Le Mans - June 12, 2007
Three Audi R10 TDI cars in the 24 Hours of Le Mans
On 16/17 June 2007 AUDI AG will again tackle one of motorsport’s
biggest challenges of all: With three prototypes, Audi Sport Team Joest
will be contesting the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s most demanding
car race that will be staged for the 75th time this year.
Since 2000, Audi has been the brand to be beaten at Le Mans. Five
victories with the Audi R8 that became a legend in its own time were
followed by the historic first triumph of a diesel sportscar – the Audi R10
TDI – in its Le Mans début in June 2006.
Despite modified regulations, which prescribe tanks for diesel cars this
year that are ten percent smaller than those of prototypes powered by
petrol engines, the squad of Audi Head of Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich
is banking again on the performance capabilities and the reliability of
Audi TDI Power in the French endurance classic. For the first time, the
Audi R10 TDI will have to compete against another diesel sportscar: the
Peugeot 908.
Audi’s opponent Peugeot is a manufacturer who has been successful in
various motorsport categories and is a very strong competitor. However,
as a pioneer of diesel technology, Audi has an advantage in terms of
experience, which includes Le Mans, and Audi Sport Team Joest intends
to translate this advantage into the seventh Le Mans victory for Audi.
Six veterans and three youngsters compete for Audi
For the first time since 2002, AUDI AG is fielding three factory cars in the
24 Hours of Le Mans again. Taking turns at the wheel of the third R10 TDI
will be three young drivers who normally contest the DTM for Audi: Lucas
Luhr (Germany), Alexandre Prémat (France) and Mike Rockenfeller
(Germany).
Comeback of Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen
The cockpits of the other two R10 TDI cars will be occupied by six
veterans, who – between them – have scored a total of 20 Le Mans
victories. They include Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen
(Denmark), who will be celebrating a comeback after his serious accident
in the DTM race at Hockenheim.
The first serious session at Le Mans will be the first qualifying at 7 p.m.
(local time) on Wednesday. The race will start at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Worldwide, the "race of the year” will be broadcast on TV in more than 100
countries.
Quotes before the race
Dr Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport)
"The race at Le Mans always poses a new challenge because it is
completely different and new every year. With Peugeot competing against
us, we have a new, strong rival with a motorsport track record consistently
marked by a high level of professionalism and success, who has already
won twice at Le Mans. On the test day, Peugeot was roughly on a par with
us, but the other LM P1 cars should not be underestimated either.
Nevertheless, our goal is clear: We want to clinch the seventh Le Mans
victory for Audi and demonstrate that TDI Power is the best technology
and we have a great and well-proven team.”
Frank Biela (Audi R10 TDI #1)
"Of course you approach such a race with high expectations, particularly
with our track record: Audi, Biela, Pirro, Werner – with names like these,
the goals can only be very ambitious. But we all know that it’s anything but
easy to actually bring home a Le Mans victory.”
Emanuele Pirro (Audi R10 TDI #1)
"Wish number 1 is to finish the race on the podium – as I always
managed to do in the past eight years. Wish number 2 would be to win
the race again. We put in several months of very hard work for this
weekend and are well prepared. I’m looking forward to the race as well
as to this new challenge with Peugeot.”
Marco Werner (Audi R10 TDI #1)
"As last year’s winner we are, no doubt, one of the favourites. But I think
that we’ll be seeing a very tough race this year. There are three Audis
competing and with Peugeot entering, we’ve got a serious rival. That’s
good for the sport, though, and makes the whole thing interesting. But it
won’t be easy for us.”
Dindo Capello (Audi R10 TDI #2)
"It’s hard to believe how quickly the past twelve months passed. It seems
to me as though we were here at Le Mans making our début with the Audi
R10 TDI only yesterday. Now we’ve got twelve more months of
experience. The engineers from Audi Sport worked hard to improve the
things that weren’t perfect yet in 2006. I’m convinced that Audi is going to
show the strength of the R10 TDI, our team and our drivers here.”
Tom Kristensen (Audi R10 TDI #2)
"After having to miss the test day because of my accident in the DTM, I’m
approaching the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year somewhat differently than
in previous years. My attitude is the same, but by teammates Dindo
(Capello) and Allan (McNish) have done the preliminary work. I know that I
can rely on them and look forward to competing with them again at Le
Mans. I feel fit and hope that we’ll be able to drive a fantastic race.”
Allan McNish (Audi R10 TDI #2)
"Le Mans is a race that’s very difficult to win. I managed to do it once,
albeit not yet with Audi. My goal, therefore, is victory number two. I
prepared myself exactly the same way as I did in previous years. The
team is very well prepared too. We had a very good endurance test and
many exploits in America. That Tom (Kristensen) is fit again makes the
whole thing perfect for Dindo (Capello) and for me.”
Lucas Luhr (Audi R10 TDI #3)
"I can hardly wait for the race to start. I’m looking forward to it immensely.
The Audi R10 TDI is huge fun to drive. Of course Le Mans is strenuous
with an LM P1 sportscar on account of the high speeds. But the R10 TDI
is a very good-natured car. You get used to it quickly. I still need to find the
rhythm in traffic. The difference in speed to the GT cars is enormous at
times. You get the impression as though they are just parked. But you get
used to this.”
Alexandre Prémat (Audi R10 TDI #3)
"I always wanted to compete at Le Mans, now this dream has come true,
and that’s a great feeling. We had a good test day. Lucas (Luhr) and I
have a similar driving style, which is very good. I also get along very well
with ‘Rocky‘. I’m sure that we, the three rookies, can stand our ground in
the race. We just have to keep away from making any mistakes.”
Mike Rockenfeller (Audi R10 TDI #3)
"The test day confirmed what I had expected after the test at Paul Ricard:
The Audi R10 TDI is very pleasant to drive at Le Mans as well. Of course
we still need to optimise the fine-tuning for the race a bit, but I’m confident
as far as that’s concerned. Of course everyone at Audi expects a victory in
the 24 Hours of Le Mans. And if it works out that way it will be a particular
thrill to be the driver sitting in the winning car. But that’s something you
can’t plan for. I believe we’ve got the speed. Everything else remains to be
seen.”
Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest)
"Needless to say we want to repeat last year’s success. We have one
more car in the race than in 2006. Three cars mean a higher workload as
well as higher chances. This year, we’ve got even stronger rivals than
before: Pescarolo has built a new car, and Zytek, as well, was very good
in the tests, and of course there’s Peugeot with the new diesel. They won
the first two races they contested. The cars are fast. That will be a difficult
challenge for us. But we’re hoping to be able to make good use of our
advantage in experience and that all three cars will be running without any
problems.”
Schedule
Tuesday, 12 June
14:00 – 15:00 Technical Scrutineering (Audi R10 TDI #1, #2, #3)
Wednesday, 13 June
19:00 – 21:00 Qualifying 1, part 1
22:00 – 24:00 Qualifying 1, part 2
Thursday, 14 June
19:00 – 21:00 Qualifying 2, part 1
22:00 – 24:00 Qualifying 2, part 2
Friday, 15 June
14:00 Audi press conference (Audi Racing Arena)
Saturday, 16 June
09:00 – 09:45 Warm-up
15:00 Start
Sunday, 17 June
15:00 Finish
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