Rolfsracing.com - News Blog

BOWMANVILLE, ON - Just days after the American Le Mans Series, presented by Tequila Patron cars roared into Mosport for their only Canadian stop of the season, the Series has announced that the 2011 date for the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport will be July 21-24.

This new date moves the Mosport round back one week earlier than originally announced, giving Series participants a much welcomed two week break until the next event at Mid-Ohio, August 6.

The 10-race schedule starts March 19 with the traditional season opener at Sebring, FL, and closes at Road Atlanta, October 1 with the Petit Le Mans (this is also a date change for Petit from the original release). The remaining events feature a familiar mix of North America’s best permanent road courses and high-profile street circuits, including a new race on the streets of Baltimore on Labour Day weekend.

“We’re really pleased that Mosport has again landed a coveted summer date on the 2011 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron schedule,” said Mosport’s president and general manager, Myles Brandt.

“I think the move to July will be well received because it clears up some conflicts with other automotive and motorsports events. Having the 2011 schedule announced so early is a bonus, allowing our fans and corporate partners to mark that date on their calendars now and start making plans to be at Mosport next July 24th.”

For more information about Mosport, call the Mosport Hotline at 1-800-866-1072 (Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm ET), visit online at www.mosport.com, or email info@mosport.com.

2011 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES PRESENTED BY TEQUILA PATRON

Feb 9-10  Sebring International Raceway - Winter Test
Mar 19    Sebring International Raceway - Sebring, Fla.
Apr 16    Long Beach Street Circuit - Long Beach, Calif.
Jul 3     TBD
Jul 9     Lime Rock Park - Lakeville, Conn.
Jul 24    Mosport International Raceway - Bowmanville, Ont.
Aug 6     Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course - Lexington, Ohio
Aug 21    Road America - Elkhart Lake, Wis.
Sep 3     Baltimore Street Circuit - Baltimore, Maryland
Sep 17    Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca - Monterey, Calif.
Oct 1     Road Atlanta - Braselton, Ga.

Ryan Chalmers, Mosport Media

 Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport comes to downtown Toronto as fans can experience the excitement of Canada’s biggest sports car race!

Tuesday, August 24
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Yonge-Dundas Square

FEATURING:

Mobil 1 presents The Grand Prix of Mosport - Drivers

Simon Pagenaud  (France, Patron Highcroft Racing, ALMS)

Marino Franchitti  (Scotland, Patron Highcroft Racing, ALMS)

Tony Burgess  (Toronto, ON, Autocon Motorsports, ALMS)

Kyle Marcelli  (Barrie, ON, Intersport Racing - ALMS)

Robert Sabato  (Toronto, ON, CGI DeAngelis Racing, Cooper Prototype Lites

Jonathan Bennett  (USA, Inspire Motorsports, Cooper Prototype Lites

PLUS:

Pit Stop Demo with Green Earth Team Gunnar
#99 LMPC - Oreca FLM09 (ALMS)
Driver Autograph Sessions
American Le Mans Series and other Racing Show cars

THE LEGENDARY BOBBY UNSER NAMED AS GRAND MARSHAL FOR THE MOBIL 1 PRESENTS
THE GRAND PRIX OF MOSPORT

BOBBY UNSER
BOWMANVILLE, ON - August 19, 2010
Motorsport legend Bobby Unser has been named as Grand Marshal of Canada’s biggest sports car race of the year, the Mobil 1 presents The Grand Prix of Mosport, August 26-29.

Bobby, the older of the two famous racing brothers (along with Al, Sr.), established the family name many years ago by winning three Indy 500 titles, in 1968, 1975 and 1981. Unser’s first career IndyCar victories came at Mosport when in 1967 he took the chequered flag in both the twin 100 mile races.

“Mosport will always have a special place in my heart. The 1967 Mosport IndyCar race became one of the most important events in my whole life because it was my first IndyCar win. So it’s a real honour to be the Grand Marshal of the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport and to help the track celebrate their 50th anniversary season,” said Unser.

