Benoît Tréluyer and Audi Sport crew-mates André Lotterer and Marcel Fässler achieved a season’s first FIA World Endurance Championship victory in Saturday’s 6 Hours of Spa (4 May), a triumph that sends them to the top of the drivers’ standings and provides a significant confidence boost ahead of next month’s Le Mans 24 Hours.

The #1 crew were not overly worried approaching the second round of the 2013 campaign, though they knew they would need to work efficiently and without mistakes during the two-day Spa event.

“I had a good feeling as soon as I took to the track for the first time,” admits Benoît. “Marcel, André and I shared information well while our engineers Leena and Justin immediately understood what we wanted. We also managed to anticipate the evolution of the track in terms of grip. We were able to use the experience which we have been lacking in the Ardennes until now. Two years ago Spa represented our debut for Audi and last season we finished second. This year we were finally ready.”

After the car ran well in free practice it was Lotterer and Fässler who tackled qualifying, a logical choice given each man’s links to the circuit: the former spent his childhood in Belgium and the latter is a multiple participant in the Spa 24 Hours. The duo recorded strong lap times that combined to give the #1 car pole position.

“André held the lead at the start but then locked up a little and found himself on the outside of La Source,” comments Benoît. “As a consequence he was overtaken from both sides, but he produced a very impressive comeback amidst the traffic. It was crazy: not only did he manage to retake the lead, he went on to secure an advantage of nearly 20 seconds on our team-mates in the #2 by the time the Safety Car was deployed following an incident at Eau Rouge.”

During the caution period Lotterer hit debris which resulted in a slow puncture. To make matters worse he was unable to stop immediately as the pitlane remained closed, forcing the German to circulate for an additional lap with the race now restarted.

“We lost even more time here,” reports Benoît. “When I re-joined the track after replacing André we’d dropped to seventh, which was last of the LMP1s. Then during my double stint I attacked, attacked, attacked – and managed to get us back into the lead after 76 minutes! Marcel then took the wheel and continued to push, creating a gap out front. Despite a quick stoppage which cost around 20 seconds to tighten an aero part, we finished over a minute clear of the #2 car after André completed the job with an excellent final stint. In the end, after being delayed for more than a minute we won by over a minute. Amazing!”

Equally impressive was the overall result, which saw Audi lock out all three steps of the podium with the #1 followed home by the #2 and #3. However Benoît remains calm and focussed.

“We were very competitive and we learnt a lot at Spa. Our #3 ‘long-tail’ car also ran a great race and gathered a lot of information which will be very useful at Le Mans, but we must not underestimate our opponents,” adds the Alençon-born driver. “The new Toyota was very competitive until mid-race when it hit technical problems, so we must be mindful of them. We are happy with our work but remain cautious. There still are points which need to be improved on our side and we’re going to work extremely hard as we cannot rest on our laurels.”

The #1 trio has now taken the world championship lead by a single point heading to La Sarthe. “There were no major problems at Silverstone and none here; I’m not sure we’ve ever been so relaxed! I do not want to approach Le Mans with too much confidence, but it is obviously better to arrive there with a win in the bag rather than in panic mode! The mechanics, engineers and everybody at Audi has done a fantastic job – it’s a real team effort. We are in a good place and we’re prepared, but in Le Mans anything can happen!”

Just a few hours after climbing down from the top step of the podium Benoît flew with his wife, son and a friend towards the sunny skies of Marrakech in order to catch his breath before fully immersing himself in preparations for the 24 Hours, which will begin with the pre-test on 9 June.

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6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (FIA WEC, Round 2)

For reigning world champion Benoît Tréluyer and his team-mates the annual trip to the Ardennes is always of particular importance. Spa-Francorchamps’ iconic circuit and unique atmosphere, not to mention teams making their final preparations for Le Mans, mark it out as a special event.

Making the trip to Belgium’s round of the FIA World Endurance Championship is never a chore for Benoît, and not only because of the historic track that awaits him. The country is also the ‘back yard’ of friend and German co-driver André Lotterer whose childhood was spent in Belgium.

