24h Le Mans
This weekend, the Red Bull Ring will host the second round of the 2021 European Le Mans Series. Read on for more about this widely appreciated circuit, how to keep up with live action from the race and see the entry list.
The Red Bull Ring hasn’t been on the ELMS calendar since 2018, but this weekend the Austrian circuit will host the second round of the 2021 competition. It will be an opportunity for the teams who triumphed at the 4 Hours of Barcelona to bolster their position while the others will be doing all they can to score precious points. There will be 41 cars on the track: 16 in each of the LMP2 and LMP3 classes, and nine in LMGTE.
“I really enjoy racing at this circuit. It’s quite small and quite fast. It’s also a highly technical track and the race promises to be very interesting. You can’t afford to make a mistake because there are plenty of gravel traps, which can be a problem!” explains Louis Deletraz, driver of the #41 Oreca 07-Gibson for Orlen Team WRT and winner of the 4 Hours of Barcelona with Robert Kubica and Yifei Ye.
Elsewhere in the LMP2 class, there will be much attention on defending champions United Autosports. The #22 Oreca 07-Gibson steered by Phil Hanson, Tom Gamble and Jonathan Aberdein came third at Barcelona but the #32 sister car, with Job van Uitert, Manuel Maldonado and Nicolas Jamin at the wheel, had a disappointing race, finishing ninth overall. Team manager Richard Dean says: “Our LMP2 team is coming off the back of a win at Spa for the WEC and a third place at Barcelona so they also have to give it their all to score maximum points this weekend.”
Watch the 4 Hours of Red Bull Ring live on the European Le Mans Series YouTube channel and website.
Qualifying: 14:50-15:30 on Saturday.
Race: 11:00 on Sunday.
Photo: Robert Kubica in the cockpit of the #41 Oreca 07-Gibson for Orlen Team WRT.