Unser will be at the famed 4 km road course throughout the race weekend, meeting fans and signing autographs. He will give the famous four word command to the drivers of the American Le Mans Series on Sunday afternoon at 3 pm, just prior to the green flag drop to start the two hour, 45 minute race.

The Albuquerque, New Mexico resident has compiled a extensive list of impressive accomplishments during his long and storied racing career, including 35 IndyCar wins (4th all time), 49 IndyCar pole positions (3rd all time), eight 500 mile IndyCar wins, two International Race of Champions (IROC) wins and a record of 13 Pikes Peak Hill Climb wins, just to name a few. He has been inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.

“When I was young I was best known as a midget and sprint car driver, mostly on dirt tracks all over the USA,” he recalled. “But I really loved road racing as in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, which I won 13 times. My first big career win was at Mosport, one of the most challenging road racing circuits in the world and I’m very proud of that.”

The father of four has also served as one of the sport’s premier analysts and colour commentators. Unser worked as ABC Television’s chief analyst on the network’s Indy 500 telecasts, and partnered with Brian Williams on CBC Sports’ of the Molson Indy races in Toronto and Vancouver in the 1980s and ’90s.

Schedules for autograph sessions will be posted on Mosport’s website and at the track For more event information and to purchase tickets call the Mosport Hotline at 1-800-866-1072 or online at www.mosport.com, or email info@mosport.com.

For further information:

Ryan Chalmers, Mosport - ryan@mosport.com
800-866-1072 (office) - (519) 981-3394 (cell)

Six Canadian Hall Of Fame Drivers To Help Celebrate Mosport’s 50th Anniversary Season And Meet Race Fans

BOWMANVILLE, ON - August 18, 2010
Their names are memorable, their accomplishments are great, their ties to Mosport are unmistakable and next weekend, six Canadian Legends of Mosport will be on hand as part of Mosport’s 50th anniversary celebration.

The circuit will pay tribute to these Canadian road racing stars from Mosport’s storied past, recognizing their achievements and providing fans with an opportunity to meet them and learn about their careers.

The Legends taking part in the festivities are all members of the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame; Bill Brack, Eppie Wietzes, Ludwig Heimrath Sr., Craig Hill, Horst Kroll and Ross de St. Croix.

On Saturday, the Legends will participate in Q & A sessions with fans and will be followed by autograph sessions. On race day Sunday, the Hall of Famers will again hold an autograph session and then participate in the Mobil 1 presents The Grand Prix of Mosport Opening Ceremonies.

There will be a wide-array of historic race cars on display including Kroll’s Can-Am Frisbee and Brack’s 59/69 Lotus.

Brack is the only Canadian driver to have won three Canadian Driving Championships and more impressive, he did it in consecutive years, 1973-1975. To accomplish this feat, Brack had to defeat future Grand Prix champions and a young up-and-coming star by the name of Gilles Villeneuve. To top it off, Brack also won championships in both Formula Atlantic and Canadian Touring Car.

Inducted into the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1993, Wietzes won two Canadian Driving Championships, in 1969 and 1970. He won in everything he drove including a Sunbeam Alpine, Cornstock Mustangs, GT 40’s and later the very quick F5000.

Heimrath Sr. boasts a very impressive resume. He won the first Canadian Sports Car Racing Championship (later renamed the Canadian Driving Championship) in 1961 and again in 1964. He finished in the runner up spot in ‘62, ‘63 and ‘65. Heimrath Sr. was also the second Canadian ever to compete in Formula 1 and twice won the SCCA Trans-Am championship. An expert long distance racer is still active today, competing in endurance races.

In a driving career that spanned nearly 40 years, Hill was successful in almost every type of race car that he got behind the wheel of, from midgets to super-modifieds, sports car and open-wheeled formula cars. In 1973 and ‘74, Hill teamed up with Heimrath Sr. to win the Sundown Grand Prix.

