Le Mans, April 25, 2004
The Audi R8 importer teams were very impressive in Sunday’s traditional
pre-test for the Le Mans 24 Hour race on 12/13 June 2004. Using the only
test possibility on the non-permanent race track, the four Audi R8 sports
cars occupied the top four positions. Fastest of the day was Scotland’s
Allan McNish, lapping the 13.650-kilometre track in Audi Sport UK Team
Veloqx’s Audi R8 in 3:32.615s. His team-mate Johnny Herbert was just
0.012 seconds behind.
The modified aerodynamics of the Audi R8 proved itself during the
eight-hour pre-test. Following new regulations, the sport prototypes have
to use smaller rear wings in the 2004 season. Therefore, Audi reworked
the R8 in the wind tunnel and has made a new aerodynamic configuration
available to its customer teams that retrieves some of the downforce
initially lost as a result of the regulation change. The result of the facelift:
despite the new regulations, McNish and Herbert both beat Tom
Kristensen’s pole position time from last year Bentley, 3:34.820s. “Even
with the smaller rear-wing, the R8 still has a perfect balance at Le Mans,“
praised McNish. “Audi Sport’s technicians once more have done a great
job.”
Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi motorsport, was also very positive: “The
work in the wind-tunnel has paid off and Michelin has provided us with
great tyres. As a result the three teams could make good use of the
available time, gathering important data for June’s race which should be
very exciting: All four R8 cars were on a similar level for a long period
during the pre-test and have strong driver line-ups.“
The importer teams Audi Sport Japan Team Goh, Audi Sport UK Team
Veloqx and ADT Champion Racing Audi Sport North America compete in
the 72nd running of the French Endurance classic with a high-calibre
driver line-up. Eight from the twelve Audi drivers have already won the Le
Mans 24 hours. Only Pierre Kaffer, who at his first ever race in the Audi R8
won the Sebring 12 Hours in March, steps into new territority at Le Mans.
“The track is really impressive and the fastest I’ve ever driven,“ declared
the Le Mans rookie. “However, it’s very important that I felt immediately
comfortable. The track is fun to drive.“
With its factory team, Audi has won the Le Mans 24 Hours three times in a
row in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Last year, Audi customer teams finished third
and fourth behind two Bentleys.
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