything has The drivers cranked up their ambition a notch. Everything has
been going well for hours now. Then, at around  a.m., the # been going well for hours now. Then, at around  a.m., the #
Audi R e-tron quattro suddenly develops some problems and Audi R e-tron quattro suddenly develops some problems and
has to pit. Time for # to live up to its name. has to pit. Time for # to live up to its name.
At around  a.m., # has a comfortable lead. Over the #
Porsche. Directly behind them is André Lotterer in the # Audi.
At : a.m. he shows his spirit and records the fastest lap
so far at :. minutes.so far at :. minutes.
Pure drama Pure drama ! At : a.m., the # Audi develops turbo trouble ;
Tom Kristensen immediately turns into the pits. The red-hot
turbocharger has to be replaced. Everyone fears the worst, since
engine-related repairs are complicated and time-consuming.
In the meantime, Porsche regains the lead. In the meantime, Porsche regains the lead.
The race is wearing everyone down. Just a few hours until the
end, and the tension is also mounting among the spectators
and journalists. The Audi drivers are giving it their all, working
their way to the front bit by bit and with the strategic support
of the race team. # is in third place while # is battling for
first. first.
Then at : p.m., the race comes to a sudden end for the # Then at : p.m., the race comes to a sudden end for the #
Porsche Porsche : engine damage. The # Audi R e-tron quattro takes : engine damage. The # Audi R e-tron quattro takes
over the lead, closely followed by the # Audi. The first spectators over the lead, closely followed by the # Audi. The first spectators
begin to celebrate – Audi can no longer be stopped. A spectacbegin to celebrate – Audi can no longer be stopped. A spectac--
ular, hard-fought and highly deserved victory for the entire ular, hard-fought and highly deserved victory for the entire
Audi team, which this year was sorely tested. Audi team, which this year was sorely tested.
It’s  p.m. The team and the fans celebrate. Audi has once It’s  p.m. The team and the fans celebrate. Audi has once
again demonstrated “Vorsprung durch Technik.”again demonstrated “Vorsprung durch Technik.”
PHOTOS : PHOTOS : AUDI AGAUDI AG
18 STRATEGIC ADVANTAGESTRATEGIC ADVANTAGE
“Audi with Benoît Tréluyer in the #2 car took over the lead of the race
for the first time after 5 a.m.” for the first time after 5 a.m.” Allan McNishAllan McNish
19 LEAD CHANGELEAD CHANGE
“When Marcel Fässler had to pit, we took over the lead in the
sister car.” sister car.” Tom KristensenTom Kristensen
20 PURSUITPURSUIT
“We expanded our lead with the #1 to two laps and just had to bring
this lead home.” this lead home.” Tom KristensenTom Kristensen
22 TEAMWORKTEAMWORK
“The ‘best team in the world’ only needed 17 minutes to perform the
replacement.” Tom KristensenTom Kristensen
21 MURPHY’S LAWMURPHY’S LAW
“At Le Mans you can never feel too secure about your
position.” Allan McNishAllan McNish
23 SUPERVISIONSUPERVISION
“We knew how strong the opposition is. It was easy enough for us to
check the lap times. We were able to get closer again.” Chris ReinkeChris Reinke
24 FINAL SPURTFINAL SPURT
“We came out of nowhere, were almost out of the race, and now we “We came out of nowhere, were almost out of the race, and now we
are incredibly proud.” Tom KristensenTom Kristensen
17 TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANTAGETECHNOLOGICAL ADVANTAGE
“Thanks to the telemetry data, we knew before he got here what
needed to be repaired.” Chris ReinkeChris Reinke
16 FOCUSEDFOCUSED
“One of the team’s strengths is that it is focused. The adrenaline
level is high, but is used positively.” Allan McNishAllan McNish
15 VIGILANCEVIGILANCE
“The night is always something special. The drivers have to remain
flawless and consistently fast even in the dark.” Chris ReinkeChris Reinke