Audi Sport Team Joest has confirmed that it will not challenge the post-race decision that took away its victory at the 6 Hours of Silverstone last Sunday, April 17.
The opening round of the FIA World Endurance Championship saw the #7 R18 of Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer and Benoit Treluyer take the chequered flag by 46 seconds from the #2 Porsche 919 Hybrid, but a scrutineering fault excluded the winners later that evening.
According to Article 3.5.6. A3 of the FIA WEC technical regulations, the skid block underneath a LMP1 car can experience no more than 5 mm of wear during the race.
The #7 Audi breached this rule with the excessive wear being attributed to unexpected ‘heavy bouncing’ at the Silverstone GP circuit. Audi had until 23:55 on April 17 to lodge an appeal, but opted against the motion.
“We accept the exclusion from the classification and, in the interest of the sport, jointly look ahead,” said head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich.
“It it is our job to avoid increased wear – we accept this responsibility. We made our decision in the interest of the sport and hope that the eight remaining world championship rounds will be similarly thrilling as the season opener.”
The decision means that Porsche’s crew of Neel Jani, Romain Dumas and Marc Lieb takes the full 25 points from Silverstone, with the Toyota trio of Kamui Kobayashi, Stephane Sarrazin and Mike Conway officially finishing second. Rebellion Racing’s #13 car took third overall as the highest placed privateer entry.
Andre Lotterer’s Silverstone pole position gives Audi one point heading into the second race of the season at Spa-Francorchamps on May 7.