“It’s always André who picks me up from the airport in Brussels before heading to his mother’s house, where he shows off his latest boys’ toy!” laughs Benoît. “It’s always a special trip. In fact, it’s a weekend spent with the family as my parents also often attend. They have a camper van behind the outer grandstand of Eau Rouge where I join them for a coffee and spend some time in watching, when my job allows. That’s not something I can do anywhere else. If I were a spectator I would stay there for hours because it’s one of the few places I know of where you can judge with the naked eye whether a guy is fast. You can also recognise some drivers just by the way they negotiate the corner.”

Eau Rouge is just one of many corners that have forged Spa’s fearsome reputation. Successive changes have not dampened its challenge either.

“This is a corner where you can’t go flat out on your first lap,” confirms Benoît. “Before doing that you need reference and turn-in points. There is a compression and the car must be well set-up to avoid hitting the ground violently. Ride height, downforce and all set-ups are focused on this corner, which places big constraints on the car in general. It is an area where you flirt with the limits, both human and mechanical. These are extraordinary sensations. We always approach this in a very focused manner because you can lose so much time along the straight that follows. The car’s basic set-up centres on Eau Rouge and defines whether you bottom out through there. This is the basis for discussions with the engineers. After that you set the car up for the rest of the circuit.

“It is also a track where we prepare for Le Mans because the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is the final event before La Sarthe’s classic. But mainly its rapid nature offers a chance to conduct valuable work.

“Le Mans is also on our minds,” confesses the Frenchman. “Spa is a very fast circuit and we approach the set-up in a similar way to that at La Sarthe. In fact, we race with the Le Mans configuration, only with more downforce. It is no coincidence that Audi will be entering two different versions of the e-tron quattro there: the car we, along with Loïc Duval, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish, raced at Silverstone that generates optimum downforce and a ‘long tail’ version with an extended rear section which has been entrusted to Marc Gené, Lucas di Grassi and Oliver Jarvis. The team will analyse and compare the two models sector by sector in order to obtain the most useful data.”

While the Belgian race will once again demand the utmost levels of concentration, Benoît concedes there’s still room for a little relaxation.

“Look, it’s a lot of fun and, even though this is no holiday, it’s true that I’m always a little more relaxed at Spa because, even more so than at other circuits, I know I can rely on my team-mates. Marcel (Fässler) is completely at home in the Ardennes and André loves the layout. In short, they are both like fish in water!”

That’s just as well, for Spa’s notoriously fickle microclimate is not to be overlooked.

“The weather is always changing, always unpredictable and provides us with a real challenge,” smiles Benoît, who by his own admission is rarely left disappointed by the Ardennes circuit. “Last year we recorded our first podium for Audi outside of Le Mans. There have been one or two disappointments here but I always have fond memories when returning to Spa.”

6 Hours of Spa timetable*

Friday 3 May:
Free Practice 1: 09:00 – 11:00
Free Practice 2: 14:30 – 16:30
Qualifying: 19:30 – 19:50

Saturday 4 May:
Warm-up: 09:00 – 09:20
Race: 14:30 – 20:30

*All times local

Benoît Tréluyer enjoyed a promising start to his FIA World Endurance Championship title defence as he helped Audi Sport seal a one-two finish at the 6 Hours of Silverstone on Sunday (April 14).

Despite minor teething troubles on the #1 R18 e-tron quattro he shares with André Lotterer and Marcel Fässler, Benoît and his crew-mates leave the British venue feeling satisfied with their runner-up finish to #2 Audi team-mates Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish and Loïc Duval. Though victory was lost in the latter stages of the race, their performance nevertheless leaves them full of confidence for the coming rounds, particularly June’s crucial Le Mans 24 Hours.

Friday’s opening practice session would prove complicated for the World Championship-winning trio as changeable weather conditions blighted the British circuit.

