Spa-Francorchamps, Sun 29th Jul, 2012 – Audi secured a stunning one-two in the Total 24 Hours of Spa after a commanding performance throughout the endurance classic.
Frank Stippler (DEU), Rene Rast (DEU) and Andrea Piccini (ITA) of the Audi Sport Performance cars Team Phoenix led home the Audi R8 LMS Ultra to take the famous victory for 2012.
In the final hour of the race, there was catastrophe for the No.72 Kessel Racing Ferrari, their Italian bred GT car crashed heavily into T17.
Audi Sport Performance Team Phoenix - with drivers Andrea Piccini-Rene Rast -Frank Stippler
The safety car was deployed and Frank Stippler in the No.16 Audi visited the pits under the Safety Car. Stephane Ortelli (MCO) followed in the No.1 R8 but was held in the queue in the pit lane. Once released, Ortelli had half a lap to make up as he lost two and a half minutes in the queue.
Upon leaving the pits Stippler received a drive through penalty for crossing the white line at pit entry, a worrying mistake at this late stage. At the same time Frank Kechele (DEU) in the No.66 Vita4One BMW made one last stop and retained third place.
As the 20th minute concluded the 500th lap was completed and Ortelli had a lap lead over Stippler. Frank Kechele was is third in the Vita4One BMW No.66 and was ahead of Maxime Martin (BEL) in the Marc VDS BMW No.3.
In the final 15 minutes, No.24 Blancpain Reiter Lamborghini driven by Marc Hayek (CHE) left the track briefly resulting in a broken front splitter and smoke bellowing out of the right hand side of the car, sending him to the pits for a quick fix.
With only seven minutes to go the No.50 AF Corse Ferrari received a drive through penalty for overtaking before then end of the safety car procedure.
As the chequered flag dropped the Audi drove over the start/finish line proudly, well in the knowledge of a solid effort from the whole team. Taking second was the No.1 Audi Sport Team WRT Audi R8 and in third the No.66 Vita4One BMW Z4.
The No.52 AF Corse Ferrari 458 came top in the PRO-AM class. The No. 25 First Motorsport Porsche 997 GT3 R took the Gentlemen Racer class win and the No.94 Speedlover Porsche 997 GT3 R clinched the CUP Class win.
