Victory for the Audi Autotest Motorsport Team in the Czech Republic

The FiA E-Rally world championship race in Liberec ended with the Audi Autotest Motorsport Team from Lana capturing two podiums. After three extremely turbulent days of racing, Fuzzy Kofler/Franco Gaioni ran out winners, while Guido Guerrini/Emanuele Calchetti finished third to likewise gain a place on the rostrum.

The 6th stage of the world championship for electric cars covered a distance of 600 kilometers from Liberec to Mladá Bolesav in the Czech Republic, and double the number of points was up for grabs due to the special trials’ high degree of difficulty. “The three days were extremely turbulent, but we stayed focused and didn’t let the organizational problems disconcert us,” stated pilot Fuzzy Kofler after his first win of the season. The 4th special trial on the Friday had to be annulled because a tractor trailer blocked the route. The special trials on the Saturday afternoon had to be scrapped due to technical problems with the power supply for the charging stations. Guido Guerrini/Emanuele Calchetti displayed strong nerves on the final day, improving to third spot behind the world championship leaders Artur Prusak/Thierry Benchetrit (FRA).

Going into the final day on the Sunday, Kofler/Gaioni were second behind Prusak/Benchetrit, but the French duo lost its way in the final phase of the rally and so let victory slip from its grasp. The reigning world champions Didier Malga/Anne Bonnel (FRA/CZE) did not manage better than 11th place after making serious mistakes on the Friday and so failed to get among the points.

“It was a very tough weekend, but we worked together excellently as a team. Our goal is still to win the world title in the manufacturer’s, pilot’s and co-driver’s championships,” declared team principal Josef Unterholzner after the successful weekend of racing in the Czech Republic. “The result is an important step toward the title.” The Audi Autotest Motorsport Team from Lana has been able to extend its lead in the manufacturer’s championship. In the pilot’s and co-driver’s standings, Kofler/Gaioni trail Prusak/Benchetrit narrowly in second, while Guerrini/Calchetti are in third. The win in the Czech Republic was the 2nd of the season for the Audi Autotest Motorsport Team following the victory by Guerrini/Calchetti at the third event in Switzerland at the beginning of June. The next races promise to be highly exciting.