2001: Gulf Sponsors Johansson Audi

The Audi R8 raced in the traditional gulf powder blue and orange. At the 2001 Sebring 12 hour race in March they made a terrific start and were leading in the early stages of the race but due to a flat battery leading to many electrical difficulties they finished in 4th pace overall.

Johansson took his Gulf Audi to Donnington Park for the opening round of the 24-hour Le Mans and claimed 3rd place behind the two Audis who claimed the top two places in the Sebring race. Le mans was a disaster for all, a severe rainstorm sent cars flying everywhere and the Gulf Audi was no exception bumping over the grass and losing its entire nose panel, after a brief recovery, in the Mulsanne straight the electric control unit failed and the V8 turbo died, after fitting a new ECU it fired up again, its hope only to be crushed by a stone flung up from the track, lodging itself behind a brake pipe, chafed through it leaving the fluid to drain away and the car deposited in the gravel.

Johansson then took Tom Coronel to round three of the championship at Estoril with the Gulf Audi, the two of them stood a good chance as there was little competition left in the field, the Gulf Audi was a lap ahead of its major rival in this race Derichebourg but with a highly controversial collision in which Derichebourg rammed into the back of the Gulf Audi at the end of the main straight and the Audi careered off into the barrier, Derichebourg went on to win the race but was excluded and victory awarded Tora Mallock, 12 laps behind!

Even though the Gulf Audi took a huge hit it seemed to have little damage and an hour later it was ready to go again, Johansson took it to the penultimate round of the EMLS at Most in the Czech Republic and walked away a champion, a memorable year for Gulf and Johansson Audi.