Home round for newcomer Lucas di Grassiquattro drive successful in Brazil 30 years agoIngolstadt, September 6, 2012 - High suspense in the second half of the season: After the early title win* in the manufacturers classification of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), Audi is gearing up for four challenging overseas rounds. A thrilling race most recently at Silverstone provided a taste of a completely open second half of the season that will start at So Paulo in Brazil on September 15.A dream has come true. The contest of the concepts in which the best technological solution wins was fully unleashed for the first time at the most recent fourth WEC round in Great Britain. The Audi R18 e-tron quattro hybrid sports car, the Audi R18 ultra featuring Audis ultra-lightweight technology plus a competing hybrid concept by Toyota kept 35,000 spectators at Silverstone on tenterhooks during the battle for the top.Suspense can be expected to rise to an even higher level in Brazil as the Audi R18 ultra of Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish was unfortunate in Great Britain at the end of August. Car number "2" dropped to third place not just for one but two reasons as a puncture cost valuable time right in the starting phase. In addition, two safety car periods thwarted Audis originally planned refueling strategy. The effect of the ultra concept was obvious at Silverstone nonetheless. The R18 ultra won the Michelin Green X Challenge for drive efficiency.In Brazil, the spectators in the grandstands will focus on the R18 ultra in particular since Audi is running 28-year-old Brazilian Lucas di Grassi as team-mate alongside Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish. In his "home" round, the racer from So Paulo can look forward to support from a large crowd of enthusiastic fans as he displays his skill in the LMP1 sports car.For Audis factory team, the race on the challenging Interlagos track is not the first run in Brazil. Almost exactly 30 years ago, on August 14, 1982, Michle Mouton/Fabrizia Pons won the "Rally do Brasil" featuring a start and finish in So Paulo. Audi Sport scored seven single wins in that season, a breakthrough technological innovation helping to capture its first FIA world championship title as well. Thanks to quattro drive Audi won the manufacturers classification in the World Rally Championship. Two weeks ago, in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), Audi celebrated the second consecutive victory with the forward-thinking hybrid drive, the fourth victory of the season to date, and the early title win in the manufacturers championship.* The battle in the drivers championship remains open. Marcel Fssler/Andr Lotterer/Benot Trluyer took the lead from Dindo Capello/Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish. The two Audi driver squads are separated by only 4.5 points.Whereas McNish and di Grassi are familiar with the 4.309-kilometer track from Formula One days, it is new territory for the other Audi racers. And for Audi Sport Team Joest, Brazil marks the beginning of a major logistical challenge as the two Audi R18 cars will not be returning to Germany between the remaining four WEC rounds. The spectators who will not be watching the race in the grandstands can look forward to extensive media coverage: www.audi-liveracing.com offers six hours of racing action, including cockpit camera perspectives and race summaries on the internet. The Audi Sport iPhone and Android apps provide WEC coverage on smartphones with live tickers, news, pictures and results. On Facebook and Twitter, racing fans are kept up to speed by Audi as well.* Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIATopics of the weekend-How narrow will the gaps be in the battle between Audi and Toyota?-Which of the two vehicle concepts from Audi will be in front?-Will the team in the Audi R18 ultra benefit from the track knowledge of two of its three drivers?-How well will Lucas di Grassi fare on his sports car debut?-Will there be another change in the lead of the drivers standings?

Quotes by the officialsDr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): "After having achieved two major aims by taking victory at Le Mans and winning the manufacturers classification in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), were now tackling the second half of the season. Were aiming for individual successes at each event. And we want to try and be in contention for victory every time. Were not losing sight of the drivers world championship by any means. Our two driver squads are very close together. We wont intervene in this contest but will give all drivers the same chances of deciding the world championship in their favor."Ralf Jttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest): "Were in for a new, interesting phase of the WEC with four overseas races. In Brazil, were including a local driver - Lucas (di Grassi) - in the team. Besides Allan (McNish), hes the only one whos familiar with the circuit. This track is very special. As it is run counter-clockwise, the drivers have to readjust. Plus, our mechanics have to refuel the cars from the other side. In addition, the garages in the pit lane are extremely narrow. In the race, like before at Silverstone, were expecting a lot of pressure from Toyota. Itll be a thrilling second half of the season."

