Leena Gade for FIA Women in Motorsport Commission in Wales
Leena Gade entered unusual territory in Wales. The Audi Sport race engineer for the number ‘7’ Audi R18 e-tron quattro in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) visited the finale of the World Rally Championship in Great Britain. As a commission member, Gade, alongside Michèle Mouton, the president of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, is active in promoting women in motorsport. At the WRC finale, she familiarized herself with the activities of women in rallying. Prior to the start of the rally, the Briton climbed into the Volkswagen Polo R WRC alongside World Rally Champion Sébastien Ogier. “It’s absolutely impressive to see what’s possible with these cars,” Leena Gade said after a short ride on a blocked off gravel track. Gade, as an engineer for Audi, won the Le Mans 24 Hours three times and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) once between 2011 and 2014. Michèle Mouton was the 1982 World Rally Championship runner-up in the Audi quattro.
Mattias Ekström surprises in golf tournament
During the traditional golf tournament hosted by Audi’s partner ABT Sportsline at the ‘Sonnenalp’ in the Allgäu region, DTM star Mattias Ekström caused a surprise on Monday on achieving the longest drive of all the participants. Although, by his own account, he grips a golf club only once a year, the Swede managed a remarkable 227 meters.
Mike Rockenfeller visits Schaeffler employees
DTM driver Mike Rockenfeller visited the Schaeffler site in Bühl. The Audi factory driver, who was competed in the race series in the company’s colors since 2012, signed posters and hats for a good 200 employees and looked backed over the season passed in an interview. Also in attendance was Daniel Abt, who contests the Formula E electric racing series for Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport. Both racing drivers used the trip for a round of questions and answers on the Schaeffler Twitter account.
Biela/Molina on the podium again
For the second time in succession, Frank Biela and Miguel Molina took second place with a 1:24 scale Audi R8 LMS in the 24 Hours of Hamburg for slotcars. It was the seventh consecutive podium finish for Biela in the traditional season highlight of the RCCO race series. After 5,248 laps, the two Audi drivers were only five laps behind the victorious McLaren-team mag channel racers. The Audi team took the lead during the night and held first place for a long time. Ralf Jüttner, Team Boss for Audi Sport Team Joest in the WEC, finished on podium in third place.
A word from … Edoardo Mortara
The DTM season is over, but a special highlight is still on the agenda from November 19-22 for Audi factory driver Edoardo Mortara: the Macau Grand Prix.
You completed your best season to date in the DTM with fourth place overall. What’s your verdict?
“It was certainly a good season. My fondest memory is of course my victory in the first race at Spielberg. The only thing I was disappointed by was the outcome of the season finale at Hockenheim. I arrived at the track in second place overall with a chance of winning the title, and in the end I lost two places.”
This coming weekend you travel to your favorite event the Macau Grand Prix where you have already won five times …
“Yes, as always a highlight. Obviously, I’d dearly love to add another win to my collection. Especially as the 2015 Grand Prix has the status of FIA GT World Cup for the first time. Consequently, the incentive to win is even greater than before. But it won’t be easy, because we have a qualification race before the main race. Anything can go wrong on this tight and twisty street circuit. The grid is also packed with drivers capable of winning.”
You compete for Audi Sport Team Phoenix and will race the new Audi R8 LMS for the first time. Did you have the opportunity to test it beforehand?
“I tested the car extensively at Le Castellet in the middle of last week. It fells very good. The Audi Sport customer racing engineers have done a great job, because the differences are really big to its predecessor the Audi R8 LMS ultra. I’m already looking forward to drive the new R8 LMS against certain tough competitors.”
Coming up next week
19/11 André Lotterer turns 34 years of age
21/11 Bahrain (BHR), WEC, round 8
21–22/11 Macau (CN), FIA GT World Cup
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