Total 24 Hours of Spa Blancpain Endurance Saturday/Sunday News
Driver Quotes:
Race:
No: 23 Audi R8 LMS ultra
Dry / Extreme Wet Conditions Race: 12 Hours on track. DNF 4am.
Alain Li (HK) No 23
“I am disappointed that we didn’t finish. It was a very eventful race, and we saw several cars with problems and various accidents on track which made it very challenging. Every time you go out you learn something new. We had a good race and a good strategy. Luck was just not on our side, but I look forward to the next one.”
Richard Meins (UK) No 23
“That was pretty brutal. I started on a damp track with slicks and started to build up a nice pace when suddenly coming into La Source I got hit from behind which caused a lot of damage to the car and put us out for over an hour. I managed to get it back to the pits, and the guys did an amazing job of repairing the car and getting me back out there. I was halfway through my second stint when a McLaren lost control in front of me, and strangely enough it was at La Source again. I tried to avoid it but I had nowhere to go and lost the back of the car and then hit the wall. It’s a shame really because the car was going really well. I’m disappointed for the team as they have worked incredibly hard.”
Mark Blundell (UK) No 23
“I am really disappointed. This is the first time in my career that I have not been able to take part in a race because of feeling ill. To come here for a 24-hour race and not be in a position to contribute is upsetting. I did the first hour of the race despite not feeling great, but to not be part and parcel of the team doesn’t make you feel too good either. They have worked really hard, and the other drivers did their job. It’s a shame, they deserved a better result this weekend. ”
Mark Patterson (SA) No 23
“We had a great time despite the challenges. We got stricken by our lead driver getting sick for the first time in his career. There was a lot going on. I got hit a couple of times, and Richard was in the thick of it. The crew here did an incredible job fixing the car in just over an hour, that was beautiful. Endurance races are always unpredictable. You can be out in five minutes or 23 hours. It’s always sad to be out, but we all had some good stints and made some great passes and that’s why we all come to compete together. We have a lot of respect for each other, and it’s great fun. This is a great team to run with, an amazing group of people”.
Richard Dean (UK) Team Owner and Managing Director
“Despite the challenges we have had a great car, it has not let us down at all which is what we expected from the Audi. The car is rock solid right up to the point where you hit a brick wall, and there is not a lot you can do at that point. We’ve had 12 hours where it has not missed a beat so I take some satisfaction from that. The team did a brilliant job as always. The pit stops were great, and everyone has worked well together. The Audi support we have received this weekend has been exceptional. We have had some extremely changeable conditions on track coupled with a huge grid and a few people making mistakes. There has been a higher attrition rate at this stage of a 24-Hour race than I can remember. It’s disappointing for the team, but equally the unpredictability is what keeps us all racing”.