“Silverstone was the first outing for us in the 2013-spec car and finding the right set-up while the rain continued falling was not easy,” explains Benoît. “A small issue in qualifying cost us a bit of time and, as they now combine the two fastest laps for each driver, it had an impact on the average. To start fifth was certainly not a disaster, though we would like to have earned the bonus point for pole.”

With conditions still treacherous for the start of Sunday’s race the World Champions began with a cautious approach but, while the two R18 e-tron quattros would go on to dominate proceedings, they still put on a spectacular show for the British fans.

“At the beginning of the race we elected to sacrifice some time in the pits to find the right tyre pressures and have a well-balanced car,” explains the Frenchman. “We didn’t hit upon the right changes immediately, and for a while failed to make up the time we’d lost in the pits, but in the end we found what we were looking for.”

With the car now to their liking Benoît and his crew-mates upped their pace and the Frenchman began his final double stint with an aggressive approach. However, a defect on the left-front driveshaft after four hours of racing meant that their hybrid system was no longer able to deliver its power to the front wheels.

“I started with new tyres and was trying to keep the pace up. I basically did two stints of qualifying runs and managed to set the fastest lap of the race. In the end I had to back off as the tyres had done a lot of work, while Allan was on fresher rubber. I am encouraged by the fact that we were able to complete two-and-a-half stints with the same set. That’s a great piece of info heading to Le Mans.

“The team did a great job,” concludes Benoît. “We had a thrilling and fair fight with our team-mates in the #2 car and overall we are happy with the weekend. Audi has scored a superb one-two finish and we take home big points for the championship, whereas in the first round of the 2012 season we only scored a point and a half at the opening race. We learned a lot this weekend and are confident for the upcoming races.”

The next round of the FIA World Endurance Championship takes place in Belgium where Benoît will contest the 6 Hours of Spa (4 May). He and his crew-mates will use the event to further hone their R18 e-tron quattro while rivals Toyota are set to debut their 2013-spec car at the event. Another thrilling contest looks set to take place in the Ardennes.

Handing over the baton to a future generation

The view from his Audi R18 e-tron quattro’s cockpit might now be a familiar one but there was a time when Benoît Tréluyer would sit at school and dream of becoming a racing driver. It’s fair to say that through primary school (6-10 year-olds), college (11-14), grammar school (15-18), the sports school in Le Mans and his baccalaureate, Tréluyer the student learned at a much lower pace to the one he is now accustomed to driving at!

That’s not to say he doesn’t retain fond memories of his school days, one of the reasons he was happy to accept an invitation from Le Beausset’s André Malraux Primary School in the Var region to meet classes CM1 and CM2 last week. The French village will be recognisable to racing fans, located as it is at the foot of Le Castellet hill. And so it was last Thursday (April 4) that, with the help of circuit manager Stéphane Clair, Paul Ricard provided the setting for an audience between the 36-year-old Audi Sport driver and 44 10 and 11-year olds.

Arriving with an array of equipment, the two-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner began by showing the pupils his kit, stressing the need for safety when behind the wheel of a racing car. There was also time to talk about the important role motor racing now plays in the development and transfer of green technologies before inviting questions from the floor. Initial nervousness and inhibition soon gave way to curiosity and it wasn’t long before the former student from Alençon in Normandy was delighting in answering their questions.

“To share my experience and passion, but not necessarily that of motorsport, is something I like doing very much,” beamed a delighted Benoît after spending an hour fielding what were often interesting and relevant questions. “When I was a kid people visited my school who made me think and opened my eyes, so if I can now, at some level, engage with youngsters, that will make me the happiest man in the world.”

As a father of six-and-a-half-year-old Jules, Benoît feels the responsibility of instilling the sort of essential values that have a basis in personal interests.

“I like to reinforce the message that it is more important to make one’s passion their work rather than just finding a job that pays the bills. The job that makes you the most money will not necessarily make you the happiest. Personally, I followed my passion and tried to make it my job. Money has always been secondary to me, even though I now enjoy a good income. ‘Be passionate and commit yourself to those interests!’: that’s always the message I am trying to send out. They will guide you and provide an objective. Nine or 10 is a good age to explain this to children. Any later and it’s almost too late.”

