Series Leader Johansson Aiming to Make the Most Out of Final ELMS
Outing of the Year
The British-based Johansson Motorsports Audi team look to sign off from the inaugural European Le Mans Series in style by scoring its maiden endurance sportscar victory at Most near Prague on Sunday (5 Aug).
Despite Johansson's Gulf Audi R8 being punted into a spectacular accident when lapping the second-placed car with just 30 minutes remaining in the six hour Estoril race last month (15 Jul), the 44-year-old Swede leads the five-race series from Italy's Rinaldo Capello.
Capello, who earned Audi a record 13th consecutive American Le Mans Series victory in a race at Sears Point in California recently (22 Jul), will not contest the Most race or indeed the series finale at Vallelunga leaving Stefan all but assured of the Drivers' "crown" even though he too will also miss the Italian race.
"We've had lots of luck this year and its all been bad," confirmed Johansson who has never previously raced at Most. "There was substantial damage and carnage to the Audi at Estoril with major suspension and bodywork damage.
"Hopefully our luck will change for our final ELMS race before we head for the ALMS event at Laguna Seca in early September which will cause us to miss the final ELMS race at Vallelunga."
Having finished fourth on the Gulf Audi's début at Sebring five months ago and then third at the joint ALMS/ELMS Donington event, the Littlehampton in Sussex-based team has been dealt cruel fortune in their last three races.
At Jarama in May, Johansson led the "factory" Audis only for a small stone to lodge itself in the brake calliper causing Johansson to spin off although he eventually recovered after a pit stop to finish fourth.
In the Le Mans 24 Hour race the following month, a rare electrical problem caused the car's retirement. Then in its last race in Portugal, the Gulf Audi comfortably led until being bundled off the track.
The Mike Earle-run Johansson Motorsports team, like Johansson himself, will be heading in to the unknown having never previously visited the Czech Republic. Stefan will be partnered by Patrick Lemarie for the Most race, the French BAR Formula One test driver who joined the Gulf Audi team for the first time at Le Mans in June and also drove for Johansson at Estoril.
Qualifying is staged on Saturday (1520-1540 BST) with the 2hr 45mins race scheduled to start at 1200 (BST) the following day.
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* Most is +1hr BST.
Martyn Pass
Audi UK Sport Press PR Manager
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