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Le Mans / ALMS
ALMS: Audi Bids Farewell To Sebring
German manufacturer seeks 11th overall victory in final LMP1 race at Sebring...
Tom Kristensen, Dindo Capello and Allan McNish are three of the all-time most successful drivers at Sebring, with virtually all of their wins having been with Audi. (Photo: Audi Motorsport)
Saturday’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring will mark the end of an era in more ways than one. While the American Le Mans Series kicks off its 15th and final season, a direct consequence of the merger with GRAND-AM sees the elimination of the P1 category for 2014, and as a result, one of the race’s most successful manufacturers bidding farewell.
Following more than a decade of domination, which has included ten overall victories and more than 20 podium finishes in 13 attempts, Audi will race its factory prototypes at Sebring for the final time. The German manufacturer has entered a pair of Audi R18 e-tron quattros for its final sendoff at a circuit that been crucial to much of its success worldwide.
“Without a shadow of doubt it’ll be an emotional race weekend for us, because Sebring and its fantastic fans enjoy a special status in both our motorsport and LMP history,” said Head of Audi Motorsport, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “Sebring was always a fixed date in our motorsport calendar since the beginning of our sports car program in 1999. And justifiably so, as [it] is a particularly hard racetrack.”
While used as a warmup to the 24 Hours of Le Mans each year, Sebring turned into more than just a test race for Audi Sport, as it marked a number of historical moments. From its sports car debut in 1999 with the R8R to its maiden victory just one year later, along with the first win for a diesel-powered car in 2006, Audi and Sebring have been synonymous with success.
"It is such a big part of Audi's sports car history and also mine, from the first race I competed in 2000 until now,” said Audi veteran Allan McNish. “I think with it being the last one in the current era with the American Le Mans Series, [it’s good to] be there to say ‘thank you’ to the fans who have supported us through the period of time.”
McNish has returned to the famed Florida circuit looking to claim his fifth overall crown, but will not be able to outdo longtime co-driver Tom Kristensen, whose six victories in the 12-hour puts the Dane as the most successful driver in Sebring history. Both teamed with Dindo Capello to win last year’s race, as the veteran Italian became a five-time winner.
"Personally being here for the first time in 1999 and winning outright was special,” said Kristensen, who debuted with Audi in 2000. “But Sebring has been tough at stages as well. There are so many great memories from here. It's a great, old-school track. It's dirty, it's bumpy, it's blind corners and a lot of traffic. You need to be incredibly focused but at the same time, you race here with a lot of passion.”
With Capello having since retired from prototype competition, McNish and Kristensen are joined by Brazilian Lucas Di Grassi, who makes his Sebring debut this weekend. Audi’s No. 1 R18 e-tron quattro, running in 2012 configuration, sees reigning FIA World Endurance Champions Benoit Treluyer and Marcel Fassler teamed with 29-year-old Oliver Jarvis, another Sebring rookie.
While facing no factory competition in P1, it will be a surprise not to see one of the R18s in victory lane at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday. However, that hasn’t diminished the value of racking up another Sebring victory, and more importantly, the final one to be had in the race’s current form.
"Sebring this year will be a little bit special because it will be the final one of this era,” McNish said. “I think everybody's looking forward to it, as a celebration as well as the actual race itself. There is one extra reason to go to Sebring and that's to win the race. It's an important race. If it's possible to chalk up a fifth Sebring 12 Hour victory, I would be very proud to do that."
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
Following more than a decade of domination, which has included ten overall victories and more than 20 podium finishes in 13 attempts, Audi will race its factory prototypes at Sebring for the final time. The German manufacturer has entered a pair of Audi R18 e-tron quattros for its final sendoff at a circuit that been crucial to much of its success worldwide.
“Without a shadow of doubt it’ll be an emotional race weekend for us, because Sebring and its fantastic fans enjoy a special status in both our motorsport and LMP history,” said Head of Audi Motorsport, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “Sebring was always a fixed date in our motorsport calendar since the beginning of our sports car program in 1999. And justifiably so, as [it] is a particularly hard racetrack.”
While used as a warmup to the 24 Hours of Le Mans each year, Sebring turned into more than just a test race for Audi Sport, as it marked a number of historical moments. From its sports car debut in 1999 with the R8R to its maiden victory just one year later, along with the first win for a diesel-powered car in 2006, Audi and Sebring have been synonymous with success.
"It is such a big part of Audi's sports car history and also mine, from the first race I competed in 2000 until now,” said Audi veteran Allan McNish. “I think with it being the last one in the current era with the American Le Mans Series, [it’s good to] be there to say ‘thank you’ to the fans who have supported us through the period of time.”
McNish has returned to the famed Florida circuit looking to claim his fifth overall crown, but will not be able to outdo longtime co-driver Tom Kristensen, whose six victories in the 12-hour puts the Dane as the most successful driver in Sebring history. Both teamed with Dindo Capello to win last year’s race, as the veteran Italian became a five-time winner.
"Personally being here for the first time in 1999 and winning outright was special,” said Kristensen, who debuted with Audi in 2000. “But Sebring has been tough at stages as well. There are so many great memories from here. It's a great, old-school track. It's dirty, it's bumpy, it's blind corners and a lot of traffic. You need to be incredibly focused but at the same time, you race here with a lot of passion.”
With Capello having since retired from prototype competition, McNish and Kristensen are joined by Brazilian Lucas Di Grassi, who makes his Sebring debut this weekend. Audi’s No. 1 R18 e-tron quattro, running in 2012 configuration, sees reigning FIA World Endurance Champions Benoit Treluyer and Marcel Fassler teamed with 29-year-old Oliver Jarvis, another Sebring rookie.
While facing no factory competition in P1, it will be a surprise not to see one of the R18s in victory lane at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday. However, that hasn’t diminished the value of racking up another Sebring victory, and more importantly, the final one to be had in the race’s current form.
"Sebring this year will be a little bit special because it will be the final one of this era,” McNish said. “I think everybody's looking forward to it, as a celebration as well as the actual race itself. There is one extra reason to go to Sebring and that's to win the race. It's an important race. If it's possible to chalk up a fifth Sebring 12 Hour victory, I would be very proud to do that."
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
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