Madgasters
14-12-2005, 06:02 PM
Diesel Audi R10 to debut at Sebring then Le Mans
Audi are bidding to become the first manufacturer to win the Le Mans 24 Hours race with a diesel-powered car.
The German team launched their R10 in Paris on Tuesday and are likely to employ Dane Tom Kristensen and Scot Allan McNish as their drivers.
"If we were not convinced we could do this we wouldn't have started this," said Audi boss Wolfgang Ulrich.
"We always set ourselves ambitious goals. Audi wants to show the world it can be done."
Audi's diesel plans have taken two years to come to fruition and preparations will continue with secret test sessions in the run-up to the R10's debut at Sebring in March.
"The Le Mans 24 Hours is the toughest race in the world in the most extreme setting - you do a whole Formula One season in one weekend," said Ulrich.
"We would like to prepare so we have a car which can enable us to win at Le Mans. We cannot guarantee victory but we have teamed up to win in 2006 and I'd like to race this car for 10 years."
Kristensen is certain to drive the car while ex-Formula One driver McNish looks likely to provide British interest.
"It is a fantastic feeling. I am very happy to drive the R10," said Kristensen.
"It looks similar to the R8 but everything is new. Audi have had a unique, radical approach."
http://www.audi.com/audi/com/en1/experience/motorsport/r10.html
Audi are bidding to become the first manufacturer to win the Le Mans 24 Hours race with a diesel-powered car.
The German team launched their R10 in Paris on Tuesday and are likely to employ Dane Tom Kristensen and Scot Allan McNish as their drivers.
"If we were not convinced we could do this we wouldn't have started this," said Audi boss Wolfgang Ulrich.
"We always set ourselves ambitious goals. Audi wants to show the world it can be done."
Audi's diesel plans have taken two years to come to fruition and preparations will continue with secret test sessions in the run-up to the R10's debut at Sebring in March.
"The Le Mans 24 Hours is the toughest race in the world in the most extreme setting - you do a whole Formula One season in one weekend," said Ulrich.
"We would like to prepare so we have a car which can enable us to win at Le Mans. We cannot guarantee victory but we have teamed up to win in 2006 and I'd like to race this car for 10 years."
Kristensen is certain to drive the car while ex-Formula One driver McNish looks likely to provide British interest.
"It is a fantastic feeling. I am very happy to drive the R10," said Kristensen.
"It looks similar to the R8 but everything is new. Audi have had a unique, radical approach."
http://www.audi.com/audi/com/en1/experience/motorsport/r10.html