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Quotes after the race

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): "I think this was the most difficult race we ever did at Le Mans – even more difficult than the rain-soaked race in 2001. This was topped this time due to the strong competition, the many incidents and the rain in the final hours. We managed to get one car to the finish in these difficult circumstances winning against strong competitors. This was a fantastic achievement of the whole team. We wanted to prove that we have the best technology with Audi TDI Power, the best drivers and the best teams. We achieved that. This triumph shows one more time the meaning of ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’.”

Dindo Capello (Audi R10 TDI #2): "I lost the rear left wheel at Indianapolis corner at approximately 260 kph. It was a horrible feeling – I was just a passenger – I couldn’t do anything to prevent a crash and I just hoped for the best. But thankfully I was in an Audi and I know that our engineers always put safety first. Despite such a heavy impact, I am in one piece and completely uninjured. But honestly no words can explain how I currently feel.”

Allan McNish (Audi R10 TDI #2): "We had a strong car that dominated the race for almost 17 hours allowing us to build a lead of over three laps – thanks not only to the speed of our Audi but fantastic strategy and great teamwork. But then Le Mans bit us and bit us very hard. I feel extremely hollow because it now means it’s another year before I can come back here again and have another crack at winning the world’s greatest sports car race again.”

Tom Kristensen (Audi R10 TDI #2): "Wow. We had a great car, had enjoyed perfect teamwork and were really dominating from the very first lap until Dindo’s unfortunate accident. It’s hard to believe and right now difficult to understand. Everything had been good and fine for us. Such an experience is hard on anyone, especially at Le Mans.”

The results at 24h. Le Mans (pdf)

1 Biela/Pirro/Werner (Audi R10 TDI) 369 laps
2 Lamy/Sarrazin/Bourdais (Peugeot 908 Hdi FAP) -10 laps
3 Collard/Bouillon/Dumas (Pescarolo Judd) + 11 laps

More than 260,000 spectators witnessed one of the most exciting 24 Hour races in the history of Le Mans. Changing weather conditions at the beginning claimed the Audi R10 TDI with start number 3 when Mike Rockenfeller left the rain-soaked track on his third lap and collided backwards into the armco barriers.

The impressive showing of Dindo Capello, Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish came to a premature end as well: After having controlled the race with a considerable margin for more than 16 hours, the left rear wheel of their Audi R10 TDI loosened on Sunday morning. Dindo Capello who celebrated his 43rd birthday on Sunday was behind the wheel of the car. He had no chance of avoiding the accident.

Thus, during the last five-and-a-half hours, all hopes for Audi were left on the shoulders of the Audi R10 TDI with start number 1 of Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Marco Werner. Conditions were extremely difficult owing to torrential rain in the final phase of the race, however, the established Audi drivers mastered this task with bravado. The impressive winning margin of Marco Werner over the second-placed Peugeot was ten laps at the finish line.

After its seventh Le Mans triumph, Audi has moved up to third place in the historic records during the 75th edition of the French endurance classic. Only Porsche and Ferrari have won at Le Mans more often than Audi.

"This was certainly the most difficult race that we have ever contested at Le Mans”, said Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG after the finish. "So this victory counts even more. On the race track, we have shown once more that we have the best technology, the best drivers and the best team. Everybody within Audi can be proud of this success.”