With autographs signed and photographs taken time was up for this refreshing respite in both the children’s and Benoît’s busy schedules. “We are living in difficult times with an economic crisis that affects everyone, so being able to dream a little is important,” he concluded as the children file back to their coach. “I had a great time, the children seemed interested and asked a lot of questions. Hopefully they gained as much pleasure from meeting me as I did them. They have my email address and can contact me if they wish. I will be available!”

Happy to have handed over the baton to a future generation, Benoît knows that the route to achieving happiness comes from collective effort, not individual. It’s a situation not all that dissimilar from the world of endurance racing…

Fresh from victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring, Benoît Tréluyer and his title-winning Audi Sport team-mates will contest the opening round of the FIA World Endurance Championship at Silverstone this weekend (April 14) brimming with confidence.

Benoît has never been so physically and mentally prepared as he is ahead of the 2013 campaign. Galvanized by that victory on US soil, he has now returned to Europe to focus on once again conquering the world. Silverstone represents the first race of an eight-round championship that includes June’s Le Mans 24 Hours, and will also lay the foundations for 2014 when new technical regulations come into force.

“I’m in great shape and not carrying any extra pounds!” laughs Benoît, who has never put on so little weight as he did this winter. “I am now working with a trainer and we’ve done very good muscle work. I have also had the chance to forge close links with partners like GT Bicycles, SRAM and KTM, all of whom have allowed me to train well. I have done a lot of background work too, and mentally I’m on top of my game! The victory at Sebring, the family time I’ve enjoyed with my wife and son, the trip to Paul Ricard to share my passion for motorsport with children and the gift from exhaust specialists Akrapovic who sent me an engraved ‘WEC Champion 2012’ exhaust: all of these moments have created a good synergy within me. I’ll be heading to Silverstone well armed for battle!”

Though he is properly equipped for combat, Benoît is also fully aware of the challenge that lies ahead as he seeks to defend his World Championship alongside #1 Audi crew-mates André Lotterer and Marcel Fässler.

“André, Marcel and I will do everything to keep the ‘1’ on our car for another season. Having conquered the championship once we know we are capable of doing it again and this is a big plus in terms of confidence. Last year the circumstances were rather unusual as very often we were battling against our sister car. This season Toyota will be very strong opponents.”

Like Audi, the Japanese outfit has spent the winter testing alone, away from spectators and their competitors. For the two manufacturer teams competing for the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship, the 6 Hours of Silverstone will be the first opportunity to assess their work against that of their rivals. The verdict is soon to be delivered – but Benoît is not unduly concerned.

“We weren’t really able to measure the potential of the car at Sebring, but we have our data and our reference points. We know that the 2013-spec R18 e-tron quattro is an improvement on last year’s car, but it is up to us to make the most of it. Sebring showed that we are working in the right direction and Silverstone should continue this trend. Now we must remain cautious because the race will be about sizing our rivals up, with some teams still not fully prepared, and as is always the case in Britain we can expect changeable weather conditions. During the winter each team kept their cards close to their chest and now everyone thinks they’re in good shape. We will have a first glimpse of our rivals’ potential in qualifying, but we still won’t know the whole story until we see how they cope in the race with variables like refuelling, consumption and tyre wear.”

At the British round, Benoît and Marcel will be reunited with their old friend André, who vacated his seat for Audi team-mate Oliver Jarvis at the 12 Hours of Sebring.

The Frenchman is delighted that the highly successful trio are back together. “Cohesion is a core strength of the Audi team. Our line-up is perfect, as is the case with our team-mates in the #2 car. We work well together and it allows the team to act faster. Previously, races that preceded the 24 Hours were considered practice sessions. That is much less the case today and it makes our task even more complex. We must work on reliability but also focus on performance because we cannot afford to hand victory to our opponents. Now we must adapt perfectly to the characteristics of each circuit, which was less the case before, and focus on the World Championship as well as the 24 Hours.”

