WEC - Audi will not appeal its exclusion at Silverstone
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WEC - Audi will not appeal its exclusion at Silverstone

The No. 7 Audi R18 that won at the 6 Hours of Silverstone, opening round of the 2016 World Endurance Championship (WEC), was excluded for noncompliance with a technical regulation. Though initially the German manufacturer had announced it would appeal the decision, it has since changed its mind.

After post-race scrutineering at the 6 Hours of Silverstone, the marshals determined the thickness of the front skid block on the No. 7 Audi R18 driven by three-time Le Mans winners Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer failed to comply with Article 3.5.6 a3 of the LM P1 technical regulations. The car was therefore excluded, but Audi immediately announced its decision to appeal, the results then remaining provisional until a jury could decide the case.

After analysis of the skid block in question, Audi ended up deciding to withdraw its appeal, blaming the excessive wear on signficant bouncing, the car having been subjected to unexpected vertical movements during the six hours of racing.

Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Sport: "We accept the exclusion from the classification and, in the interest of the sport, jointly look ahead. The skid block suffered above-average wear during the season opener. An analysis revealed that its wear was attributable to unexpectedly heavy 'bouncing,' in other words an up and downward movement of the race car. It it is our job to avoid increased wear, we accept this responsibility. We made our decision in the interest of the sport and hope that the eight remaining world championship rounds will be similarly thrilling as the season opener."

Prior to the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 18th and 19th, which Audi has won 13 times, the competitors in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) will head to the Belgian Ardennes for the WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on May 7th.

Cécile Bonardel / ACO (quotation from Audi press release) - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

PHOTO: TOWCESTER (NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, U.K.), SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT, FIA WEC, 6 HOURS OF SILVERSTONE, FRIDAY APRIL 15 2016. The No. 7 Audi crossed the finish line the winner, but has been excluded in the results.

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