Mid-Ohio, July 19th 2008
The Swiss racing driver Marcel Fässler (32) gets the chance to contest
two races in the American Le Mans Series with the Audi R10 TDI. The
former DTM driver starts at Road America (9 August) and Detroit (30
August) for Team Audi Sport North America as team-mate to Emanuele
Pirro.
"We have the task of rejuvenating our sportscar driver line-up,” explains
Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. "We have already
successfully integrated Lucas Luhr, Alexandre Prémat and Mike
Rockenfeller in the sportscar project. We now continue this route with
Marcel Fässler.”
The Swiss made a strong impression during tests with the 650 hp plus
diesel sportscar from AUDI AG and now gets the opportunity to gather
race experience with the Audi R10 TDI. "It’s a great honour for me that I
can drive the R10 TDI for Audi. The car is very impressive. What most
impressed me during the tests was just how quiet the engine is from
inside the cockpit. Because of this you don’t feel the true sensation of
speed. I immediately realised the hi-tech level of this car.”
For the father of three who lives in Gross, Switzerland, the two races in the
American Le Mans Series are a double premiere: "I was never in America
and therefore also contest my first race on American soil. Anyway, I’ll be
bombarded with a huge amount of new impressions: The circuits and the
people in the team are all new to me, I’ll also have to familiarise myself
with the procedures in the American Le Mans Series. I’m not putting
myself under pressure, but of course I’d like to make as good an
impression as possible and be quick.”
Marcel Fässler was runner-up in the German Formula 3 Championship
in 1999 and competed in the DTM for six years between 2000 and 2005.
He celebrated a total of six wins in the most popular international touring
car race series. Since the 2006 season, the Swiss competed in sportscar
races, including the Le Mans Series and in the FIA GT Championship.
Fässler won the 24 Hour race at Spa-Francorchamps last year.
To date the Audi R10 TDI is the most successful LM P1 sportscar with 17
wins in 31 races. Audi won the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans three
times in succession with the R10 TDI.
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