Timetable*

Friday 12 April

Free practice 1: 12:25 – 13:55

Free practice 2: 16:30 – 18:00

Saturday 13 April

Free practice 3: 09:00 – 10:00

Qualifying: 12:40 – 13:00

Sunday 14 April

6 Hours of Silverstone: 12:00 – 18:00

*Local time

Audi Sport trio Benoît Tréluyer, Marcel Fässler and Oliver Jarvis clinched victory in America’s most celebrated endurance race last weekend (March 16) following an intense final stint at the 12 Hours of Sebring. The Frenchman has thus added another of world motorsport’s most prestigious honours to his CV and helped confirm Audi Sport’s lofty ambitions for the season ahead.

After eleven hours of intense competition the final showdown took place between Benoît and fellow Audi driver Tom Kristensen, who was sharing with Allan McNish and Lucas di Grassi at the American classic. The deciding fight possessed all the suspense of a Hitchcock thriller and was made still more exhilarating by the Ingolstadt firm allowing their cars to race to the finish without team orders.

“Everything was decided during the closing stints when we had to put up a bit of a fight,” the Frenchman explains calmly. “We still had the advantage of a shorter refuelling period however, a bonus of around six seconds, which would have allowed us to win even if Tom had managed to overtake me during the penultimate stint. I took no risks when I re-joined the track and struggled to get my tyres up to temperature. In keeping with the usual approach, Audi did not issue team orders and it was up to us to sort it out on-track. It was a great race, very competitive and close-fought between both Audi cars. Fantastic!”

With significant changes arriving in US-based sportscar racing next year the 2013 event will remain forever engraved in the archives of this iconic American contest. An event rich in history, it has witnessed some of the sport’s finest drivers demonstrating their competitive abilities.

“My team-mates and I had only competed at Sebring once before (2012) and this year was the final chance to enter with an LMP1 car, so the whole team was determined to take victory. With half of the race run we saw that we had a good chance to achieve our goal. When we arrived here, we knew that the 2013-spec R18 e-tron quattro being run by Tom, Allan and Lucas was faster. Unfortunately, our team-mates’ preparations were delayed by an off-track excursion during first practice which cost them quite a lot of time. They were not able to put as much work into set-up as we were and, on top of that, Marcel, (race engineer) Leena Gade and I had the advantage of knowing our 2012-spec R18 e-tron quattro extremely well. We set it up nicely with a good balance to compensate for the lack of performance we had compared with the new car.”

This balance was to serve Fässler well in qualifying as he delivered a brilliant performance to clinch pole and set a new lap record for the Florida circuit.

“Marcel was on fire this weekend! Along with Leena, I really felt he was on the case and that he could take pole. He accepted the challenge and produced a mega time. Allan did two more laps in an effort to beat Marcel, but he couldn’t quite manage it. Olly – who joined us in place of André (Lotterer) – also did a great job. Marcel and I were thinking of our regular team-mate this weekend as we missed him a lot, but André showed what a fantastic team player he is by giving up his seat for Olly to allow him more track time. It was not an easy call for him as this is the last time that we’ll race at Sebring. Olly thanked him in the best way possible, delivering a great performance during the week and a superb night stint which allowed us to get the edge over the sister car and maintain our advantage.”

Benoît’s next competitive outing will be during the season-opening FIA World Endurance Championship round when the Audi Sport team will take on LMP1 class rivals Toyota in the 6 Hours of Silverstone (April 14).

“It’s going to be a very challenging season and we will need to grab every possible victory with both hands,” warns Benoît. “The level of competition should be extremely high as Toyota has worked hard over the winter, so we will have to continue to do the same. The fact that the new R18 e-tron quattro was able to finish the 12 Hours of Sebring during what represented its first real endurance test is very promising. Now we must keep up the development work for the season ahead.”

