24h Le Mans
Formed in 2010, the trio of Marcel F
Photo : ACO/Nikon
When they were united in the racing seat of the No. 8 Audi R15+ TDI in 2010, the Swiss, German, and French drivers had four, one and five Le Mans participations respectively. They finished second in a one-two-three finish for the German marque led by Timo Bernhard-Romain Dumas-Mike Rockenfeller.
The 2011 edition would be a big change for Audi, going from the open cockpit design to the closed cockpit. After a pole position by Benoît Tréluyer, the race was marked by the accidents of Allan McNish and Mike Rockenfeller in the Audi R18 TDI. Before midnight, the German team could only count on Fässler-Lotterer-Tréluyer in their lone Audi against four Peugeot. On Sunday morning, an incredible race began between the surviving Audi and the 908 driven by Bourdais-Lamy-Pagenaud. The win would remain undecided until 3pm : only 13 seconds, or 800 metres, separated the two cars. After that first legendary win, Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer would repeat in 2012, taking pole position as well (this time Lotterer). Once again, their victory was historic. Driving the Audi R18 e-tron quattro, they gave a hybrid prototype its first victory in the 80th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Endurance drivers World Champions in 2012, they just lost the crown to their teammates Loïc Duval-Tom Kristensen-Allan McNish. The two driving squads both have three wins this season ahead of the final round of the FIA World Endurance Championship in Bahrain on Nov. 30. Last year's race was won by Fässler-Lotterer-Tréluyer, also winners of the penultimate round of the 2013 season at Shanghai on Nov. 9.
Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translated by Rainier Ehrhardt / ACO
Photo : LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HEURES DU MANS, FINISH, JUNE 12, 2011. The chequered flag welcomed the first Sarthe victory for Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer (driving) and Benoît Tréluyer, who never had a moment's rest against Peugeot on Sunday morning.
