The secret stars of the eighth round of the ALMS were the mechanics of the Team Audi Sport North America. After damage to the rear of the Infineon Audi R8 of Rinaldo Capello and Tom Kristensen, most likely the result of contact traffic, they changed the suspension’s toe-link in record time so that Capello only lost two laps. After that, a furious recovery through the rolling countryside on the Pacific coast began.

Capello caused the spectators along the trackside to hold their breath: Coming back on the track in eighth place, he sliced back up the leaderboard to achieve fourth position. Thanks to his strong finale, Capello almost made it to the podium: He reduced the gap to JJ Lehto from over 20 to less than three seconds at the chequered flag despite a lot of traffic after a spectacular recovery drive.

Rinaldo Capello: “After we had changed the toe-link, I resumed in eighth position. From that moment on I simply pushed like hell. When I had JJ Lehto’s car in my sight three laps before the finish line, I thought that I could probably catch him. But then there was too much traffic and my chance for the podium was gone.”