Audi wins Le Mans 24 Hours

Audi secured its seventh Le Mans 24 Hours win of the last eight years during one of the most memorable races in the event’s history that saw two of the Audis crash out in spectacular fashion.

Audi’s No. 2 R18 TDI led the race from pole position to take the chequered flag despite being pushed by all the way by Peugeot’s 908s. Over the course of 24 hours, the margin between the first place Audi and second place Peugeot was just 13 seconds. 

The R18 TDIs lined up in 1st, 2nd and 5th on the grid with Allan McNish driving the latter. Just an hour into the race – and with McNish trying to work his way up the pack – he collided with a slower moving Ferrari 458 Italia sending both cars into the gravel and launching the Audi into the tyre wall at high speeds. The car was wrecked but McNish thankfully walked away unhurt. 

With 15 hours of the race to go Audi’s No.1 R18 – piloted by Mike Rockenfeller – was clipped by the No. 72 Ferrari 458 as he tried to overtake, sending him into the barriers of the Mulsanne straight at full speed. Rockenfeller was taken to hospital and kept overnight but is reportedly fine. 

The two other cars on the podium – and in fourth and fifth place too – were all Peugeot 908s. Elsewhere, Corvette Racing won the GTE Pro class, with another Corvette taking the spoils in the GTE Am class. Greaves Motosport’s Zytek Nissan topped the LMP2 class. 

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