U.S. debut of the Audi R18 TDI
• Audi aims for tenth “Petit Le Mans” victory at Road Atlanta
• First overseas run of the diesel race sports car
• Dindo Capello and Romain Dumas reinforce the Audi squad
Ingolstadt, September 23, 2011 – In June Audi celebrated its tenth victory with
the R18 TDI diesel race sports car and ultra-lightweight technology in a dramatic
race at the famous Le Mans 24 Hours. Likewise, on October 1st, Audi Sport Team
Joest is aiming for the brand’s tenth triumph at the U.S. counterpart, the “Petit Le
Mans” at Road Atlanta in the state of Georgia.
Nine times Audi has won the event which alongside the Daytona 24 Hours and the
Sebring 12 Hours is the most important endurance race in North America. From
2000 to 2005 the Audi R8 was unbeatable at the race that is run over 1000 miles or
for a maximum of ten hours. In 2006, 2007 and 2008 the Audi R10 TDI triumphed
three times in a row. After unfortunate defeats in the past two years with the R15
TDI, Audi is set on returning to victory lane with the new R18 TDI at Road Atlanta.
Audi Sport Team Joest is fielding two vehicles at the first overseas event of the R18
TDI. Each will car will have three drivers due to the length of the race. Timo Bernhard
and Marcel Fässler, who have been forming a driver team in the Intercontinental Le
Mans Cup (ILMC) since the round at Imola and have been on the podium twice, will
be supported by Romain Dumas. Joining Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen and
Allan McNish will be Dindo Capello – the most successful driver of the American
classic with a track record of five overall victories (2000, 2002, 2006, 2007 and
2008).
Last year the Italian became the victim of a strange incident. While he was leading
the race an insert in his helmet that is prescribed by the regulations came loose and
caused the fireproof balaclava to slip over his eyes. The unscheduled pit stop cost
Audi a possible victory.
Minute details could also be crucial this year. At Le Mans Audi triumphed in June
after 24 hours with an advantage of merely 13.854 seconds. At the 6-hour race at
Silverstone the fastest lap times of the top four vehicles were within 202
thousandths of a second. And with 56 teams having submitted entries, the track at
Road Atlanta will be pretty packed, with numerous overtaking maneuvers posing a
permanent risk of body contact.
After third place at Imola and second place at Silverstone there is just one goal for
Audi at the U.S. classic on October 1st: victory. Therefore, Audi Sport Team Joest will
already be testing on the weekend before the race at Road Atlanta in order to set up
the R18 TDI as perfectly as possible for the special characteristics of the track and
not leave anything to chance.
Nothing was left to chance either by the engineers from Audi Sport who developed
the new diesel race sports car. The Audi R18 TDI is packed with innovative
technology – from the compact 3.7-liter V6 TDI engine with a mono-VTG charger,
the full LED headlights through to ultra-lightweight design that is becoming
increasingly important in production cars too.
Tens of thousands of spectators lining the track at Road Atlanta will be watching the
two R18 TDI cars with their whispering V6 TDI engines. Since its inaugural round in
1998, “Petit Le Mans” has evolved into one of North America’s biggest racing events
that is meanwhile attracting more than 100,000 fans.
Qualifying will take place on Friday afternoon (September 30) from 15:30 to 15:45,
local time; the race will start on Saturday (October 1) at 11:30. Eurosport will
broadcast the starting phase from 17:30 to 18:30 and the final phase from 00:00 to
03:30 live. In the USA the race will be broadcast live on ESPN 3. ABC will air a twohour
summary on Sunday (October 2) starting at 16:00 Eastern Time.
Topics of the weekend
• Will Audi manage the revenge for Silverstone?
• Who will do the best job of getting through the dense traffic?
• How many yellow periods will interrupt the race?
• Will the Audi R18 TDI be the fastest car in the field, as it was at Le Mans?
Quotes by the officials
Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “I’m personally very much looking
forward to Road Atlanta. I like this race track and think it’s one of the nicest circuits
for the sports prototypes. It’s a track on which Audi has celebrated major successes
before. And after Imola, where things didn’t go so well for us, we were fully
competitive again, most recently at Silverstone. But there our good work went
unrewarded. I’m hoping that we’ll be showing a good performance with the R18 TDI
in America and achieve victory. At the same time, I’ll be in permanent phone and email
contact with Valencia where Martin Tomczyk might be able to clinch the DTM
title early for Audi – it’ll be an important, exciting and busy weekend for Audi Sport.”
Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest): “For Road Atlanta, there
can only be one aim: all-out attack! We’ve got to finally win there again. At
Silverstone, we were simply struck by misfortune. Even without that factor it would
have been incredibly tight and we don’t know what the outcome would have been.
Road Atlanta is a special event. We’ve run there before, in the IMSA. ‘Petit Le Mans’
was launched in 1998, and we contested it even back then. It’s a classic and the
longest race after Le Mans and Sebring. The ten-hour race is held on an incredibly
beautiful and challenging track. It also enjoys an extremely high level of prestige
today. It’s called ‘Petit Le Mans’ and that also includes a piece of Le Mans. That’s
why we’ve simply got to win there.”
