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05/21/2007 - 07:00 PM
Ingolstadt, Germany
Defending Le Mans winners Audi face the stiffest challenge in years as Peugeot has joined the diesel-powered prototype ranks this season. (LAT Photo) » More Photos
For the first time since 2002, Audi will field three factory cars in the upcoming 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 16-17.
DTM regulars Lucas Luhr, Mike Rockenfeller and Alex Premat were named as pilots for a third diesel-powered Audi R10 TDI, which will join the full-time ALMS efforts of Allan McNish/Dindo Capello, with Tom Kristensen added as third driver, and Marco Werner/Emanuelle Pirro, where Frank Biela will be the third man. Former DTM champ Mattias Ekstrom will be on stand-by in case seven-time Le Mans winner Kristensen is deemed unfit to drive – the Dane continues to recover from a crash sustained in the DTM opener at Hockenheim last month.
"By fielding a third car, we are increasing our chances of again being successful," said Audi motorsport director Wolfgang Ulrich. "Experience has certainly shown us how quickly a team can 'lose' a car at Le Mans. The costs incurred for a third vehicle versus a two-car team are reasonable.
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"At the moment we're assuming that Tom will be fit again by the time of the Le Mans race, but of course there's no guarantee for this," Ullrich added.
Audi faces a stiff challenge at Le Mans this year, with Peugeot fielding a two-car, diesel-powered effort headlined by Jacques Villeneuve and Sebastien Bourdais.
"I'm convinced that by deploying our seasoned drivers, who rank among the world's absolute elite of sports car drivers, and our promising juniors, we are well prepared for the battle against Peugeot," Ullrich concluded. "At the same time we are giving three young drivers the big chance to fight for overall victory at Le Mans for the first time. This is also a part of our motorsport concept."
