Swiss Marcel Fässler, German André Lotterer and Frenchman Benoît Tréluyer form the most successful overall line-up since the WEC was created almost four years ago. In the 28 races contested since March 2012, the trio has won on ten occasions, including three times at Le Mans (2011, 2012 and 2014), and clinched a world drivers’ title (2012). Although they were unable to prevent Porsche notching up a one-two at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, Fässler, Lotterer and Tréluyer got the 2015 season off to a flying start with two wins in the first two rounds at Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps. Since then, while Porsche gained the upper hand at Le Mans and Nürburgring, the Audi trio has finished both races in third place. This consistency makes them the only LM P1 Hybrid line-up to have been on the podium in every round and could well bring them their second world title.

Porsche meanwhile has managed to pull off two wins and four pole positions in four races this season. However the points have been shared about between Bernhard–Hartley–Webber and Dumas–Jani–Lieb, not forgetting the fact that Le Mans was won by Hülkenberg–Tandy–Bamber at the wheel of the third Porsche 919 Hybrid entered specially for the race. And this distribution is so far working in favour of Fässler–Lotterer–Tréluyer, who have opened up a 17 and 19-point gap over the two Porsche line-ups. Will they manage to hang on to this lead over the remaining four legs? The 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas this Saturday, 18 September, will give us a clue.

Regardless of the final outcome, Fässler, Lotterer and Tréluyer have undoubtedly become Audi’s star line-up since the retirement of their illustrious predecessors Tom Kristensen, Emanuele Pirro, Dindo Capello and Allan McNish – even if they are too modest to make such comparisons themselves – and further victories are surely just around the corner. Maybe this Saturday with a second consecutive win at the Circuit of the Americas?

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO
Translated from French by David Goward

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CITY CENTRE, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, MONDAY 8 JUNE 2015, WINNERS’ HANDPRINT CEREMONY. Since the trio was formed in 2010, Benoît Tréluyer, Marcel Fässler and André Lotterer (front, left to right) have never been out of the Top Five at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with three wins plus a second, third and fifth-place finish.