Facts and quotes by the Audi drivers
Timo Bernhard (30/D), Audi R18 TDI #1 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
• Was class winner at Road Atlanta in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007
• Most recently finished as the runner-up with Marcel Fässler at Silverstone
“At Silverstone we saw how tight the situation can be in the end. That gave the
whole team another boost. Our performance is right, we’re in contention for victory,
and in the UK we had the lead several times. After my class victories at Road Atlanta
an overall win would mean a lot to me. Maybe I can continue my sequence of
results: At Sebring I was fifth, at Spa fourth, at Imola third and at Silverstone
second. So what’s still missing ...?”
Romain Dumas (33/F), Audi R18 TDI #1 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
• Class winner in 2003 and 2007 at Road Atlanta
• Is contesting his first race in the R18 TDI since Le Mans
“I’m happy to be sitting in the cockpit again. Since Le Mans I’ve had one opportunity
to test the R18 TDI, at Le Castellet. I really like the R18 because its handling has
been notably pleasant since the winter tests. Since June I’ve been waiting for my
next racing commitment with Audi. In the USA ‘Petit Le Mans’ is a big and important
race. I finished as the runner-up there once, only a few tenths behind an Audi, by the
way. Hopefully we’ll be able to win this time. I’m highly motivated.”
Marcel Fässler (35/CH), Audi R18 TDI #1 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
• Started from position three in the fastest Audi at Road Atlanta last year
• Was the runner-up together with Timo Bernhard at the ILMC race at Silverstone
“We’re expecting a very large field at Road Atlanta. Traffic will be even heavier than
usual. It’s difficult to overtake at the ‘Petit.’ There’s only one long straight. But
that’s the same situation for everyone. We should be among the front runners. I’m
already looking forward to this nice race track.”
Dindo Capello (47/I), Audi R18 TDI #2 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
• Clinched his victory for Audi at Road Atlanta in 2000
• With five overall victories under his belt, is the record holder at “Petit Le Mans”
“For Road Atlanta I’m returning to the cockpit of the R18 TDI. I tested the car just a
few weeks ago. That was very nice because I last drove the car on a warm-up lap for
Le Mans. ‘Petit Le Mans’ is one of the races I enjoy most. I’m holding a victory record
there. And it would be nice if I could add another success to my track record. We’re
at least on a par with our competitor Peugeot but have to cover the distance without
any problems to achieve a good result.”
Tom Kristensen (44/DK), Audi R18 TDI #2 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
• Won for Audi at Road Atlanta in 2002 together with Dindo Capello
• Recently started at Silverstone from the first row with Allan McNish
“We’re all looking forward to Road Atlanta. ‘Petit Le Mans’ is the grand slam of the
sports car scene, along with Sebring and the Le Mans 24 Hours. The track is an
extreme challenge. It’s like a roller-coaster with crests, downhill stretches, raised
and dropping corners where you can’t see the apex in some cases. And the track is
relatively narrow. There are also a lot of directional changes. The fans really support
the race and make for a spectacular show. Almost 60 cars are jostling for a place in
the field. That’ll be strenuous for us in the cockpit because we’re fighting for every
centimeter, if not to say millimeter, on the track. The competition between Audi and
Peugeot is extremely close. Small things make the difference. I’m hoping for us to
be able to fully use our potential and to bring the big trophy home.”
Allan McNish (41/GB), Audi R18 TDI #2 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
• Has celebrated overall victory with Audi there four times
• Last won there in the Audi R10 TDI with Dindo Capello and Emanuele Pirro in
2008
“It’s always nice to return to the ‘Petit Le Mans race.’ I already contested the
inaugural round in 1998. I’ve enjoyed every single race so far. The atmosphere is like
a carnival. The track is wonderfully fast and has seen some very thrilling races. At
three or four rounds only seconds or even tenths of seconds made the difference in
the end. I’m expecting an extremely tough competition. The American fans will turn
the event into a huge festival again. It’ll be a cracker – guaranteed!”
