Los Angeles - January 4, 2006
Race debut in the USA on 18 March
The Audi R10 celebrated its premiere in the USA two-and-a-half months
before its race debut in Sebring (Florida) on 18 March. The first sportscar
in history with a diesel power unit, which aims for overall victory at the
legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, was one of the attractions during the
"Audi Designers´ Tuesday”. Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich
and Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen unveiled the R10, which is
powered by a 650 hp V12 TDI-engine, to the prominent people gathered
among the 350 guests invited before the opening of the Los Angeles
Motor Show.
"Audi tries to do something with the R10 which no other manufacturer has
attempted in motorsport,” explained Dr Ullrich during an interview with
presenter Désriée Nosbusch. "The diesel project is the greatest
challenge ever to have been given to Audi Sport.”
Tom Kristensen, who was recently voted as "Sports Personality of the
Year” in his homeland Denmark for the second time, is the first of a total
of six drivers, who will compete in Sebring and Le Mans with the Audi
R10, to be confirmed. The 38-year old celebrated his seventh victory in the
24 Hours of Le Mans in June 2005 and is, as a result, the most
successful Le Mans driver in its history.
"It was very important for us to be able to continue this long and
successful partnership, particularly in such a demanding project,” said Dr
Ullrich. "The R10 project is a very special challenge for which the best
drivers are required – and Tom is without a shadow of a doubt one of the
world’s best.”
Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen confirmed as driver
The Dane has been driving for Audi since the 2000 season. He
celebrated five of his seven Le Mans victories at the wheel of the R10
predecessor, the R8. In 2002 Kristensen won the American Le Mans
Series (ALMS) with the R8. Furthermore, since the beginning of the 2004
season, the Dane has been competing for Audi in the DTM, in which he
finished third overall in 2005.
"I’m absolutely delighted to be a part of this fantastic team again,”
explained Tom Kristensen in Los Angeles. "We won everything there was
to win with the R8. This era has come to a close. Now it’s a question of
turning the new R10 into a winning car. Because we are dealing with a
completely new vehicle concept, everybody in the team must give their
maximum. As a racing driver you can’t wish for anything better than to be
involved in such a project from the very beginning.”
The R10 was flown back to Germany immediately after the presentation
at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. An intensive test
programme is scheduled before the first race at Sebring.
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