Audi is keeping the most thrilling title race the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) has seen in its four-year history to date open until the finale. In China, Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer achieved third place and, as a result, continue to maintain second place in the drivers’ world championship before the finale. In rain, Audi was running in front in round seven of the season in China at times.
Lucas di Grassi/Loïc Duval/Oliver Jarvis (BR/F/GB) were leading the race just like their teammates Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer (CH/D/F) during the third hour. In constant rain, the Audi R18 e-tron quattro car was completely in its element. The Audi drivers set good lap times although the special track at Shanghai favors race cars with more powerful hybrid systems.
When the 5.451-kilometer track began to dry, Audi Sport Team Joest, in the final stage, switched to slicks early on both cars, putting its rivals under pressure. Second place was within in reach but, due to a full-course yellow period, was no longer possible in the end. Ultimately, Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer achieved third place, finishing on the podium for the seventh time in succession this season.
Race results
1 Bernhard/Hartley/Webber (Porsche) 169 laps
2 Dumas/Jani/Lieb (Porsche) +26.294s
3 Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer (Audi R18 e-tron quattro) +30.311s
4 Di Grassi/Duval/Jarvis (Audi R18 e-tron quattro) +50.906s
5 Conway/Sarrazin/Wurz (Toyota) –4 laps
6 Buemi/Davidson/Nakajima (Toyota) –5 laps
7 Beche/Prost (Rebellion) –11 laps
8 Kaffer/Trummer (CLM-AER) –13 laps
9 Chatin/Dillmann/Panciatici (Alpine-Nissan) –15 laps
10 Bird/Canal/Rusinov (Ligier-Nissan) –16 laps
