18 Sep 2011 The Zhuhai 6 Hours - The high point of an exceptional season
The Zhuhai 6 Hours on 13th November is the last of the seven rounds on the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup calendar. The world series of endurance races will crown its champions at the end of this ultimate, eagerly-awaited battle.
In the wake of the popular success of the 2010 Zhuhai 1000 km, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, creator of the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1923 and the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup in 2010, is very pleased to return to the Chinese circuit for the last race on its 2011 calendar. At the end of this event, renamed the Zhuhai 6 Hours for 2011, the champions of what has been an exceptional year so far will be known, as was also the case in 2010. The second ILMC began at Sebring (United States) followed by Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), Imola (Italy), Silverstone (England), Petit Le Mans (USA) without forgetting the Le Mans 24 Hours on 11th-12th June, the blue riband event on the calendar.
Audi scored a memorable victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours as its surviving car, after the spectacular accidents (fortunately without injury) that eliminated the team’s other two R18 TDIs, fought off the attacks of the four Peugeots till the very end. Only 13 seconds separated the winners,Tréluyer-Lotterrer-Fässler, from the second-placed Peugeot driven by Bourdais-Pagenaud-Lamy after 24 hours. In the four events held up till now (the next one being the Petit Le Mans on 1st October), Peugeot has scored a clean sweep.
The duel between the two main protagonists in the ILMC with works prototypes in the top category LM P1 will continue in Zhuhai, an event that will prove decisive in the attribution of the titles. It is a race which Peugeot and Audi are determined to win as the year draws to a close, as much for prestigious as for economic reasons.
It will be the same in LM GT. Ferrari is leading the overall classification for manufacturers, but BMW, Porsche and Corvette are in hot pursuit of the prestigious Italian make whose drivers are two Formula 1 hot shoes, Giancarlo Fisichella and Gianmaria Bruni.
A total of 32 cars representing eight major manufacturers officially entered in the ILMC (Audi, Aston Martin, Peugeot, BMW, Ferrari, Corvette, Lotus and Porsche) divided up into four categories (LM P1, LM P2, LM GTE Pro and LM GTE Am) will do battle on the demanding Zhuhai track on 13th November. The teams entered for the year will be backed up by Chinese squads whose names are still to be confirmed.
Thanks to the Zhuhai 6 Hours, the magic of the Le Mans 24 Hours has arrived in China. It will be boosted by hard-hitting meet-the-teams-and-drivers promotional operations aimed at the Chinese public. It will be an exceptional event, not to be missed at any price!
The Audi Zhuhai International circuit
The Audi Zhuhai International circuit near Macao and Hong Kong was the first motor racing circuit built in China. Thanks to this track opened in 1996, car racing gained a foothold in the most populous country in the world. Zhuhai has become the heart of numerous local teams dreaming of conquering the world of endurance one day. The first ILMC ended in Zhuhai in 2010 with Peugeot and Ferrari winning the manufacturers’ championships in the prototype and GT categories. In 2011, Audi ZIC will have the honour of closing another international season of endurance.