SEBRING: Audi Hot at Sebring

Sebring - With flags flying at half mast in Sebring and other racing capitals around the world, the Audi R8 prototype was impossible to beat at the 49th Annual 12-Hours of Sebring.

The flags flew at half mast in honor of racing great Bob Wollek, age 57, who ironically after racing Porsche cars and others for more than 25 years, was killed riding his bicycle on a country road near the Sebring circuit. Wollek was exercising, preparing to compete in the 12-hour race on Saturday when an elderly citizen accidentally hit him. The car and team with which Wollek was to compete withdrew their entry.

Born in Strasbourg, France, Wollek won nearly every major endurance race in the world. Most of them at the wheel of a Porsche. His wins include two class wins at the 24 Hours of LeMans; four overall wins at the 24 Hours of Daytona; and a class win and an overall victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring. Wollek won the Porsche Cup seven times, more than anyone in history.

For the competitors, the 12-Hours of Sebring was a challenge. It was the fastest 12-hour race ever run at Sebring with the Audi's setting a blistering pace. It was also a very safe race with not a single full course caution and very few cautions at corners. For the spectator, however, the race was not an exciting one to watch with little passing.

There was, however, one bit of excitement. You may remember we reported on a possible new commitment from Ford s Cosworth engine unit on the development of new engines that could power race cars as well as passanger cars in the future. While Ford and Saleen officials are very hush-hush, a never before seen Cosworth engine powered Saleen S7R competed at Sebring. The car finished first in its GTS class and sixth overall. Most agreed that the design of the car heralded a new look for prototype racing cars and for a first-time appearance raised a lot of eyebrows.