Marcel Fässler drives Audi R10 TDI in America
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| Marcel Fässler |
The Swiss racing driver Marcel Fässler (32) gets the chance to contest two races in the American Le Mans Series with the Audi R10 TDI. The former DTM driver starts at Road America (9 August) and Detroit (30 August) for Team Audi Sport North America as team-mate to Emanuele Pirro.
"We have the task of rejuvenating our sportscar driver line-up," explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. "We have already successfully integrated Lucas Luhr, Alexandre Prémat and Mike Rockenfeller in the sportscar project. We now continue this route with Marcel Fässler."
The Swiss made a strong impression during tests with the 650 hp plus diesel sportscar from AUDI AG and now gets the opportunity to gather race experience with the Audi R10 TDI. "It’s a great honor for me that I can drive the R10 TDI for Audi. The car is very impressive. What most impressed me during the tests was just how quiet the engine is from inside the cockpit. Because of this you don’t feel the true sensation of speed. I immediately realized the hi-tech level of this car."
For the father of three who lives in Gross, Switzerland, the two races in the American Le Mans Series are a double premiere: "I was never in America and therefore also contest my first race on American soil. Anyway, I’ll be bombarded with a huge amount of new impressions: The circuits and the people in the team are all new to me, I’ll also have to familiarize myself with the procedures in the American Le Mans Series. I’m not putting myself under pressure, but of course I’d like to make as good an impression as possible and be quick."
Marcel Fässler was runner-up in the German Formula 3 Championship in 1999 and competed in the DTM for six years between 2000 and 2005. He celebrated a total of six wins in the most popular international touring car race series. Since the 2006 season, the Swiss competed in sportscar races, including the Le Mans Series and in the FIA GT Championship. Fässler won the 24 Hour race at Spa-Francorchamps last year.
To date the Audi R10 TDI is the most successful LM P1 sportscar with 17 wins in 31 races. Audi won the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans three times in succession with the R10 TDI.
Profile
Audi driver Marcel Fässler (CH)
Date of birth: 27 May 1976
Place of birth: Einsiedeln (CH)
Domicile: Gross (CH)
Marital status: Married with Isabel, three daughters (Shana, Elin, Yael)
Height / weight: 1.78 m / 78 kg
Motorsport since: 1985 (Audi driver since 2008)
Career
1985–1994 Karting, 1st in IcA-European Championship round
1993 3rd in Winfield Racing Drivers School, France
1995 3rd in Formula Renault Campus France
1996 3rd in French Formula Renault, "Rookie of the Year"
1997 11th in French Formula 3 Championship,
1st in Formula Campus Invitation Race, Macau
1998 4th in French Formula 3 Championship
1999 2nd in German Formula 3 Championship
2000 4th in DTM
2001 4th in DTM
2002 4th in DTM
2003 3rd in DTM
2004 9th in DTM
2005 11th in DTM
2006 4th in ELMS, 2nd in Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hour race
2007 A1 GP series, ELMS,
1st in Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hour race
2008 FIA GT Championship