The #15 Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO2 of Audi Sport Team Phoenix has taken the win at the 2022 ADAC Nurburgring 24 Hours the 50th anniversary running and the tenth anniversary of the marque’s first N24 race win.
The win, by 55 seconds on the road came after a final three hours that saw the lead challenged nose to tail with Fabian Schiller in the #3 GetSpeed AMG, closing right in on Dries Vanthoor, only to see the Belgian pull away, the AMG losing more ground as the weather closed in
Kelvin van der Linde brought the car home that he shared with Robin Frijns, Dries Vanthoor and Frederic Vervisch, the Audi finding better pace as the track got wetter, then drier, then wetter again, eking out tens of seconds against the charge of the #3, Schiller handing the car over to Maxi Götz with Adam Christodoulou, whose charge had put the car back into contention, completing the run.
The result was still in doubt though with the winning car under investigation for an infringement in the final stop for the leading car – the engine still running whilst fuelling. Post-race, and after a significant delay to the podium ceremony, the result was confirmed with race organisers briefing that there was no further action against the Phoenix racing crew
The second (#4) Getspeed AMG would complete the podium, some of its final charge sacrificed by the team as they switched to cut slicks early in the first late shower to allow the #3 crew to have a comparison of the available rubber in challenging ad evolving conditions.
The #20 Schubert BMW, the last competitive survivor of a strong BMW attack, was retired with a brake fire from 5th place with just 30 minutes remaining.
Just inside the final hour, something went horribly wrong for the #18 KCMG Porsche in the hands of Dennis Olsen, the car running off track to the left at the start of the Döttinger Hoe with barrier damage as a result with the bodywork on the right rear (the opposite side to the impact) popping off – The car out on the spot from 8th overall.
PROVISIONAL RESULT BY CLASS >>
The Class Podiums
(final positions tbc)
SP9 – 15, 3, 4
SP9 Pro-Am – 6 (8th)
SPX – 706 (12th), 117, 116
Cup 2 – 127 (15th), 123, 131
TCR – 830 (18th), 831, 833
SP10 – 78 (19th), 82, 69
Cup 3 – 264 (20th), 253, 263
SP 8T – 95 (22nd), 150, 220
SP7 – 70 (29th)
SP 3T – 113 (41st), 310, 10
AT – 320 (43rd), 633, 86
VT2 RWD – 330 (44th), 336, 226
Cup 5 – 880 (48th), 871
BMW M240i – 240 (51st), 241, 243
SP 4T – 718 (56th), 181
V5 – 444 (58th)
Cup X – 161 (59th) , 162, 163
V6 – 397 (62nd), 228, 227
SP 6 – (67th) 200
V4 – (69th) 323, 324, 322
VT2 FWD– (71st) 223, 87, 333
SP3 – 120 (78th), 119, 143
VT3 – 300 (88th)
The little Dacia Logan – surely the spiritual successor (for this year at least) for the Foxtail Opel Manta, came home in 96th position after 135 cars started the race.
