Audi driver Timo Bernhard, who suffered an injury in a testing accident in March, will not participate in the 2012 Le mans 24 Hours. Bernhard, who has carried the Audi colors at the past the Le Mans races, will remain on the sidelines to ensure a full recovery and a healthy return to competition later in the season.
Former Peugeot pilot Marc Gené will take over behind the wheel of the #18 Audi R18 Ultra. The French driver will also drive in the Le Mans Test day on June 3.
“I’m very pleased with the steps I’ve managed to make during this time,” said Bernhard in a team press release. “We’ve created a tight system of medical checks, so my progress has constantly been monitored. Unfortunately, there’s not enough time before the Le Mans 24 Hours to become 100 percent fit again.
“Le Mans is a world-class race that doesn’t allow any compromises. I only want to compete at this event in perfect physical condition. That’s why on the advice of my doctors and in close coordination with Audi I decided not to run at Le Mans this year.”
Gené’s first race for Audi was the World Endurance Championship Six Hours of Spa on May 5, which he won, along with co-drivers Romain Dumas and Loïc Duval. Gené has five Le Mans 24s under his belt including a winning effort in 2009; he also won at Spa (2008) and Sebring (2010) with Peugeot.
Audi’s head of motorsports, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, addressed the situation.
“All of us had very much been wishing for Timo to be fit again for the test day and the Le Mans 24 Hours,” he explained. “Unfortunately, the time was too short for this. That’s a real shame for Timo and for us too. Despite this responsible and probably not easy decision there’s generally positive news as well, as we all know that Timo will completely recover again. Naturally, he will continue to enjoy our full support.
“By signing Marc Gené in April as a reserve driver we’ve got a tried and tested solution for the current situation. Marc will now be nominated as a racer driver in the #3 car. At Spa, he took advantage of the opportunity to get to know the team and to immediately show a very good performance.”
Audi is virtually guaranteed to sweep the podium at Le Mans, as they did at Spa. The German factory’s only real competition will be the untested Toyota TS030, making its racing debut at the world’s toughest endurance race. None of the privateer teams have the speed or support to challenge Audi. The only question is how many of the Audi entries will finish and in what order.
The Le Mans 24 will offer excellent competition in the other classes, but Audi, barring disaster, has a lock on the overall win. Having former winner Marc Gené behind the wheel only ensures a solid finish from the #3 R18.
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