Kroll is a decorated road-racer having won the Canadian Driving Championship in 1968 in a Kelly Porsche, the same car that he later beat the factory Porsche’s in a United States Automobile Club (USAC) race at Watkins Glen. Kroll made the move into Can-Am, winning the championship in 1986.

Having driven everything from MG’s to the ex Miss Whiz Lola, de St. Croix enjoyed great success in everything that he ever drove. He also contributed greatly to the sport as the president of the Canadian Automobile Sports Club (CASC) and the Montreal Motor Racing Club.

A full schedule of activities will be posted online at www.mosport.com and on site during race weekend.

For more information and to purchase tickets call the Mosport Hotline at 1-800-866-1072 (Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm ET), visit online at www.mosport.com, or email info@mosport.com

Ryan Chalmers, Mosport
ryan@mosport.com
800-866-1072 (office)
(519) 981-3394 (cell)

American Le Mans Series, Star Mazda Championship, Cooper Tires Prototype Lites, Playboy MX-5 Cup and Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship Highlight The Mobil 1 Presents The 2010 Grand Prix of Mosport, August 26-29.

(BOWMANVILLE, ON - July 29, 2010)  The top sports car racing teams and an international field of drivers from 13 countries will arrive at Mosport International Raceway in one month’s time as Mosport’s 50th anniversary season culminates with the Mobil 1 presents The Grand Prix of Mosport featuring the American Le Mans Series, August 26-29.

The highlight of the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport will be the prestigious American Le Mans Series, now with Tequila Patron as a presenting sponsor, making their only stop north of the border in 2010. It will be the eighth of nine rounds, making this race critical in the chase for the championships in the Prototype and GT classes.

The world leader in green racing boasts more top manufacturers than Formula 1, NASCAR and IndyCar combined.  The elite marques that run in the series include Acura, Aston Martin, BMW, Corvette, Ferrari, Ford, Jaguar, Mazda, Panoz and Porsche.

2010 marks the second year for the Michelin Green X Challenge, a revolutionary competition that rewards Series teams (one prototype and one GT) for their overall performance and environmental impact at each event. The Michelin Green X Challenge is also a season long points championship for both race teams and manufacturers.

Toronto’s own Tony Burgess will be looking to make some noise at his home track in the Autocon Motorsports Lola, in the top-level LMP class.  Kyle Marcelli of Barrie has made a successful jump to the LMPC class this year and he will copilot the #89 Intersport Racing Oreca FLM09.  Current point’s leaders David Brabham and Simon Pagenaud will look to drive their Patron Highcroft Racing ARX-01 to yet another victory this season in the LMP ranks.  Brabham, who drove with Scott Sharp last season, were the victors in the 2009 Grand Prix of Mosport.  For Brabham, this race will mark the 100th time that he has drove under the ALMS banner.

In addition to the American Le Mans Series, four popular series, the Star Mazda Championship, Cooper Tires Prototype Lites, Playboy MX-5 Cup and the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship will also take to the 3.957 km Mosport circuit.

The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear continues their season with round 12 of 13.  David Ostella and Michael Furfari of Toronto will have a GTA hometown edge. Quebec City’s Mikael Grenier will also represent Canada in this open-wheel series.

Cooper Tires Prototype Lites, the developmental sports car championship, that runs a three class format race, based on driver’s skill levels. Lites 1 is for the more advanced racers, Lites 2 is a mid-level class and Lites 3 is the entry level class.  The Cooper Tires Prototype Lites will run a doubleheader at Mosport which will be rounds 12 and 13.

The U.S. based Playboy MX-5 Cup returns to Mosport and will feature Vancouver native Max Riddle.  The MX-5 Cup is an entry level production car based competition giving drivers an opportunity to race in similarly prepared, low cost cars with limited modifications.

The country’s top sedan road-racing series, the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship, will make its third and final stop of 2010 at Mosport, boasting a field of more than 30 cars, competing in two distinct classes, Touring and Super Touring. This will be a doubleheader weekend for the Championship.  In the Super Touring class, Nick Wittmer of Montreal has a sizable 147 point lead over Toronto’s Dave Ciekiewicz.  Thornhill native Anthony Rapone, winner of two Series races at Mosport earlier this year, holds a 106 point advantage in the championship standings over Markham’s Tom Kwok.

