In the middle of the night in the 2000 24 Hours of Le Mans, the leading no.7 Audi R8 suffered a rear left puncture. By the time it had reached the pits and been inspected, one of the mechanics noticed some excessive play in the suspension.
What happened in the following six minutes was like a choreographed display. The team of mechanics removed the rear bodywork and underfloor diffuser, disconnected oil, brake and hydraulic fluid lines, removed the gearbox (complete with rear suspension and brakes), fitted a new gearbox and suspension assembly, put the rest back together and set the car back down the pit lane.
It was very clear to see this was a repair that had been anticipated in the car’s development, and rehearsed intensely by the team. It was obviously designed around the fact it is quicker to replace a whole sub-assembly than an individual suspension component.
This is but a quick glimpse into the preparation and rehearsal that goes into a 24-hour race entry, and highlights the level of professionalism and desire to win that teams bring to the competition.
Endurance racing brings a whole new dimension to competition. If you suffer a puncture or mechanical failure in sprint championships such as DTM or F1, at best you lose the race, at worst it’s a retirement. In a 24-hour race, you might still stand a chance.
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Denne historien er fra January 2021-utgaven av Racecar Engineering.
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Talk the torque
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