photo © Audi Sport UK
BRITISH AUDI TEAM AIMS TO CONTINUE GULF'S FINE LE MANS TRADITION AT LE MANS IN 2001
Audi returns to Le Mans to compete in the world famous 24 Hours endurance sportscar motor race bidding to repeat its magnificent performance in the gruelling French classic.
Twelve months ago Audi, in only the German manufacturer's second appearance in the Le Mans 24 Hours, recorded a staggering 1-2-3 result. Four Audis bid for glory on this occasion including the British-based Johansson Racing 2000-specification R8 that appears in nostalgic Gulf Oils colours.
Its traditional powder blue and orange colours of Gulf will graciously adorn the Littlehampton, Sussex based Johansson Audi which will continue a long and successful partnership with the event that goes back some 35 years.
It was in 1967 that Gulf Oil emerged on the international motor racing scene backing the JW Automotive partnership to race license-built Ford GT40 derivatives. In their first year, the Gulf-Mirages saw considerable success and laid the foundations for the switch to the pure GT40 in 1968. That year the team beat Porsche to the World Championship, Pedro Rodriguez and Lucien Bianchi winning the all-important Le Mans 24 Hours, a victory Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver repeated in 1969.
With the Porsche 917 entering the JWA stable, Gulf liveried 917's excelled in the two following years at Le Mans, the Attwood/Muller car finishing second in 1971. During this era the powder blue and orange colours became immortalised by the Steve McQueen movie, "Le Mans".
Gulf's third and last outright victory at Le Mans came in 1975, achieved with the French classic's most successful driver pairing of all time, Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell.
Gulf's involvement in world endurance racing over the decades has seen it linked not only to the sports leading technology but many of the world's top drivers and cars. Johansson Racing's Audi bids to continue Gulf's fine tradition.
Vasant Bharath, Vice President Global Brand Development for Gulf Oil, commented: "The decision by Gulf, in it's centenary year, to return to Le Mans with the formidable Audi R8 and a driver line-up led by Stefan Johansson represents the latest chapter in Gulf's remarkable history. It's enthusiasm for motor racing, the public affection for the brand and the opportunity to create world-wide brand awareness are some of the influential factors in Gulf's decision to celebrate 100 years with a return to Le Mans."
photo © Michael Keyser, Autosports Marketing - to order a copy of this photo, click on the image
GULF SPONSORED ENTRIES AT LE MANS:
YEAR NO. CHASSIS DRIVERS RESULT
1967 14 MIRAGE M1 PIPER/THOMPSON 5 HRS (ENGINE)
15 MIRAGE M1 ICKX/MUIR 4 HRS (ENGINE)
1968 9 FORD GT40 RODRIGUEZ/BIANCHI 1ST OVERALL
10 FORD GT40 HAWKINS/HOBBS 10 HRS (ENGINE)
11 FORD GT40 OLIVER/MUIR 5 HRS (CLUTCH)
1969 6 FORD GT40 ICKX/OLIVER 1ST OVERALL
7 FORD GT40 HOBBS/HAILWOOD 3RD OVERALL
1970 20 PORSCHE 917 SIFFERT/REDMAN 12 HRS (ENGINE)
21 PORSCHE 917 RODRIGUEZ/KINNUNEN 12 HRS (TURBINE)
22 PORSCHE 917 HOBBS/HAILWOOD 5 HRS (ACCIDENT)
1971 17 PORSCHE 917 SIFFERT/BELL 18 HRS (OIL LEAK)
18 PORSCHE 917 RODRIGUEZ/OLIVER 14 HRS (OIL LEAK)
19 PORSCHE 917 MULLER/ATTWOOD 2ND OVERALL
1973 8 MIRAGE M6 BELL/GANLEY 18 HRS (OIL PUMP)
9 MIRAGE M6 HAILWOOD/SCHUPPAN/WATSON 10 HRS (ACCIDENT)
1974 11 MIRAGE GR7 BELL/HAILWOOD 4TH OVERALL
12 MIRAGE GR7 SCHUPPAN/WISELL 5 HRS (ENGINE)
1975 10 MIRAGE GR8 SCHUPPAN/JAUSSAUD 3RD OVERALL
11 MIRAGE GR8 BELL/ICKX 1ST OVERALL
1994 5 KREMER K8 BELL/DONOVAN/LAESSIG 6TH OVERALL
1995 24 McLAREN F1 GTR SALA/BELLM/BLUNDELL 4TH OVERALL
25 McLAREN F1 GTR ALLIOT/OWEN-JONES/RAPHANEL 7 HRS (ACCIDENT)
1996 33 McLAREN F1 GTR LEHTO/WEAVER/BELLM 4TH OVERALL
34 McLAREN F1 GTR BRABHAM/OWEN-JONES/RAPHANEL 7 HRS (ACCIDENT)
1997 39 McLAREN F1 GTR BELLM/GILBERT-SCOTT/SEKIYA 22 HRS (FIRE)
40 McLAREN F1 GTR NIELSEN/BSCHER/GOODWIN NON-START (FIRE)
41 McLAREN F1 GTR RAPHANEL/GOUNON/OLOFSSON 2ND OVERALL
2001 4 AUDI R8 JOHANSSON/CORONEL/LEMARIE ....
