pre-qualifying countdown

["Dave Eaton" <Dave.Eaton@clear.net.nz>]

after audi's difficulties with cooling the new r8c's during early testing,
the pressure is on for the le mans qualifying in 10 days time.  this from
the wire this morning...

dave
'95 rs2
'90 ur-q
-------------------
Next Sunday's pre-qualifying for the Le Mans 24 Hours is the first major
test for the Audi R8 against major opposition. Six weeks before the
race, Audi Sport aims to qualify the four car line-up for the traditional
race at La Sarthe in June. "The pre-qualifying is the first opportunity to
test the car on the Le Mans track," explains Audi's Head of Sport Dr
Wolfgang Ullrich. "This is extremely meaningful for us since we are
newcomers."

Each car has a time limit of just six hours to pre-qualify on Sunday hence
the preparations are meticulous. Dr Ullrich: "The cars have been
stripped down and re-built completely after the recent tests." In order to
be prepared perfectly, both teams will do a roll out to check every
part before they go to Le Mans. Audi Sport Team Joest will shake down the
two open-topped R8Rs at the Nürburgring while Audi Sport UK
will test the enclosed R8C at Silverstone.

The teams will qualify on Sunday in two separate groups. Only after the
final scrutineering on Saturday night will organisers define which
cars will start on Sunday morning or Sunday afternoon. Both Audi teams will
attempt to pre-qualify on 2 May. "Our goal is to get familiar
with the track in the best possible way", explains Dr Ullrich. During
pre-qualifying, 10 of the 12 Audi drivers will be present. Frenchman
Laurent Aiello and fellow countryman Yvan Muller are missing the event
because they will contest a round of the British Touring Car
Championship.