This year’s 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps lived up to their reputation last weekend (25–26 July) – a tough race made all the trickier by the changeable and often wet weather conditions – that saw BMW claim victory. Always in the thick of the action, Audi finished with three cars in the Top Five. Partnering Swiss driver Nico Müller and German Frank Stippler, Stéphane Ortelli, winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans back in 1998, was overcome after clinching second place: “My team-mates and I experienced a fantastic battle. In the rain, we were faster than BMW and running in front of them. But BMW were subsequently faster on a dry track, so we still need to improve. But we finished the race and put three new Audi R8 LMS cars in the Top Five. I’d like to dedicate this podium result to my old friend Jules Bianchi.”
Sharing the wheel of the #6 R8 LMS, the Fässler-Lotterer-Rockenfeller trio (who have chalked up seven Le Mans wins between them) finished fifth. Meanwhile a remarkable fourth place overall was achieved by Gianmaria Bruni, triple Le Mans class winner and twice World Endurance Champion for GT Drivers, at the wheel of a Ferrari 458 Italia.
Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO
Translated from French by David Goward
(Quote courtesy of Audi Motorsport press release)
Photo: SPA (BELGIUM), SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS CIRCUIT, 24 HOURS OF SPA, 25–26 JULY 2015, THE RACE. Former Le Mans winner Stéphane Ortelli (left) pictured with Vincent Vosse, Audi Sport WRT Team Principal.