Le Mans, June 16, 2005
Despite the handicaps imposed by the regulations, the Audi R8 makes a
good impression in its sixth and last start at the Le Mans 24 Hours. Audi
factory driver Allan McNish (Team ADT Champion Racing) set the
third-fastest time shortly after 10 p.m. in Thursday’s final qualifying session.
Thus, the best-placed R8 will start the race on Saturday from the second row
of the grid. Formula 1 test driver Franck Montagny secured Audi PlayStation
Team ORECA the fifth spot on the grid at their first Le Mans entry with an
Audi. The second "American” R8 will start the race from the fourth row.
Audi R8 sports cars third, fifth and eighth on the grid
Rain showers on Wednesday meant that the starting positions for the 73rd
edition of the French Endurance classic were decided in the final qualifying
session on Thursday evening. Although all three Audi R8 sports cars were
already fitted with the engines for the race, Allan McNish lost just 3.080
seconds to pole position on the 13.650 kilometres – much less than
expected. During the pre-test session a fortnight ago, the fastest sports cars
of the new generation, which the regulations allow a significant
power-advantage, had been almost six seconds faster.
Allan McNish fastest Audi driver in qualifying Record-crowd and heat
battle expected
Because they did not see any chance to secure a place on the front-row of
the grid due to the handicaps, the Audi teams during qualifying completely
concentrated on the setup for the race which will start on Saturday at 4 p.m.
After an impressive crowd attended the qualifying, organisers expect a
record-crowd over the weekend. The Audi teams must prepare themselves
for a similar heat battle as in 2002: For Saturday and Sunday, temperatures
around 30 degrees Celsius are predicted for the Sarthe area. Eurosport TV
covers almost ten hours live coverage from Le Mans.
Quotes after qualifying
Frank Biela (Team ADT Champion Racing Audi R8 #2)
"For us the qualifying was much better than we had expected. We knew from
the very beginning that we wouldn’t start from pole position. So third place is
a great achievement. This evening we also made some changes to the race
set-up and are now sorted very well.”
Allan McNish (Team ADT Champion Racing Audi R8 #2)
"Getting third place on the grid is a bonus – I honestly didn’t expect to be that
high up the grid taking in to account the weight ballast and power
restrictions. Critically we’re ahead of some cars that, if we’d started behind
them, could have compromised the early stages of the race for us.”
Emanuele Pirro (Team ADT Champion Racing Audi R8 #2)
"We have a fast but importantly, a comfortable and easy car to drive for a 24
Hour race – it is early days, but I’m very happy. Allan did a great job to get
third – it gives us real confidence – but more importantly we’re looking in
very good shape in race trim.”
JJ Lehto (Team ADT Champion Racing Audi R8 #3)
"We didn’t really attempt a qualifying run but we’re not that far off the
qualifying pace either so that is encouraging. The car is good and I am very
happy with the balance of the car – we are looking good for the race. It’s
going to be tough, but I’m confident.”
Tom Kristensen (Team ADT Champion Racing Audi R8 #3)
"We already knew from the pre-test session that we can not fight for pole
position. But we are much closer than we thought which we are very happy
about. First we wanted to concentrate completely on the race set-up this
evening. But then things went so well that I tried another quick lap, of course
without taking too many risks. I feel absolutely comfortable in our R8 and I’m
looking forward to the start.”
Marco Werner (Team ADT Champion Racing Audi R8 #3)
"I tried to improve our time up until the very last minute, but unfortunately got
stuck in the traffic. But that doesn’t matter, because this evening we made a
big step forward: Our R8 feels much better than yesterday and even at the
beginning of today’s session. We found a perfect race performance. I’m
absolutely happy because now I know what we are able to achieve this
weekend.”
Jean-Marc Gounon (Audi PlayStation Team ORECA Audi R8 #4)
"I am very happy because Franck did a very good job on the one-lap shoot.
We are not far away from the reference which is McNish who knows the car.
We also improved the set-up for the night. Now we have nothing we need to
change for the race. I am very happy with our Audi. It will be a tough, but a
very nice race.”
Franck Montagny (Audi PlayStation Team ORECA Audi R8 #4)
"I had three runs on soft tyres, but only one worked. The other two times I got
stuck in traffic. The best lap was the one just before the end of the first part of
the final qualifying session, and it was a nice feeling when Dr Ullrich came
to me and said ‘bravo!’ The car is very good and we have done all the work
for the race we needed to do.”
Stéphane Ortelli (Audi PlayStation Team ORECA Audi R8 #4)
"For us every lap was counting today. We have only one car in our team, so
we don’t have the opportunity to go with one car for a race set-up and with
the other one for a qualifying result. But P5 is not too bad to start the race. On
the other hand we were able to work for the race. For us it was a dream
qualifying today. We all love our R8 and the car’s set-up, so we can expect a
lot for the race.”
Dave Maraj (Team Director Team ADT Champion Racing)
"Champion Audi was the top Audi team on Wednesday and also on
Thursday but although that is encouraging, it counts little for the race. I am
surprised that Allan achieved third place – we had anticipated around sixth
position. Tom was unlucky when he was on softer tyres and encountered
traffic. For me winning Le Mans would be a lifetime achievement.”
Hugues de Chaunac (Team Director Audi PlayStation Team ORECA)
"We expected to qualify between fourth and eighth, so it was a good
qualifying for us. We did not try very hard because the race is more
important. We are happy with the result and the car which is very well
balanced. To see how reliable the Audi is gives the team a lot of confidence.
For me it is the first time to have so much confidence on the reliability before
a 24-hour race. There has not been a single problem with the R8 since the
first day here.”
Dr Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport)
"All three teams have worked towards a very good set-up for the race. The
drivers are all satisfied. The long-runs we did in the night were quite good. In
the race the strategy will be important, not taking any risks and making good
pit-stops. I think we can do two laps more than our competitors in the
night-stints. The Michelin tires should be good for three stints in a row
during the night. It looks much better for us than during pre-practice.”
The starting grid at Le Mans
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