Sears Point, April 10, 2002
The Audi drivers are facing a difficult task on May 19: Audi “works” drivers
Frank Biela, Rinaldo Capello, Tom Kristensen and defending champion
Emanuele Pirro will not be able to use their 2002-spec Infineon Audi R8
sportscars for round two of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) at the
undulating Sears Point track near San Francisco (US state of California).
Instead they will have to race “used cars”.
In order not to disrupt preparations for the Le Mans 24 Hour race, the three
Infineon Audi R8 cars will remain in Europe until the race on June 15/16.
Thanks to the customer team, Champion Racing, two R8 cars will
nevertheless start at Sears Point: Tom Kristensen joins Johnny Herbert
and Andy Wallace at the wheel of the ADT Champion R8. Audi Sport North
America enters a 2000-spec R8 for Frank Biela, Rinaldo Capello and
Emanuele Pirro, which Champion Racing has lent to the Audi “works”
squad for this race.
A large contingent of the “factory” team flew to the USA directly after the Le
Mans pre-practice to take responsibility of Champion’s R8 and prepare the
car for the race. Team Audi Sport North America will be able to use data
from the 2000 season, as the “rented” R8 is the actual car that enabled
Rinaldo Capello and Allan McNish to lap the entire field at Sears Point in
July 2000.
Last year, the Infineon Audi R8 was again the dominant car on the
extremely demanding track in Sonoma Valley. Rinaldo Capello and Tom
Kristensen took the victory ahead of their team-mates Frank Biela and
Emanuele Pirro - with a full lap advantage over the rest of the field.
Audi Sport North America and Champion Racing, however, will race with
another disadvantage: Three drivers means an additional driver change
during the race, as normally just two drivers share a car in the 2:45-hour
ALMS races. But importantly, all Audi “works” drivers will now have the
opportunity to score important points for the championship.
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