Sandström and Speedhunters WRT finished 32nd in the Nürburging 24h
May 20th, 2012
Edward Sandström finished 32nd overall in the Nürburgring 24h after a collision during a team mates night stint, forcing the team to a long pit stop.
– I´m satisfied with my driving, I drove the qualification, the first stint and the double stint into the darkness of the night, and was fastest on the track during the dark hours.
The Speedhunters WRT Audi R8 LMS Ultra started 11th on the grid after Sandströms Top 40-qualification on Friday, and was climbing steadily though the field during the first hours of the race. During Sandströms double stint in the nightfall car number 4 was fastest on the track and gaining more than a minute on the leading car.
But later in the night something went wrong during a team mates stint. When overtaking a slower car he collided with an Aston Martin, and the Audi got severe damage on the steering gear which had to be replaced, which is a time consuming operation.
– We lost the race on that pit stop, but that happens in racing, Sandström says.
The overall victory was taken by another Audi R8 LMS Ultra, Team Phoenix, with Marc Basseng, Christopher Haase, Frank Stippler and Markus Winkelhock. The second place was also taken by an Audi, by Mameroy Racing.
– We had the speed, the team has done a fantastic job, and if it wasn´t for the steering gear change I think the result could have been different for us. But it´s very nice to see double Audi at the top, it shows the knowledge in both Audi and the racing teams, Sandström says.
