While three Audi R8 LMS cars were running within the group of the top ten for long stretches of the racing distance, car number 4 only took the lead for the first time on lap 142 when the Porsche that had been leading for a long time was handed a time penalty. At that time, a second Audi Sport Team had chances for victory as well – Audi Sport Team Land that was victorious for Audi at the Nürburgring in 2017. But two hours before the end of the race, the Audi R8 LMS from Wolfgang Land’s squad with drivers Christopher Haase/Kelvin van der Linde/Christopher Mies/René Rast retired after a puncture. Hence all hopes were pinned on the four Audi Sport drivers Pierre Kaffer/Frank Stippler/Dries Vanthoor/Frédéric Vervisch, who masterfully did their job. For the merely 21-year-old Belgian driver Dries Vanthoor, who drove the final stint, this marked the first Nürburgring victory, just like for Pierre Kaffer, who grew up in the Eifel. Frédéric Vervisch won the Nürburgring 24 Hours for the first time too. The Belgian was previously involved in the historic first 24-hour victory of the latest evolution of the Audi R8 LMS in Dubai in January. Frank Stippler, who hails from Cologne, won the iconic event as far back as in 2012 with Audi. In total, the GT3 race cars from Audi Sport customer racing have clinched as many as 13 overall victories in 24-hour races worldwide since 2009.
Audi Sport Team Car Collection with Christopher Haase/Marcel Fässler/René Rast/Markus Winkelhock lost a possible podium finish shortly before the end due to a time penalty and achieved fourth position. The privately fielded Audi R8 LMS from Phoenix Racing with Jeroen Bleekemolen/Vincent Kolb/Kim-Luis Schramm/Frank Stippler crossed the finish line in eighth place. Gentleman drivers Stefan Aust/Oliver Bender/Christian Bollrath/Jean-Louis Hertenstein claimed a remarkable 16th spot overall with Team Car Collection Motorsport.
Several Audi customer teams clinched additional trophies at the Nürburgring. Team Giti Tire Motorsport by RaceIng with Rahel Frey/Bernhard Henzel/Pavel Lefterov/Frank Schmickler in an Audi R8 LMS won the SP8 class ahead of the Audi R8 LMS GT4 from Team Giti Tire Motorsport by WS Racing with the Asian driver crew of Xiaole He/Fei Li/Yat Wong/Andy Yan. Team Bonk Motorsport scored second place in the SP 3T class in an Audi RS 3 LMS – the best TCR race car in this class. In 2017, the squad based in Münster had claimed two podium finishes with this model and another podium in 2018. Fourth position went to the Audi RS 3 LMS from Team Avia Sorg Rennsport. As a result, nine of the ten race cars from Audi Sport customer racing finished the event.
Additional information
Photo album Nürburgring 24 Hours 2019
Press Kit Nürburgring 24 Hours 2019
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Daniel Abt and Lucas di Grassi finished in sixth and ninth positions in Bern. As a result, the gap of di Grassi in the drivers’ championship increased to 32 points. In the teams’ championship, Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler is 43 points behind DS Techeetah before the final two races. A team can still score a maximum of 94 points in the finale in New York from July 13–14. 
“Everyone knows how challenging the Nordschleife is. Each of our four drivers showed his skills there, scored points and thus made our good team result possible,” said Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. “In addition, our Finnish customer Antti Buri as a guest entrant contributed to our successful weekend by clinching second place on the grid in race two.” During the course of the event, the Audi Sport drivers managed to improve significantly from race to race. After Frédéric Vervisch claimed fifth position in the first sprint, his form curve clearly pointed upwards. In the second heat, he advanced to second place from fourth on the grid. In round three, the 32-year-old pro stormed forward right on the first kilometers from seventh to second place and maintained his position up until the finish. A year ago, he had stood on the podium at the Nürburgring for the first time and clinched two trophies as well. Now Vervisch with Comtoyou Team Audi Sport, just like leader of the standings Esteban Guerrieri, scored a total of 53 points – no other driver was more successful at the Nürburgring. With that, the Belgian moved up from eleventh to fifth place in the standings. 
“This track is really hardcore,” said Audi driver Lucas di Grassi after the official track walk on Friday morning. “There are hardly any run-off areas and there’s no room for mistakes. The circuit seems like a kind of mini Macau.” Daniel Abt’s eyes were also shining at the track walk: “This circuit is exactly my thing.”
The digital short titled “Science Fair” features Peter Parker (Tom Holland) and his best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon), up against some very serious competition at the school science fair. To save their presentation, Peter races against time to acquire the perfect scientific advancement: the all-electric Audi