Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global
Breaking news

World Endurance champions honoured at FIA ceremony in France

Audi added the FIA World Endurance crown to the 24 Heures du Mans title. Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen and Loic Duval earned the Drivers' championship.

(L to R): Loic Duval, with Allan McNish, and Tom Kristensen, Audi Motorsport

(L to R): Loic Duval, with Allan McNish, and Tom Kristensen, Audi Motorsport

XPB Images

The FIA honoured the 2013 World Endurance Champions during the FIA Prize-Giving in Paris, surrounded by the other champions from world motorsport.  

  

Audi secured the Manufacturers title with its R18 e-tron quattro, adding the FIA World Endurance crown to the 24 Heures du Mans title the German manufacturer secured in June, which was the 90th anniversary of the first running of the world’s greatest motorsport event in 1923.  

  

The Driver’s World Championship was won in the penultimate round in Shanghai with Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen and Loic Duval edging out their Audi team-mates Andre Lotterer, Benoit Tréluyer and Marcel Fässler to lift the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship title, adding the world title to their wins at Le Mans in June, which was also a record breaking ninth victory for Kristensen, and the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy in April at Silverstone.  

  

Toyota Racing’s Anthony Davidson, Sebastien Buemi and Stephane Sarrazin secured third place in the World Driver’s Championship by winning the last race of the year in Bahrain.    

  

Loïc Duval said: “I’ve only driven a full season for Audi alongside Tom and Allan this year. This was combined with a certain pressure as well as a nice hope. After all, I’m driving in the best team of the world. We’ve always given our best and have won the World Champion’s title for it today. That’s an overwhelming feeling in this outstanding year in which we’ve also won Le Mans together. More than this isn’t possible.”

   

Tom Kristensen said: “In karting, I finished the World Championship as the runner-up once. Now I’ve won the World Champion’s title with Audi. That’s a nice feeling. And we competed against last year’s World Champions and had to stand our ground. Loïc, Allan and Audi Sport Team Joest did a brilliant job. A nice feeling.”

  

Allan McNish said: “I’ve been waiting for this moment since 1985. Even in karting, I battled for the World Champion’s title – back then at Le Mans by the way. In Formula 1, I didn’t have a real chance. Now, in my third motorsport discipline, it’s worked out. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together this year.”

 

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport) said: “Our whole squad has achieved everything there was to be achieved early and, following the Le Mans victory, has clinched both WEC titles as well. We can be very pleased with the season. We won the World Championship and the Le Mans 24 Hours and showed superb form in all races.”

  

In the FIA World Endurance Cup for GT Manufacturers it was a three way battle between Ferrari, Aston Martin and Porsche, with Ferrari securing the title with victory in Bahrain.  New for the 2013 season was the FIA World Endurance Cup for GT Drivers and Italian Gianmaria Bruni became the inaugural champion with victory in Bahrain with Toni Villander in addition to the wins in Belgium and Brazil earlier in the year alongside Giancarlo Fisichella.

  

Gianmaria Bruni said: "To be the driver’s champion by myself is fantastic but I am happy for all the team. The car has been consistent, not faster, but consistent and I knew we had a good chance to win the last race in Bahrain and move ahead of the Aston Martin drivers in the driver’s championship. This was a team effort and my thanks go to Toni Villander who drove with me in the final round and the rest is three titles - the manufacturer’s title for Ferrari, the team title for AF Corse and the driver’s title.  So we are all very happy."

  

Pierre Fillon, President of the ACO, said: “2013 has been a fantastic year for the FIA World Endurance Championship and in just two years has become a brand that is linked to exciting racing and great entertainment.  This year was also very important for the ACO as we celebrated 90 years of the 24 Heures du Mans and, quite rightly, this race is the jewel in the crown of the FIA WEC; the one that everyone wants to win. 

  

“I would like to congratulate Audi, Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen and Loic Duval, Ferrari and Gianmaria Bruni on their world titles and to Tom on his ninth overall victory at Le Mans, which is an incredible achievement; a record that will be hard to beat.  The World Endurance Championship is a partnership between the FIA and the ACO and, once again, we have shown what we can achieve together.  2014 already promises to be even better with the arrival of Porsche in LMP1, with a line-up of star drivers including Mark Webber, and we look forward to the opening round in April – the 6 Hours of Silverstone.”

FIA WEC

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Ligier with Onroak Automotive in endurance
Next article Early end for REBELLION Racing in WEC funals at Bahrain

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global