Historical success for Audi in the 24 Hours of Le Mans
Major event of last weekend, four-twentieth edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans delivered its verdict, a prototype Audi has prevailed. Until then nothing really abnormal, the German manufacturer having conquered all editions of this legendary ordeal since 2000 (except 2003 - Bentley victory - and 2009, Peugeot). But Audi Sport has won this edition with a new technology and car, the R18 e-tron quattro four-wheel drive machine has a turbodiesel engine and electricity. This is the very first hybrid car win a race in a world-class, the feat is size.
In fact, if the first quarter of the race has been marked by the duel between Audi and Toyota, which it was the return to Le Mans with hybrid prototypes (motor gasoline / electricity in this case), the abandonment of Japanese machines Following a spectacular crash and an engine failure, a door to a successful Audi ensures the nightfall. Different but are all the same incidents disrupted the march to victory German prototypes, making the limit somewhat unpredictable as to the name of Audi drivers would find themselves on the highest step of the podium.
In the end, the Swiss driver Marcel Fassler and Andre Lotterer teammates German and French Benoit Treluyer who have overcome the R18 with the number 1, as already victorious with R18 TDI last year. The second Audi R18 e-tron quattro, the trio McNish / Capello / Kristensen finished in second position and R18 Ultra (TDI engine) of Rockenfeller / Jarvis / Bonanomi third. The first car'' conventional'', that is to say, a prototype fuel petrol is only a Lola-Toyota Team Swiss Rebellion Racing, driven by Nicolas Prost (son of Alain Prost) Neel Jani and Nick Heidfeld. They finished fourth, but more than ten rounds of the winning Audi.
The fight has also been very good in GT category, the win going to the Ferrari 458 Italia of Giancarlo Fisichella, Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander before another Ferrari 458 Italia, the only Aston Martin Vantage'' Survivor'' and the first of Corvette C6 ZR1.
In North America, it is on the side of Wisconsin, Milwaukee on the oval, the IndyCar happened the last weekend. A race won by Ryan Hunter-Reay (Dallara-Chevrolet Andretti Autosport from) before Tony Kanaan and James Hinchcliffe Ontarian. Party thirteenth place on the starting grid, the Quebecois Alex Tagliani is goes back to seventh position in the final race.
In NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide occurred on the oval in Brooklyn, Michigan. Sprint, the ever-popular Dale Earnhardt Jr (Chevrolet) has wins in Nationwide, it is once again Joey Logano (Toyota) who harvest the honors.
Rally, competitors of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) had appointments coast of Sicily to relive the legendary Targa Florio. An ordeal to modern standards but remained dangerous, as demonstrated alas accident Irishman Craig Breen whose co-pilot Garteh Roberts, struck by a rail into the car, was killed. An accident that is reminiscent to that of Robert Kubica there 15 months, alas more dramatic. The ordeal (stopped before term) was won by the Czech Jan Kopecky (Skoda).