Having given the 2012 car a winning end to its competitive career, Benoît and his team-mates will next aim to record the new spec machine’s first victory at the Silverstone contest.

“In order to fine tune our preparations, we’re staying in Sebring for a few more days,” concludes the 2012 World Champion, who will then take a detour through Toronto to attend a round of the AMA Supercross series, a sport of which he is a big fan. It will represent a final opportunity for Benoît to catch his breath before the curtain comes up on the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship.

Despite not being included as a round of the FIA WEC this year, the 12 Hours of Sebring signals the true start of the endurance racing season. Benoît Tréluyer and Marcel Fässler, who will be without regular team-mate André Lotterer, are hoping to christen their 2012 World Endurance Championship title with victory.

While both would have liked André to be joining them in Florida, a need to balance race programmes means that the German will be back alongside the pair from the opening round of the world championship, the 6 Hours of Silverstone, on April 14. At Sebring British driver Oliver Jarvis completes a trio that will be aiming to win with last year’s Audi R18 e-tron quattro, while the 2013-spec car will be in the hands of Di Grassi/Kristensen/McNish. “There are two slightly different objectives,” reveals Benoît. “By using the previous specification we are there to finish the event and win it. For our team-mates in the 2013 version their goal, as well as victory of course, is to test in proper race conditions the technical upgrades introduced during the winter months.”

Since the final round of the 2012 season Audi and its drivers have remained flat-out. Tyre testing before Christmas was followed by additional mileage during January that concentrated on set-up work. All has been aimed at improving the R18 e-tron quattro – an evolution of last year’s car – ahead of this season’s mission to beat Toyota, who have decided against racing in Florida.

“It is going to be a much tighter championship and certainly even more exciting than last year’s, as well as less stressful within the team. Since the start of 2012 we knew that the title would be decided between Audi’s two cars due to it being very hard for Toyota to catch up after not contesting the opening rounds and therefore having fewer opportunities to score points. There was greater tension. This year we need to work together more in order to meet Toyota’s challenge right from the start. I personally prefer this mentality! And we won’t be short of work either as there has already been a lot of focus towards 2014 and the arrival of brand new regulations.

“But that doesn’t mean this is a season of transition as it is very important to properly prepare for 2014,” insists Benoît. “Everything we learn this year will be helpful for the following season, which will involve a lot more than simply starting with a known quantity: there is the challenge of a brand new concept. We are satisfied with the developments brought to the R18 e-tron quattro but now we need to learn how to optimise them and make the most of their benefits.”

With this in mind, Sebring’s demanding layout is an ideal proving ground for new machinery. The Frenchman knows all too well about its challenging characteristics after being forced to spend a lengthy period in the pits last year. Needless to say he’s hoping for payback this time around…

“Of course I would like to win. It’s a difficult race with a lot of traffic, and there are different strategies compared to European events. On top of that, this is the last time we can contest the race with an LMP1 prototype so it’s something I would like to add to my CV. It’s a bit of an old fashioned race that takes place on a circuit partly constructed of concrete. Both the surface and track width vary, while there are some corners that we enter very quickly right next to the walls. It’s just incredible! This is a special race, a bit like the Le Mans 24 Hours, although it does not have the same aura.”

This first meeting of the season also represents Benoît with the opportunity to christen his world championship title. “It gives you a confidence boost,” he says modestly. “We know how difficult it is to win a championship and the slightest mistake can have serious consequences. Last year, especially at Sebring, we were unable to finish at the front and lost many points. That forced us to push really hard throughout the year without making errors. We are approaching the new season with the same philosophy.”

This measured, realistic but no less enthusiastic approach is one shared not only by the Normandy-based driver and Audi, but also a number of new personal partners. GT Bikes, cycle equipment specialists Sram (derailleurs, brakes, etc.) and off-road motorcycle manufacturer KTM have all joined forces with Tréluyer. “All of my partners are linked to my physical training,” he concludes. “Cycling and enduro motocross are the base of my physical preparation throughout the winter, so it is a huge pleasure for me to welcome these respected brands alongside my existing and faithful partners Ellip6 (professional racing simulators), Michelin, Motul, Alpinestars and Arai.

