Audi R15 TDI θα λάβει μέρος στον 12ωρο αγώνα αντοχής στο Sebring

Η Audi θα παράγει 2 νέα αγωνιστικά αυτοκίνητα R15 TDI για να αγωνιστούν στον 12ώρο αγώνα του Sebring στις 21 Μαρτίου. Σύμφωνα με την εταιρία τα R15 θα εξοπλίζεται με πολλές τεχνολογικές βελτιώσεις που θα την βοηθήσουν σημαντικά για να νικήσει πάλι στον 24ωρο αγώνα του Le Mans τον Ιούνιο.Ο επικεφαλής της Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich δήλωσε: ” Ο αγώνας του SEBRING είναι ένας πολύ σκληρός αγώνας και πιστεύουμε ότι θα μας αποκαλύψει όλες τις αδυναμίες μας”.

Οι δύο ομάδες θα αποτελούνται: η μεν πρώτη από τους νικητές του Le Mans, Dindo Capello (Ιταλία), Tom Kristensen (Δανία) και Allan McNish (Σκωτία), ενώ η δεύτερη από τους Lucas Luhr (Γερμανία), Mike Rockenfeller (Γερμανία) και Marco Werner (Γερμανία). Ως τώρα η Audi έχει σημειώσει 8 νίκες στον αγώνα του Sebring και ευελπιστεί ότι με το R15 θα πάρει την ένατη.

[Πηγή: Audi]

Δελτίο Τύπου

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Ingolstadt/Sebring – The eagerly awaited first race of the new diesel sports car from AUDI AG draws ever closer: Audi Sport Team Joest contests the notorious 12-hour race at Sebring, Florida on 21 March with two Audi R15 TDI. The US endurance classic will act as stern test and dress rehearsal for the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 13 /14 June 2009.

The new Audi R15 TDI is packed with numerous technically innovative detail solutions and differs significantly from its predecessor model the R10 TDI which was undefeated at Le Mans. The first tests with the new LMP1 prototype have been successfully completed.

“So far the R15 TDI has performed as we expected,” explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “Now it must also prove itself in race conditions. Sebring is a particularly hard race and is therefore perfectly suited to reveal even the smallest of weaknesses.”

Proven drivers sit at the wheel of the two new prototypes. One driver line-up is formed by defending Le Mans winners Dindo Capello (Italy), Tom Kristensen (Denmark) and Allan McNish (Scotland). The Germans Lucas Luhr, Mike Rockenfeller and Marco Werner take turns at the wheel of the sister R15 TDI. Audi Sport Team Joest competed last year at Sebring in this formation.

Every new Le Mans Prototype from AUDI AG celebrated its race debut at the race track in the heart of Florida. In Audi’s first ever sports car race in 1999
Audi Sport Team Joest claimed a podium position first time out with the Audi R8R. A year later the Audi R8 triumphed on its debut at Sebring. On the premiere of the R10 TDI in 2006 Audi landed the first victory worldwide for a diesel powered sports car in an important endurance race.

The brand with the four rings has won the 12-hour race at Sebring, which also forms the opening race of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), a total of eight times, the last time in 2007.