[audisport] Andre Lotterer admits 3rd WecTitle Unrealistic

Audi's hopes of notching up a hat-trick of World Endurance Championship drivers' titles are now "unrealistic", according to Andre Lotterer.



The German, who with team-mates Benoit Treluyer and Marcel Fassler is the closest challenger to points leaders Sebastien Buemi and Anthony Davidson, believes that the Toyota duo "have the title in the bag" after scoring their fourth victory of the season at Shanghai last weekend.

"We are pretty realistic about our chances," Lotterer said,  in the wake of the points deficit extending to 42 ahead of the final two WEC rounds in Bahrain and Brazil later this month.




Buemi and Davidson lead Lotterer, Treluyer and Fassler by 147 points to 105.

With 52 points available over the final two races, Buemi and Davidson only require the 10 points for a fifth-place finish to secure the title in Bahrain on November 15 even if the Audi line-up wins the race and takes the point for pole position.

Another maximum for the Lotterer, Treluyer and Fassler and a retirement for Buemi and Davidson at the Interlagos finale on November 30 would leave the two crews equal on 157 points, but the Toyota duo would take the title on count-back.

Each line-up would then have four wins apiece, but the next best result for Buemi and Davidson would be their third position at the Le Mans 24 Hours, whereas it would be the Audi drivers' fourth position from Shanghai.

The battle for the LMP1 manufacturers' crown is significantly closer courtesy of Audi's one-two at the double-points Le Mans round in June.


Audi's total of 197 points means that it is only 29 points behind Toyota on 226, with a total of 88 still to play for.

WEC DRIVERS' STANDINGS:
Pos Driver Points
1 Anthony Davidson 147
1 Sebastien Buemi 147
2 Benoît Treluyer 105
2 Andre Lotterer 105
2 Marcel Fassler 105
3 Nicolas Lapierre 96
4 Lucas di Grassi 92
4 Tom Kristensen 92
5 Alexander Wurz 79
5 Stephane Sarrazin 79