Audi remains with two R10 TDIs for title defense

By Nancy Knapp Schilke - Motorsport.com

Audi Sport North America is prepared to defend their LM P1 championship, the German marquee landed their eighth consecutive title last year in the hands of Allan McNish and Rinaldo Capello. Audi earned the manufacturers' bragging rights in the top category in the American Le Mans Series under three team organizations: Team Joest, Champion Racing (privateer) and the current Audi Sport North America.

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, head of Audi Motorsport, was hesitant in announce the 2008 program even though they had admitted to running in the American Le Mans Series, they had not confirmed if for a full-season or selected races; nor had the drivers been named. At the Sebring Winter Test, they did commit to the Le Mans Series.

It was a known factor that the manufacturer was not pleased with the changes made that they felt hindered their team after breaking ground with the first diesel-powered engine which in itself was the first move to a cleaner environment -- the use of diesel is common in Europe -- in sportscar racing. Per the Audi AG press release, "In spite of regulations that further penalize the most powerful cars, Audi AG once again will compete in the American Le Mans Series as a factory team in the 2008 season".

While McNish and Capello will not be here to defend their co-drivers' championship (2006, '07). The Scot leaves the series with three crowns (2000) but he and his Italian teammate will still have opportunities to earn further titles in their new adventure. The duo will competed this year in the Le Mans Series with Audi Sport Team Joest, taking on the Peugeot Sport champions. They will be joined by Mike Rockenfeller and Alexandre Premat in Audi AG's new campaign.

Ullrich brought up the simulations which Audi claims show that the LM P2 cars are "lighter and have an advantage over the 'bigger' LM P1 class on seven circuits" on the 2008 calendar.

He continued to stress that Audi will face the challenge: "The American Le Mans Series is an excellent platform in America for an automobile manufacture to complete in motorsport at a high-level with innovative technology," commented Ullrich. "We want to continue to use this platform and, more specifically, to support the diesel campaign in the USA.

"We will show fighting spirit and in spite of the situation with the regulations try to win!"

Dave Maraj, Team Director for Audi Sport North America, will had an all-star lineup this season in the American version of the Le Mans-style of sportscar endurance racing. His Champion Racing team will form the core of the team plus the factory technicians in Audi's goal to repeat their titles, manufacturer and team.

Lucas Luhr returns to the series where he has won three championships, two in GT2 and one in LM P2. He will share one of the two R10 TDIs with two-time P1 champion Marco Werner ('03 and '04). In his first season as a Audi works driver, Luhr raced in the German Touring Car Masters Championship (DTM) and as the third driver at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Petit Le Mans as the sub for Emanuele Pirro.

Werner earned his first title for Audi with Frank Biela, his second came with JJ Lehto. The German spent the first year for the new R10 TDI doing the majority of the development testing in 2006. He returned to the American series in 2007 as Pirro's teammate; the duo notched three victories while their teammates McNish and Capello dominated with nine.

Biela sat out 2007 except for Sebring where he, Werner and Pirro landed the win -- Biela's fourth, tying teammate Kristensen in the record book. The German who resides in Czech Republic, has two ALMS championships -- both with Audi -- his first P1 title was with Werner and the second two years later with Pirro.

This year Pirro and Biela will see if they can repeat their magic from the 2005 season. The two will run the second Audi R10 TDI. Pirro, from Italy, has two P1 titles, the one with Biela and his solo one in 2001 when the ALMS gave the qualifying driver points for grabbing the pole. In his 59 starts, the Italian has taken 18 race wins,

Audi has already notched 61 overall race wins and are now aiming to take the victory at the Twelve Hours of Sebring tomorrow. The 2008 drivers will start the full-season competition at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg the first weekend of April.

At the 56th running of Sebring, the six drivers chasing for the win are McNish, Capello, Kristensen in the No. 1 Audi and Luhr, Rockenfeller and Werner are in the No. 2 Audi. This year's challenge for the top-step of podium includes the addition of one of the Peugeot Sport 908 HDi FAPs in their debut at the historic race event.