24 Hours of Le Mans – Mid-week digest

​Tom Kristensen visits Police in Le Mans

Tom Kristensen was given a Police escort last year as he drove through Le Mans city center at the wheel of an Audi R18 e-tron quattro. On behalf of Audi Communications, the record winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans thanked the local authorities by visiting the ‘Hôtel de Police’ in the French city. Where he met the motorcyclists who had escorted him on his drive through Le Mans in 2014. Kristensen busily signed autographs and presented a freshly printed copy of his biography ‘Tom Kristensen – The Book’. “The visit was a wonderful surprise, because usually the Police get hardly any recognition for their work,” said delighted acting Division Inspector François Chaumard. Kristensen received a special plaque as memento of his visit and was allowed to sit in a Police car to conclude the occasion. Of course, he couldn’t resist testing the police siren…

Special moment for the Le Mans winners

For André Lotterer, Marcel Fässler and Benoît Tréluyer it was a very special moment they’ve now experienced for the third time: On Monday afternoon, on Place Saint-Nicolas in the city center of Le Mans, ACO President Pierre Fillon unveiled the bronze plaque on which the handprints of last year’s Le Mans winners have been captured for posterity. In 2014, the three Audi drivers celebrated an amazing third joint success in the Le Mans 24 Hours and this weekend will be battling in the Audi R18 e-tron quattro for another victory in the world’s most important endurance race.

​A word from … Benoît Tréluyer

The Audi driver eagerly awaits the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The most important race event of the year started with technical scrutineering on Sunday. How well did Audi prepare for the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

We tested our new racecars for eight hours during the test day a week ago. The unsettled weather conditions meant that the results were less representative for all the teams. However, as at the first two races in the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC, we saw just how well the team is prepared from the human aspect, technically and organizationally.

The latest generation Audi R18 e-tron quattro is even more economical and, at the same time, quicker than its very efficient predecessor. What impression do you have of the racecar?

The new Audi is agile and comfortable to drive. This is of course worth its weight in gold during an endurance race. The development steps made each year are always amazing for us racing drivers. It’s impressive to see how the Audi engineers work. We have less fuel available, but as compensation our hybrid system recuperates twice as much energy than before and we are several seconds faster. Be it chassis, engine or aerodynamics – the R18 e-tron quattro feels better in every area than its predecessor.

Le Mans is your home race as well. Although you live in the south of France, you come from Alençon 60 kilometers north of Le Mans. Do you still have any connections with this region?

Yes of course, I spent the last few days here. I was invited to a wedding and also visited my parents who live here. It’s a good feeling to come back to your roots regularly. And of course, I’m looking forward to the race week, because this race is incomparable.

You’ve won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times already with your team mates André Lotterer and Marcel Fässler. How do you feel about this year?

With so many high-caliber opponents, the competition is the hardest it has been for some time now. I think the race is completely open. As always, it’s all about getting through quickly and reliably and without making any mistakes. I believe that we’ll only really get an idea about who can win at the earliest at sunrise on Sunday. I’ve trained thoroughly for months and come well rested to the race. The week can begin.

Thousands of fans visit technical scrutineering in Le Mans

The most important motorsport week of the year for Audi started on Sunday in the Le Mans city center. A large audience at the Place de la République enjoyed summery temperatures while following technical scrutineering of the racecars for the 24-hour race. All three Audi R18 e-tron quattro went through the technical checks and are thus eligible to start practice beginning on Wednesday and the race. Eight of Audi’s nine racing drivers were visible on the team photo. Marco Bonanomi was missing, because he was busy competing for a private Audi team in the customer racing program in Belgium where he scored six points.

​Tom Kristensen presents book in Le Mans

The nine-time Le Mans winner and long-time Audi factory driver Tom Kristensen will for the first time, in the coming week, present a new book illustrating his entire career – from the early days in karting to the victories in the French endurance classic. “The Book” will be presented in Le Mans on Wednesday of race week and will be available on site and on www.tomkristensen.com. The comprehensive 304-page book is written in English, Danish and German.