Audi vs Toyota duel to resume, WEC Silverstone entry list

By Johan Laubshcer

Many people had doubted the potential performance of the new Toyota Racing TS030 before Le Mans. After the testing accident and subsequent withdrawal from Spa, few had high hopes for a good showing at the Le Mans debut. But Toyota surprised everyone at Le Mans with very competitive pace and even pressurising the Audi team during the first quarter of the Le Mans 24 Hours race.

The new duel of Audi versus Toyota is set to continue for the rest of the year. Both manufactures are committed to the rest of the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship. The top three cars of the WEC series will be spread over three different models. One Audi R18 e-tron quattro, one Audi R18 ultra and one Toyota TS030 will do battle in the remainder of the season.

Audi announced the names of its driver squads a day ahead of the provisional entry list being published by the FIA. It is a healthy thirty-seven car field that will race at Silverstone on August 26 with two Audis amongst the list.

Audi driver line up:

#1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro - Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer, Benoît Treluyer

#2 Audi R18 ultra - Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish

WEC Silverstone entry list:

More information:

FIA WEC website

FIA WEC FB page

WEC Silverstone entry list

Video: The amazing Audi vs Toyota lead battle at Le Mans 2012.

By Johan Laubscher 

As Le Mans 2012 approaches hour 9 the race has developed into an all Audi affair. It was extremely unfortunate that the Toyota team suffered two setbacks in short succession. First the crash for the #8 and then the contact for #7. Some of the excitement of the race may have been lost but the fans did get to see a tremendous battle for the lead moments before the large cash. 

 Toyota #7 passes Audi #1 on the grass! 

The two Toyotas had gradually been catching the leading #1 Audi and the #7 eventually caught the leader and a titanic battle for the lead commenced. The two cars battled fiercly defending the positions. The #7 Toyota was very fast and even passed the Audi with two wheels on the grass. It was an action packed few minutes which was unfortunately short lived as the sister Toyota #8 suffered its massive crash.

This on track battle was amazing and a taste of what could have been, but the race did not play out this way and the Toyota challenge has receded. All we can say is bring on 2013, we need more of this! 

Amazing Audi vs Toyota lead battle at Le Mans 2012

Video: Audi R18 e-tron quattro vs. Toyota TS030 Hybrid

By Tarek Ramchani

Toyota Motorsport did not race in the 6 Hours of Spa. However the Japanese team was present in the Ardennes showing their new TS030 Hybrid. Audi raced its R18 e-tron quattro at Spa with a strong second place finish in a R18 1-2-3-4.

Here a little taste of what we will see next month at La Sarthe. The battle of the Hybrid cars in the 80th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours.

More informations:

ACO Le Mans 24 Hours official website

FIA World Endurance Championship official website

Audi Sport official Facebook

Toyota Hybrid Racing official website