Latest Audi Racing News

["Matthew Pfeffer" <matjen@xsite.net>]

The text below is from that site I posted a few weeks back.  Looks like Bell
won't be in an Audi but plenty of other ecellent drivers will be.

Matt Pfeffer
89 200TQW

latest news - AUDI


Full entry confirmed - 4th March
In addition to two "open" R8R sportscars, Audi is planning to enter two
"fully enclosed" R8 Coupés (R8C) at Le Mans on 12/13 June which will run in
the GT Prototype category. In conjunction with experienced designers Tony
Southgate and Peter Elleray, Audi Sport has developed and built the R8C at
Audi's British subsidiary RTN (Racing Technology Norfolk) at Hingham near
Norwich.

Important mechanical components of the Audi R8C, such as the V8 turbo
engine, the brake system and sequential six-speed gearbox, have been adopted
from the open top Audi R8R (roadster) which has already been presented to
the public. Buckingham-based Audi Sport UK will prepare, enter and provide
technical support for the two Audi R8Cs.

Audi's Head of Sport, Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, explained: "By entering both
versions, the open and closed cars, we are making the very most of our
opportunity to do well with the R8 at Le Mans."

Audi's Le Mans début will feature no less than five former Le Mans 24-Hour
race winners. Sweden's Stefan Johansson and Stéphane Ortelli, of France,
will be sharing the cockpit of an Audi R8C with Belgian Didier Theys. The
full Audi driver line-up which starts its Le Mans preparations in the
pre-qualifying heats at the French track on 2 May are:

Audi Sport Team Joest (Audi R8Rs) - Laurent Aïello/Michele Alboreto/Rinaldo
Capello and Frank Biela/Yvan Muller/Emanuele Pirro

Audi Sport UK (Audi R8Cs) - Stefan Johansson/Stéphane Ortelli/Didier Theys
and Perry McCarthy/ Andy Wallace/James Weaver

Audi have also confirmed their entry and driver line up for the Sebring 12
Hour "test" on March 20th. Two R8Rs will be run by Joest and the driver line
up will be Alboreto, Biela, Capello, McCarthy, Johansson and Pirro.