12 Hours of Sebring timetable*

Thursday 14 March
Free Practice 1: 10.15 – 11.15
Free Practice 2: 15.15 – 16.15
Free Practice 3: 20.00 – 21.45

Friday 15 March
Free Practice 4: 09.20 – 10.20
Qualifying: 13.15 – 14.35

Saturday 16 March
Warm-up: 08.00 – 08.25
12 Hours of Sebring: 10.45 – 22.45

*All times local

Faire triompher Audi sera la mission première de Benoît Tréluyer et de ses équipiers André

Benoît Tréluyer and his Audi Sport team-mates Marcel Fässler and André Lotterer head to this weekend’s 6 Hours of Shanghai (28 October) targeting victory aboard the German manufacturer’s R18 e-tron quattro and, when the dust has settled on the Chinese contest, could find themselves crowned FIA World Endurance champions.

Benoît opted to return to Europe rather than remain in Asia following the 6 Hours of Fuji (14 October), taking the opportunity to relax with his family and attend the launch of the new Forza Horizon game at the invitation of Xbox France.

“It’s best described as a ‘bad boy’ version of the original Forza Motorsport, which put more emphasis on racing, car performance and therefore lap times. Forza Horizon is about the freedom of open spaces, with races taking place on roads around the madness of the Horizon music festival. At the same time, it maintains the DNA that the Forza franchise is known for: the perfection of the driving experience and extremely realistic vehicles. As part of the launch I spent a day at the wheel of an Audi R8 V10, giving 80 journalists high-speed passenger rides on the runway of Le Bourget airport where the game was presented under the wing of a Concorde. Then the doors of the aircraft hanger opened and I emerged on to the tarmac sideways. For once I was told to push the tyres to their limit and I didn’t need to be asked twice! As someone who spends a great deal of time in simulators being part of this launch was a real honour.”

After learning the Silverstone, Interlagos and Sakhir circuits virtually, Benoît has also been getting to grips with the Shanghai track aboard his simulator. It mixes tight corners, where the power needs to be delivered at low revs, with long sweeping curves that demand top-end speed, making it equally suited to Audi and their Japanese opponents Toyota.

“We must not lose sight of the fact that we race for a manufacturer,” emphasises Benoît. “The priority for myself, André and Marcel is to put Audi on the top step of the podium. We will give everything we have to win this race and only after the chequered flag has fallen will we look at the drivers’ championship. Of course I’d like to win the title, but if we have to take risks to secure the race victory we will do so.”

Championship leaders ahead of this weekend’s season-closing round, the trio has already claimed victories at the Le Mans 24 Hours, 6 Hours of Silverstone and 6 Hours of Bahrain and know that a place on the podium would guarantee them the title.

“Andre, Marcel and I are not three – we are one! So winning a title with them would be fantastic. To be the first world champions for Audi in sports-prototype racing and the first World Endurance Championship winners would obviously be something very special too, while it would also be great for the mechanics and engineers who have worked so hard on the car all season.”

But while the trio’s desire to claim the world title is strong, the Frenchman is quick to point out that it would not register the same emotional intensity as victory at Le Mans.

“For me – and I think the same goes for my team-mates – Le Mans remains the most difficult and therefore most satisfying race in the world. The WEC drivers’ title was not our top priority this year. We would be very proud and happy to become world champions for Audi, but the 24 Hours is something else altogether. It won’t have the same impact, but for now we’re not thinking about it. We will celebrate if things go our way, but we should remain grounded: we know very well that nothing is ever guaranteed in motor racing.”

Having claimed titles in Formula 3, Formula Nippon and Super GT Benoît is well aware of what it takes to win a championship. And, regardless of the prize at stake, he believes that the path to victory remains the same.

