Audi takes dramatic win

Audi is the endurance racing king. Team boss Wolfgang Ullrich was in tears as the three R15 TDIs crossed the line in formation at Le Mans, completing Audi’s fourth 1-2-3 victory.

But instead of the car of established endurance legends Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen, Dindo Capello taking the win, Audi ushered in a changing of the guard with its junior line-up of Romain Dumas, Timo Bernhard and Mike Rockenfeller taking their maiden victory. What's more, the team set a new distance record of 397 laps over 24 hours, which equates to 3,361.6miles.

Peugeot went into the race as favourites, and quickly established their superiority by taking the first four places on the grid in qualifying. And true to form, they sped off into the distance, leaving all in their wake.

But the tide began to turn when a suspension problem damaged the tub of the number three car after three hours, putting it out of the race. The number one and two cars remained comfortably ahead over night, but engine failures claimed both cars leaving the privateer ORECA car to maintain Peugeot’s hopes of a podium while the Audis swept into the lead. However, that too succumbed to engine failure, ending the French firm’s chances and left the Audis free to run to the finish in style.

The race for the lead was backed up by drama continuing throughout the field. Nigel Mansell’s race ended almost before it began after a puncture caused him to crash, while the number 64 Corvette was a victim of Anthony Davidson’s flying Peugeot when it swerved and crashed trying to get out of the way of the 908. The ’Vette had been in the lead of the GT2 class at the time.

The Aston Martins looked like taking the petrol-powered LMP1 title, but a crash, punctures, gearbox problems and an engine failure spoiled the progress of the three cars. The BMW M3 Art Car had a torrid time, with a number of problems including a broken wheel eventually causing its retirement. Engine failures and crashes meant that less that 50 per cent of the 55 cars which started made it to the finish.

Porsche took the win in GT2, with the Felbermayr car driven by the firm’s factory drivers at the helm. The victory came on the 40th anniversary of Porsche’s first Le Mans win. The Saleen took the GT1 win in a fairly dull class, vindicating the French governing body of Le Mans’ decision to remove the class next year, while LMP2 was won by the Strakka HPD car.