Facts and quotes by the Audi driversMarcel Fssler (36/CH), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1-Celebrated his second consecutive victory of the season with his team-mates-Traveled to the International Motor Show in Moscow with his team-mates between the rounds at Silverstone and So Paulo"Its fantastic that Audis out of reach in the constructors championship. And for Andr (Lotterer), Ben (Trluyer) and me, its great to be arriving there as the leaders of the drivers classification. But were only at the seasons midpoint and there are still four more races to go. The situation can quickly change again."Andr Lotterer (30/D), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1-Is the new leader of the standings with his team-mates-The number "1" Audi started from the top spot on the grid three times this year"We start each race with guarded expectations as theres always a possibility for something to happen. Im very much looking forward to Brazil and think its great that were battling for the drivers world championship. Ive even got a personal link to the continent as some relatives of mine live in Peru. The track is new to most of us. Itll no doubt be interesting again and and Im hoping for a good weekend."Benot Trluyer (35/F), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1-Achieved the best time in qualifying at Silverstone-Like his two team-mates, is driving in Brazil for the first time"Its nice to be traveling to Brazil as the leader of the standings. I think its an advantage to be in first place of the standings at the seasons midpoint. Our car is already very good and we continue to make further progress. Naturally, we want to be at the front again in Brazil but we also saw how fast Toyota has already become. Itll no doubt be a thrilling battle through to the end of the season - also within the Audi squad. So, we cant afford to make any mistakes."Lucas di Grassi (28/BR), Audi R18 ultra #2-The Brazilian is experiencing his sports car debut at his home round-Has previously raced on the Interlagos track in Formula One"Audi is giving me a nice opportunity that Im really happy about. Running alongside Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen I can learn a lot because theyre the best team-mates I can imagine for my first endurance race. And the audience here in my home country has the opportunity to get to know a fascinating sport in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). My fellow countrymen are absolutely crazy about motorsport. Im hoping for all of them to give us as much support as possible and to be filling the grandstands."Tom Kristensen (45/DK), Audi R18 ultra #2-Had to relinquish the lead of the standings at the seasons midpoint-Is running together with Allan McNish and for the first time with Lucas di Grassi"Im looking forward to my first trip to Brazil. A few Formula One drivers have clued me in on some details about the track that is driven counter-clockwise. There are bumps in the track which means youve got to very carefully modulate the brakes. Allan (McNish) already knows the track, as does Lucas (di Grassi), who we warmly welcome to the team. At Silverstone, we opted for a promising strategy with the R18 ultra that couldnt be perfectly put into action only due to a few unforeseeable events."Allan McNish (42/GB), Audi R18 ultra #2-Knows So Paulo from Formula One-At Silverstone, missed the pole position by merely one hundredth of a second"I really enjoy driving at Interlagos. And in Lucas di Grassi weve now also got a Brazilian in our team. Its great that hes driving with us - weve known each other for quite a while. Now were eager to see what advantages the R18 e-tron quattro will have on the So Paulo track and what advantages the R18 ultra has to offer. Were going to battle to recapture the lead in the standings. At the same time, weve got to watch out for Toyota because at Silverstone we saw how quick our opponent really is."The Audi drivers at So PauloMarcel Fssler (CH): *May 27, 1976 in Einsiedeln (CH); residence: Gross (CH); married to Isabel, four daughters (Shana, Elin, Yael and Delia); height: 1.78 m; weight: 78 kg; Audi driver since 2008; Le Mans victories: 2; WEC races: 4; WEC victories: 2; WEC pole positions: 0; WEC fastest laps: 1; best result So Paulo: -Lucas di Grassi (BR): *Aug 11, 1984 in So Paulo (BR); residence: Monaco (MC); single; height: 1.79 m; weight: 75 kg; Audi driver since 2012; Le Mans victories: 0; WEC races: 0; WEC victories: 0; WEC pole positions: 0; WEC fastest laps: 0; best result So Paulo: -Tom Kristensen (DK): *Jul 07, 1967 in Hobro (DK); residence: Monaco (MC); single (partner: Hanne), two sons (Oliver and Oswald) and one daughter (Carla Malou); height: 1.74 m; weight: 72 kg; Audi driver since 2000; Le Mans victories: 8; WEC races: 4; WEC victories: 1; WEC pole positions: 0; WEC fastest laps: 0; best result So Paulo: -Andr Lotterer (D): *Nov 19, 1981 in Duisburg (D); residence: Tokyo (J); single; height 1.84 m; weight 74 kg; Audi driver since 2010; Le Mans victories: 2; WEC races: 4; WEC victories: 2; WEC pole positions: 2; WEC fastest laps: 1; best result So Paulo: -Allan McNish (GB): *Dec 29, 1969 in Dumfries (GB); residence: Monaco (MC); married to Kelly, one son (Finlay), one daughter (Charlotte); height: 1.65 m; weight: 60 kg; Audi driver since 2000; Le Mans victories: 2; WEC races: 4; WEC victories: 1; WEC pole positions: 1; WEC fastest laps: 0; best result So Paulo: -

