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Le Mans / ALMS
LE MANS: Bernhard Crashes New Audi In Sebring Testing
UPDATED: Statement from Audi regarding Timo Bernhard's high-speed accident on first of four-day post 12 Hours of Sebring test...
Audi's new R18 Ultra, pictured here, suffered a major accident Monday in the hands of Timo Bernhard. (Photo: Mike Juergens/Josh Decker/Quattroworld.com)
Audi's post-12 Hours of Sebring test got off to a shaky start Monday, as Timo Bernhard suffered what witnesses describe as a "major" accident on the famed airfield circuit that evening.
The 2010 Le Mans winner, driving one of the German manufacturer's new Audi R18 Ultras, reportedly clipped the inside wall in Turn 17 following a technical issue, sending the car backwards hard into the tire barriers. The incident occurred at 7:15 p.m. ET, just prior to nightfall.
While Bernhard climbed from the heavily damaged, diesel-powered machine under his own power, he spent the night in a nearby hospital and will undergo further evaluation today, according to a statement issued by Audi Sport.
"Owing to a technical problem, Timo Bernhard lost control of his vehicle," the statement read. "As a consequence, he hit the tire wall in Turn 17 of the Sebring racetrack backwards at high speed.
"After analysis, it was determined that the same technical problem could not occur on the other test cars. Therefore it has been decided to continue the test.
"Timo Bernhard climbed out of the vehicle himself. In order to conduct a medical check, he was admitted to hospital. As a precaution, he spent the night of March 19 in hospital under medical supervision and he will be further examined today (March 20)."
A number of journalists were on-hand Monday, invited by Audi, for the unveil of the R18 e-tron quattro, which completed its first public laps on U.S. soil.
Bernhard's accident wasn't the first that Audi has suffered in post-Sebring testing, as a number of cars, including previous-generation R10 and R15s, have been written-off following shunts on the treacherous and bumpy circuit.
Audi's test at Sebring is scheduled to run through Thursday, with Highcroft Racing's Nissan DeltaWing also sharing the track this week. Aston Martin Racing with its Vantage V8 is also on hand today.
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
The 2010 Le Mans winner, driving one of the German manufacturer's new Audi R18 Ultras, reportedly clipped the inside wall in Turn 17 following a technical issue, sending the car backwards hard into the tire barriers. The incident occurred at 7:15 p.m. ET, just prior to nightfall.
While Bernhard climbed from the heavily damaged, diesel-powered machine under his own power, he spent the night in a nearby hospital and will undergo further evaluation today, according to a statement issued by Audi Sport.
"Owing to a technical problem, Timo Bernhard lost control of his vehicle," the statement read. "As a consequence, he hit the tire wall in Turn 17 of the Sebring racetrack backwards at high speed.
"After analysis, it was determined that the same technical problem could not occur on the other test cars. Therefore it has been decided to continue the test.
"Timo Bernhard climbed out of the vehicle himself. In order to conduct a medical check, he was admitted to hospital. As a precaution, he spent the night of March 19 in hospital under medical supervision and he will be further examined today (March 20)."
A number of journalists were on-hand Monday, invited by Audi, for the unveil of the R18 e-tron quattro, which completed its first public laps on U.S. soil.
Bernhard's accident wasn't the first that Audi has suffered in post-Sebring testing, as a number of cars, including previous-generation R10 and R15s, have been written-off following shunts on the treacherous and bumpy circuit.
Audi's test at Sebring is scheduled to run through Thursday, with Highcroft Racing's Nissan DeltaWing also sharing the track this week. Aston Martin Racing with its Vantage V8 is also on hand today.
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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