The Audi drivers at Road Atlanta
Timo Bernhard (D): *Feb 24, 1981 in Homburg (D); residence: Dittweiler (D);
married to Katharina; height 1.73 m; weight: 61 kg; Audi driver since 2009; Le Mans
victories: 1; ILMC races: 7; ILMC victories: 0; pole positions: 1; fastest laps: 0; best
result “Petit Le Mans”: 2; victories “Petit Le Mans”: 0
Dindo Capello (I): * Jun 17, 1964 in Asti (I); residence: Canelli (I); married to
Elisabetta, one son (Giacomo); height: 1.72 m; weight: 66 kg; Audi driver since
1994; ILMC races: 6; ILMC victories: 0; pole positions: 0; fastest laps: 0, best result
“Petit Le Mans”: 1, victories “Petit Le Mans”: 5
Romain Dumas (F): * Dec 14, 1977 in Alès (F); residence: Basel (CH); single; height:
1.74 m; weight: 60 kg; Audi driver since 2009; ILMC races: 6; ILMC victories: 0; pole
positions: 0; fastest laps: 0; best result “Petit Le Mans”: 2; victories “Petit Le Mans”:
0
Marcel Fässler (CH): *May 27,1976 in Einsiedeln (CH); residence: Gross (CH);
married to Isabel, four daughters (Shana, Elin, Yael, Delia); height 1.78 m; weight
78 kg; Audi driver since 2008; ILMC races: 5; ILMC victories: 1; pole positions: 0;
fastest laps: 0; best result “Petit Le Mans”: 6; victories “Petit Le Mans”: 0
Tom Kristensen (DK): *Jul 07, 1967 in Hobro (DK); residence: Monaco (MC); single
(partner Hanne), two sons (Oliver and Oswald) and one daughter (Carla Marlou);
height: 1.74 m; weight: 72 kg; Audi driver since 2000; ILMC races: 8; ILMC victories:
0; pole positions: 0; fastest laps: 0; best result “Petit Le Mans”: 1; victories “Petit Le
Mans”: 1
Allan McNish (GB): *Dec 29, 1969 in Dumfries (GB); residence: Monaco (MC);
married to Kelly, one son (Finlay), one daughter (Charlotte Amelie); height: 1.65 m;
weight: 58 kg; Audi driver since 2000; ILMC races: 8; ILMC victories: 0; pole
positions: 1; fastest laps: 0; best result “Petit Le Mans”: 1; victories “Petit Le Mans”:
All winners of the “Petit Le Mans” race at Road Atlanta (since 2000)
2000 Michele Alboreto/Dindo Capello/Allan McNish (Audi R8)
2001 Frank Biela/Emanuele Pirro (Audi R8)
2002 Dindo Capello/Tom Kristensen (Audi R8)
2003 Johnny Herbert/JJ Lehto (Audi R8)
2004 JJ Lehto/Marco Werner (Audi R8)
2005 Frank Biela/Emanuele Pirro (Audi R8)
2006 Dindo Capello/Allan McNish (Audi R10 TDI)
2007 Dindo Capello/Allan McNish (Audi R10 TDI)
2008 Dindo Capello/Allan McNish/Emanuele Pirro (Audi R10 TDI)
2009 Stéphane Sarrazin/Franck Montagny (Peugeot)
2010 Pedro Lamy/Franck Montagny/Stéphane Sarrazin (Peugeot)
Track info
Track length: 4.088 km
Length/duration of race: 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) / 10 hours
Pole position 2010: Anthony Davidson (Peugeot), 1m 07.187s = 219.023 km/h (Oct
01, 2010)
Fastest lap 2010: Franck Montagny (Peugeot), 1m 07.948s = 216.569 km/h (Oct
02, 2010)
Timo Bernhard about Road Atlanta: “You reach an incredible speed on this track.
Except for turn seven all the corners are very fast. The many directional changes
within a lap also stand out. Particularly the ‘Esses’ are very challenging. It’s difficult
to find a good set-up for them. After you’ve been at the wheel for a long time you
can really tell what you’ve accomplished because of the high ’g’ forces. In addition,
there are many differences in elevation. You often can’t see the track behind the
crests. It’s very dusty when it’s dry and it floods the circuit when it’s wet. The best
places for overtaking are in turns 10 and 11. But watch out, if you overtake a car in
the left-hand turn it is normally perfectly placed to counter in the next right!”
ILMC LMP1 manufacturers standings after 5 of 7 rounds:
1 Peugeot 153 points; 2 Audi, 108.
ILMC LMP1 team standings after 5 of 7 rounds:
1 Peugeot Sport Total, 81 points; 2 Audi Sport Team Joest, 74; 3 Team Oreca
Matmut, 34; 4 Rebellion Racing, 33; 5 Oak Racing, 16; 6 Aston Martin Racing, 4.
Schedule (local times)
Sunday, September 25
08:00–10:00 Free practice
12:00–17:00 Free practice
Monday, September 26
08:00–12:00 Free practice
13:00–17:00 Free practice
Wednesday, September 28
14:45–16:45 Free practice
Thursday, September 29
10:00–11:00 Free practice
14:55–15:55 Free practice
19:00–21:00 Night practice
Friday, September 30
10:15–11:15 Free practice
14:40–14:55 Qualifying (GTC/LM GTE Am)
14:55–15:10 Qualifying (GT/LM GTE Pro)
15:15–15:30 Qualifying (LM PC prototypes)
15:30–15:45 Qualifying (LM P1 and LM P2 prototypes)
Saturday, October 1
09:15–09:40 Warm-up
11:30–21:30 Race
Audi Sport/ For Autorized and Acreditated Media Press.
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