Benot Trluyer (F): *Dec 07, 1976 in Alenon (F); residence: Gordes (F); married to Melanie, one son (Jules); height 1.78 m; weight 68 kg; Audi driver since 2010; Le Mans victories: 2; WEC races: 4; WEC victories: 2; WEC pole positions: 1; WEC fastest laps: 0; best result So Paulo: -All So Paulo winners (since 2007)2007 Gen/Minassian (Peugeot)Track infoTrack length: 4.309 km Race duration: 6 hoursQualifying record on this track: Stphane Sarrazin (Peugeot), Nov 08, 2007,1m 18.787s (196.890 km/h)Race record on this track: Marc Gen (Peugeot), Nov 10, 2007, 1m 21.027s (191.447 km/h)Pole position 2011: -Fastest lap 2011: -

Allan McNish about So Paulo: "There are several crucial sections at Interlagos. The way to the start and finish is a long uphill stretch. While heading for the first turn youve got to stay on the right-hand side for a long time and then initially pull inward toward the apex. At the exit of the corner, we stay on the inside in order to optimally catch the next right-hand turn. This is also a good place for overtaking. Then, the long left-hand bend toward the back straight follows. One of the most difficult places is the double right-hander behind the pits. You enter at very high speed and in the second part a blind apex follows. This is followed by a sequence of three slow corners - right, left, right. At the end, theres the third part of the track with the last corner. Its deceivingly slow, slippery and leads uphill."WEC drivers standings after 4 of 8 rounds1 Fssler/Lotterer/Trluyer, 96.5 points; 2 Kristensen/McNish, 92; 3 Capello 77; 4 Dumas/Duval, 67; 5 Jani/Prost, 50,5; 6 Gen, 49; 7 Heidfeld, 42,5; 8 Dalziel/Potolicchio, 34.5; 9 Dumbreck/Chandhok/Brabham, 28.5; 10 Primat/Belicchi, 26.5.WEC manufacturers standings after 4 of 8 rounds1 Audi, 129 points; 2 Toyota, 18.Schedule (local times; CEST - 5 hours)Thursday, September 1311:00-12:30 Free practice 115:30-17:00 Free practice 2

Friday, September 1409:45-10:45 Free practice 314:30-14:50 Qualifying LMP1 & LMP2Saturday, September 1508:00-08:20 Warm-up12:00-18:00 Raceapprox. 18:15 FIA WEC press conference