photo © Rick Wilson
THOUGHTS OF 1997 LE MANS 24 HOUR WINNER STEFAN JOHANSSON, WHO DRIVES THE GULF AUDI R8 IN 2001:
There are many great things about Le Mans but it presents the biggest challenge of all races in the world in my opinion. During the course of the 24 hours, you will experience many ups and downs and it tests you in all areas to your limits. If you win or not, it is a great feeling of accomplishment when
the race is finished.
The down side; the weather can sometimes be a real nightmare with heavy fog and rain through the night and you can never go to sleep fully, only nod of for a few minutes at a time. You can never switch off or get away from things, there is not a whole lot you can do, the adrenalin and the focus on the job in hand keeps you going.
I try to eat a light and balanced diet for most of the week prior and during the race, I always take a lot of Vitamins and Minerals in order to keep my immune system as strong as possible. During the race I drink a mix of Minerals and Vitamins also to replace the loss of fluids etc.
After my driving stints, I normally get a light massage or treatment if there is any particular area that hurts, and then eat something light and just rest quietly.
The outright speed is nothing in itself, its only when you brake or turn you notice how fast you are going. You just keep focused on the car and everything that is going on around you, road conditions, other cars, vibrations etc.
As for Le Mans memories, the only cars I distinctly remember are the Gulf cars which I always thought were the coolest looking cars out there - and still do - so I am extra proud not only to drive one but also to be the team that is running the Audi R8 in their famous, almost legendary colours, this time around.
My biggest fear is always the one that is out of my own control, like something breaking on the car. If it does and you're travelling fast, you have to rely more on luck than skill unfortunately.
photo © Rick Wilson
COMPARISON BETWEEN 1965 FORD GT40 AND 2001 GULF/JOHANSSON AUDI R8:
FORD GT40 GULF AUDI R8
Monocoque Steel Carbon fibre, crash structure
FIA and ACO approved, CFC
rollbars front and rear,
carbon fibre body
Engine Ford V8 V8, turbo-charged,
90 degree cylinder angle,
4 valves per cylinder,
2 Garrett turbochargers;
to comply with the rules 2 x
32.4 mm air restrictors, and
boost pressure restriction to
1.67 bars (absolute)
..management n/a Bosch MS 2.8
..lubrication Wet sump Dry sump
..displacement 5000 cc 3600 cc
..output 436 bhp @7000 rpm 610 bhp
..torque 392lb ft @ 4500 rpm 700 Nm
Transmission Rear-wheel drive Rear-wheel drive
Clutch AP 7 in triple plate CFC clutch
Gearbox 5 speed ZF Sequential 6-speed sports
gearbox; partner Ricardo
Differential Multiple-disc limited-slip
Driveshafts Constant-velocity plunging
tripod joint
Steering Rack-and-pinion Servo-assisted rack-and-
pinion steering
Suspension Wishbones Independent at front and
rear, double-wishbone, pushrod
system with horizontal
spring/damper unit, adjustable
gas-filled shock absorbers
Brakes Vented AP discs Hydraulic dual-circuit system,
monobloc light-alloy calipers,
ventilated carbon fibre discs
at front and rear, brake force
distribution, driver adjustable
Rims front: 10 x 15 inches front: 13.5 x 18 inches
rear: 14 x 15 inches rear: 14.5 x 18 inches
O.Z. forged magnesium rims
Tyres front: 10.5 x 23 x 15 front: 33/65-18,
rear: 15 x 26 x 15 rear: 36/71-18
Michelin radial
Length 4178 mm 4650 mm
Width 1778 mm 2000 mm
Height 1030 mm 1080 mm
Minimum weight approx. 1100 kgs 900 kgs
Fuel tank 110 litres 90 litres
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