Audi 1-2 in Germany

Ever changing weather made the conditions in the race as difficult as at the Nurburgring 24 Hours three weeks before. Sunshine and rain showers kept alternating, meaning the right tyre choice was a crucial factor. Kaffer/McNish lost a lap and dropped to fifth position after an excursion into the gravel and a slow puncture. However, they fought back to the lead in impressive style.

"After what happened at Le Mans it was important for us to have a good result," said McNish. "At one point I thought it was gone. But in endurance racing you never know until the finish what the result will be. So I am very happy. But today, to be honest, Pierre Kaffer was the hero, not me."

Kaffer said: "What a race! It was real fun to drive here. The race was even more exciting than Monza. To win my home race at the Nurburgring is simply fantastic. I am so happy."

With their 1-2 victory, the British Audi importer took revenge for its defeat in the Le Mans 24 Hours by Team Goh, whose R8 was hit by a spinning GT car in the closing stages of the race. This required the change of the left rear suspension which cost the Japanese team any chance of victory or a podium finish. Seiji Ara and Rinaldo Capello eventually finished the race fourth.

"The GT car just spun into me destroying the rear suspension," said Capello. "It's a shame because we did not have to make another pit stop and I was closing on the leaders. Everything was still open."

That allowed the pole-winning DBA-Zytek of Nicolas Minassian and Jamie Campbell-Walter to claim the final spot on the podium. Soheil Ayari and Eric Helary finished fifth for Henri Pescarolo's outfit, while Martin Short made up for his big Le Mans shunt by claiming a top six finish in his Judd-powered Dallara.


1 Kaffer/McNish (Audi R8) 180 laps
2 Davies/Herbert (Audi R8) +1 lap
3 Minassian/Campbell-Walter (DBA Zytek) +1 lap
4 Ara/Capello (Audi R8) +10 laps
5 Ayari/Helary (Pescarolo-Judd) +10 laps
6 Short/Barbosa/Pearce (Dallara-Judd) +12 laps