Audi wins 24 Hours of Le Mans 06/14/2011
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is perhaps the most famous auto race in the world, so it comes as no surprise that each brand vies for supremacy. This year, it was Audi who took home the crown, using an ultra-light model with a diesel engine.
Smaller engines were the talk of the race this year, but you wouldn't know that the engine was smaller given how fast Audi's R18 TDI tore up the raceway. The German automaker has been extremely dominant at Le Mans over the past decade. In the twelve races run since 2000, Audi has won ten of them, including this year's.
However, it was far from an easy win. Two of Audi's entries into the competition crashed early, leaving the "number 2" car as Audi's lone horse left into the race. That car at times looked like it would be outgunned by a Peugot team that had all three cars left. While these four ultimately traded the lead multiple times, in the end it was Audi who was able to hold off the challengers.
The wet weather over the weekend also provided a challenge for the racers, causing numerous crashes. At times, the race was not just about staying on the course, but avoiding the wreckage of others.
These slick conditions provided a few scary moments for the drivers, including the two Audi racers who crashed out of the race early. Mike Rockenfeller's accident was especially severe, sending him careening off the track. In a press release, it said that the accidents "involuntarily" proved Audi's commitment to safety.
"The safety standards at Audi are simply incredible and have saved my life," said Rockenfeller. "I’ve never had such an accident before in my career and hope I’ll never have such an experience again."