St. Peterburg - April 3, 2008
Even in its third year of racing the Audi R10 TDI still experiences some
débuts: on the first weekend in April, the diesel-powered sportscar will
compete simultaneously for the first time in two races, in America and
in Europe. In St Petersburg (U.S. state of Florida), on Saturday (5 April),
the second round of the 2008 American Le Mans Series will be staged.
One day later, the European Le Mans Series kicks off with the
1000-kilometre race at Barcelona (Spain).
For the more than 650-hp strong Audi R10 TDI conditions in these two
events could hardly be more different. The 2.918-kilometre track along St
Petersburg’s southern marina is one of three city street circuits on the
schedule of the 2008 American Le Mans Series. Lasting only 1:55 hours,
St Petersburg is the second-shortest race of the season.
The Circuit de Catalunya on the outskirts of Barcelona has been the
venue of the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix since 1991. For the past two
years, it has also been host to the Spanish DTM round. The
4.655-kilometre Grand Prix circuit with its fast turns is considered
particularly demanding. For the 1000-kilometre distance, the sports
prototypes, depending on weather conditions, will need between five and
six hours.
With the Audi R10 TDI, AUDI AG is impressively demonstrating how
today’s modern diesel engines combine powerful performance with good
fuel economy – and that racing cars do not have to be noisy. Its
manufacturer’s commitment in the Le Mans Series gives Audi the
opportunity to convince even more customers in Europe of the merits of
TDI technology.
Every second Audi is a TDI
For the first time in its history, AUDI AG will be delivering more than one
million new vehicles worldwide. About half of them are equipped with TDI
engines. The TDI engine has established itself in virtually all markets of
the world – except the United States. There, the Audi R10 TDI is paving
the way for the upcoming TDI offensive. In 2008, Audi is launching the
world’s cleanest diesel engine with an ultra low emission system on the
U.S. market.
In St Petersburg, Audi clinched a 1-2 victory last year, proving that it is
possible to be successful with a sportscar developed for the 24 Hours of
Le Mans on a much slower city street circuit as well. Dindo Capello and
Allan McNish, who triumphed in Florida in 2007, are contesting the Le
Mans Series this year, in the #1 car. Their team-mates at Audi Sport
Team Joest are the two youngsters Alexandre Prémat and Mike
Rockenfeller.
In St Petersburg, Lucas Luhr and Marco Werner as well as Frank Biela
and Emanuele Pirro are competing for Team Audi Sport North America. In
Florida, Audi’s primary rivals are Acura/Honda and Porsche, at Barcelona,
the closest rival is Peugeot.
"The weekend is a major challenge for Audi Sport, both in terms of
logistics and the demands made on personnel, particularly as the 2008
DTM season presentation is taking place in Düsseldorf at the same
time,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. "Still, in St
Petersburg as well as at Barcelona we want to leave a better impression
than we did at the season opener at Sebring – although we’re fully aware
of the fact that we’ve got strong competition on either side of the Atlantic
and are facing difficult tasks."
The race in St Petersburg will start on Saturday at 1:25 p.m., local time
(7:25 p.m. in Germany). The start at Barcelona is scheduled for 11:35
a.m., local time, on Sunday.
Facts & figures, Barcelona
The Audi driver line-up at Barcelona
#1 Dindo Capello/Allan McNish
#2 Alexandre Prémat/Mike Rockenfeller
Alexandre Prémat about Barcelona
"Barcelona is a big challenge. The circuit is very fast and has some
high-speed turns, which are good fun. At some places the tarmac is a bit
bumpy, but that’s not a problem. In the GP2 I won ahead of Lewis
Hamilton there. Of course I’d like to repeat that in the LMS...”
Interesting snippets
Barcelona is the 21st race in the history of the Le Mans Series ... The
series is staged at the Circuit de Catalunya for the first time ... In 2008,
Audi contests the Le Mans Series for the first time as a manufacturer ...
Alexandre Prémat will celebrate his 26th birthday on the day of qualifying
at Barcelona ... The LMS uses the Grand Prix circuit at Barcelona, the DTM
the shorter national circuit version ... In the DTM, Audi started from the
pole position at Barcelona both times, in 2006, Martin Tomczyk clinched
victory for Audi in the DTM’s début race there ... Allan McNish contested
the Le Mans Series for Audi customer teams in 2004 and 2005 and won
three races at the time
The schedule at Barcelona
Friday, 4 April
11:45 – 12:45 Free Practice 1
15:45 – 16:45 Free Practice 2
Saturday, 5 April
09:45 – 10:45 Free Practice 3
14:15 – 14:35 Qualifying (GT cars)
14:40 – 15:00 Qualifying (prototypes)
Sunday, 6 April
09:00 – 09:20 Warm-up
11:35 – 17:35 Race (215 laps)
Facts & figures, St Petersburg
The Audi driver line-up in St Petersburg
#1 Frank Biela/Emanuele Pirro
#2 Lucas Luhr/Marco Werner
Emanuele Pirro about St Petersburg
"I was positively surprised last year – by the circuit as well as by the
organization of the event. St Petersburg is one of the nicest races of the
championship. The circuit is pretty technical and strenuous. But there are
straights as well on which we can leverage the strengths of our TDI
engine.”
Interesting snippets
Audi Sport North America celebrated a 1-2 victory in St Petersburg in 2007
with Dindo Capello/Allan McNish, ahead of Emanuele Pirro/Marco Werner
... Frank Biela contests his first race in the R10 TDI since his victory at the
24 Hours of Le Mans in 2007, Emanuele Pirro his first since Detroit 2007
... Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro, who – as a team – have so far
celebrated 16 overall victories in the American Le Mans Series, last
competed together in America at Sebring in 2007 ... With an average
qualifying speed of 165 kph, St Petersburg was the fastest city circuit in
the American Le Mans Series last year ... The R10 TDI cars fielded in St
Petersburg were not used at the Sebring season opener ... With 61
overall victories so far, Audi is the most successful brand contesting the
American Le Mans Series
The schedule in St Petersburg
Friday, 4 April
08:05 – 09:05 Free Practice 1
13:05 – 14:05 Free Practice 2
14:15 – 14:35 Qualifying (GT cars)
14:45 – 15:05 Qualifying (prototypes)
Saturday, 5 April
09:25 – 09:50 Warm-up
13:25 – 15:20 Race (1:55 hours)
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