“A championship is a championship,” he insists. “The processes and work required are the same. Were we to win it, I guess the significance would perhaps dawn on us during the FIA prize-giving ceremony. When I won titles in Japan it was also against drivers from all over the world, but it didn’t have the same gravitas. Being crowned world champion speaks for itself – it is a status.”

To be racing for a world title is not a common occurrence in any driver’s career, so it is important for Benoît, André and Marcel to remain calm ahead of Sunday’s six-hour event. A steady hand is required when you have the world at your fingertips.

To keep up to date with Benoît on and off the circuit please visit www.benoittreluyer.com, follow him on Twitter @BenoitTreluyer and like his Facebook page.

Benoît Tréluyer, André Lotterer and Marcel Fässler’s thirst for victory helped the trio clinch another FIA World Endurance Championship win last weekend, this time in the desert kingdom of Bahrain. Neither sand nor dust could derail their progress at the Sakhir circuit where the thought of a first world title was no longer just a mirage…

His first visit to the Middle East will live long in Benoît Tréluyer’s memory, not just because of the victory he scored there but also thanks to the warmth of the Bahraini people who welcomed the WEC with open arms at Sakhir.

“It was a nice surprise,” says the Frenchman. “Having never raced in the Middle East before I did not know what to expect but must admit to being impressed. Facilities were of the highest standards, we received a very warm welcome and I really appreciated it. The paddock BBQ on Wednesday night for example made me very happy. It is quite rare for all of the WEC participants to get together like that. I thought it was a great initiative by the organisers.”

The double Le Mans 24 Hours winner was equally enthusiastic about the track’s layout, with its pit buildings designed to represent an oasis while the rest of the circuit disappeared off into the desert.

“For a new, modern track I must say that it is very enjoyable and technical. The fast section of corners 11, 12 and 13 feels fantastic at the wheel of a sports-prototype. Straight away I felt good. In fact, I was so at ease that I recorded my best time of the whole weekend on the third lap!”

As decided beforehand, Marcel Fässler would qualify the #1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro.

“Surprised by the grip of his new tyres, Marcel turned into a corner too early and knocked over a plastic bollard, which brought out a red flag. He came back to the pits before recording two fast laps that allowed him to get within 0.070 seconds of the time set by Allan McNish. Not bad! Without the bollard incident at turn one pole position would have been possible.”

After following the #2 Audi at the start of the race, it wasn’t long before Marcel was able to pass the sister car and build a gap.

“The heat made the race very difficult,” continued Benoît. “We are not used to such temperatures in the WEC. Nevertheless, we suffered less than the opposition. In fact, we only had to change the front nose, just to be on the safe side, as we had lost a bit of downforce. Despite the scorching heat André attempted a double stint, but he was totally knackered when he got out of the car. From that moment on we decided to only do single runs. Following a safety car period we also realised that we could avoid an additional fuel stop. When the race restarted André began to save fuel, something I continued to do during my stint. Even so, our lap times were still very competitive!”

After six hours of racing, and for the third time this season, Fässler, Lotterer and Tréluyer took the chequered flag as winners.

“We maintained our usual strategy of trying to do our best while remaining very cautious amongst traffic,” concludes the Frenchman. “We crossed the line as winners and increased our advantage in the Drivers’ championship, which allows us to approach the 6 Hours of Fuji with confidence.”

That race takes place in Benoît’s adopted homeland of Japan where he cannot wait to again meet the legions of fans who have supported him so much in the past. After overcoming the desert sands it will be Mount Fuji’s eternally snow-capped peak that awaits the new kings of Bahrain.

6 Hours of Bahrain Result:
1. Tréluyer/Lotterer/Fässler (#1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro) 191 laps
2. Kristensen/McNish (#2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro) +1 lap
3. Leventis/Watts/Kane (#21 Strakka Racing HPD) +6 laps
4. Prost/Jani (#12 Rebellion Lola) +7 laps
5. Belicchi/Primat (#13 Rebellion Lola) +10 laps, etc…