After 13 victories won at Le Mans since 2000, Audi was beaten by Porsche in 2015, but not without giving a top-notch performance, including a new lap record established at an average of 248 km/h by André Lotterer. History has shown the defeat could prove to be the most formidable source of motivation for the marque to reclaim the highest step on the podium.

In 2016, this motivation also went through an impressive radicalism. The lines of the 2016 version of the R18 are particularly aggressive, sometimes angular in a true break from the more shapely - and perhaps more harmonious - appearance of the 2016 Porsche 919 Hybrid.

Despite the disqualification of the trio Fässler-Lotterer-Tréluyer, stripped of its win at the opening round of the 2016 World Endurance Championship (WEC), this approach has already proved fruitful with the victory for di Grassi-Duval-Jarvis at Spa-Francorchamps.

The titanic clash between the two most successful manufacturers at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (17 wins for Porsche, 13 for Audi) promises to be fiercer than ever. Last year, Audi toasted Porsche's win with a fair-play publicity page...but this year more so than in 2015, the two "cousins" of the Volkswagen group will not do each other any favours.

Marcel Fässler-André Lotterer-Benoît Tréluyer (No. 7 Audi R18) - Already three-time winners at Le Mans (2011-2012-2014) and also World Endurance Champions (2012), the three friends are ready to make their mark on history as the first driver line-up to win four times at the 24 Hours. Benoît Tréluyer may even join his fellow countrymen Henri Pescarolo and Yannick Dalmas as the winningest French drivers ever at Le Mans.

Lucas di Grassi-Loïc Duval-Oliver Jarvis (No. 8 Audi R18) - Winner in 2013 with Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish, French driver Loïc Duval is the only one to have reached the top step on the podium at Le Mans so far. Lucas di Grassi has made a first victory his goal which would make him the first Brazilian driver to win at at the 24 Hours. The same dream applies to Oliver Jarvis who would join an prestigious lineage of drivers from the U.K. to have won, including Derek Bell (five victories), Allan McNish (three) and Nick Tandy, winner last year with Porsche.

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

Photo: STAVELOT (LIEGE PROVINCE, BELGIUM), SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS CIRCUIT, WEC 6 HOURS OF SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, SATURDAY MAY 7 2016, RACE. Thanks to Loïc Duval, Lucas di Grassi and Oliver Jarvis, Audi won at the traditional final rehearsal before Le Mans...a sign of 14th victory at the 24 Hours?