Racing Programme

Building on its historic success at Le Mans and in the ALMS achieved in 2006 using the TDI diesel technology, Audi once again proved to be at the forefront of technology last year.

Having pioneered quattro permanent four-wheel-drive in world rallying in the 1980s and then on the race tracks throughout the 1990s, Audi continued to lead innovation in motorsport with its FSI direct petrol injection technology for its sports-prototype racing programme between 1999-2005.  Now TDI leads the way in endurance racing thanks to the R10 TDI's record-breaking debut season in 2006 - another example of Vorsprung Durch Technik as they say in Germany.

" I have now been with Audi Sport for quite some time, in fact the first time I drove for them was at the first ever race of the now legendary R8 in Sebring in 2000.  I immediately found healthy competition between the two team cars and a strong overall desire to win, this plus a magnificent team and car gave us all an incredible season bringing me my first American Le Mans Series title. And so I knew when I left Formula 1 I was going to return to the Audi family."

"Dindo and I first raced together in 2000 alongside Michele Alboreto and we went on to win 6 races that year and the ALMS title. When we were re-united again in 2006, we immediately started winning again, taking a historic Sebring 12 Hours victory with Tom Kristensen on the R10 TDI's race debut.  We scored 8 race wins in total and the championship that season, with probably our best win being Lime Rock. It was the last ever race for the ultra successful Audi R8 and one of our toughest victories and a special way to send a car into retirement - a real moment in all our careers. Back to back ALMS titles in 2006 & 07 and some incredibly close victories at Petit Le Mans and Laguna Seca at the end of last season  have proven the Audi R10 TDI performance and our driving strength and with Tom joining for Le Mans I think we have one of the best combinations in Sportscar racing.

"Looking to 2008, we have a busy programme, Audi Sport will defend our 2007 American Le Mans Series title, the Le Mans 24 Hours as well as go head to head with Peugeot and Porsche in the European based Le Mans Series. Again Dindo and I team up but concentrate on the Le Mans Series (this is the one Championship missing from my trophy cabinet), additionally I will be doing races in the ALMS such as the season opener in Sebring.  Obviously the holy grail of Le Mans in June is the big one Dindo, Tom and I are really gunning for after our disappointment of coming so close last year."  
Let the racing begin...  

 

 

RACE DATES 

 

                                       2008 Le Mans Series Calendar

                             2-3 March                Official Test Paul Ricard (France)

                             4-6 April                 Catalunya (Spain)

                             25-27 April              Monza (Italy)

                             9-11 May                Spa (Belgium)

                            15-17 August           Nurburgring (Germany)

                            12-14 September     Silverstone (UK)

                          

 

                                       2008 24 Hours of Le Mans

                            14-15 June              Le Mans (France)