Mobil 1 presents The Grand Prix of Mosport features a wide-array of fun things away from the track for fans to see and do, such as Tech Talks, Driver Chats and an autograph session with American Le Mans Series drivers and teams and vendors selling authentic race-related merchandise.  The American Le Mans Series will also feature its famous Open Grid Walk on race day, giving fans an up close, interactive experience with the teams and drivers on track just minutes prior to the drop of the green flag.

The action kicks off on Thursday (August 26) with a full day of testing for all series’ except the American Le Mans Series.  Friday (August 27) will see practice sessions for all supporting series’ and the American Le Mans Series will hold their testing.  Saturday’s (August 28) schedule starts with both practice and qualifying in the morning, followed by races for Star Mazda Championship, Cooper Tires Lites and the Castrol Touring Car Championship.  Sunday (August 29) morning opens with more qualifying and then races in Playboy MX-5 Cup, Castrol Touring, Cooper Lites and the two hour, 45 minute feature American Le Mans Series race to close out the weekend.

A four day SuperTicket is just $65 until August 25 ($80 at the Gate). Each ticket includes parking, access to the race team paddock, Mosport Expo and Marketplace and admission to Mosport Speedway’s Saturday Night Stock Car racing, located on the grounds.  As with all Mosport events, children 12 and under are admitted for free when accompanied by a paid adult admission. Single day tickets are also available.

Family and general camping areas are available.  An advanced general camping pass is just $35 for the weekend when purchased before August 25 (tents or pop up trailers).  Advance RV passes are $55.  There are full service washrooms and located on the Mosport grounds.

For the spectators that like to get closer to the action, the Grand Prix Club offers a VIP hospitality package which includes a fully catered BBQ lunch, beverages and bar service (beer and wine) on Sunday.  The GP Club Chalet tent is located trackside overlooking the start/finish straight and corner one.  Passes are just $200 and are also good for admission to the event on Friday and Saturday.

For more information and to purchase tickets call the Mosport Hotline at 1-800-866-1072 (Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm ET), visit online at www.mosport.com, or email info@mosport.com

Ryan Chalmers, Mosport
ryan@mosport.com

THE NEW AUDI R15 PLUS MAKES AN OVERWHELMING DEBUT!

Ingolstadt/Le Castellet, 11 April 2010 – The Audi R15 TDI, model year 2010 (internally labeled “R15 plus”) has won its race début at Le Castellet (France) and in doing so left a strong impression.

The technically further developed diesel racing sports car ran the entire distance without the smallest problem during the test race. On the opening lap of the 8-hour race Allan McNish overtook the Peugeot which had started from pole position in the hands of Frenchman Stéphane Sarrazin and on the third lap the Lola-Aston Martin of Stefan Mücke. From then on Allan McNish and teammate Dindo Capello did not relinquish the lead. At the checkered flag after 266 laps the two Audi drivers held a five-lap lead from the Lola-Aston Martin of defending champion Stefan Mücke, Harold Primat and Adrian Fernandez. The Oreca team Peugeot finished fourth after succumbing to a technical problem during the opening stages of the race.

The only unscheduled pit stop was made just seven minutes before the end of the race, when Audi Sport Team Joest switched to rain tires for safety reasons as rain began to fall.

Audi Sport Team Joest used the Le Mans Series 2010 season opener as preparation for the 24-hour race at Le Mans on 12/13 June. In the practice sessions on Friday and Saturday as well as Sunday morning’s warm-up the team compared different set-up configurations before selecting a version which allowed Dindo Capello and Allan McNish to record constantly fast laps in the relatively low temperatures. The Audi R15 TDI was almost always the fastest car in the field throughout the eight hours and also set the fastest race lap.

Audi Sport Team Joest gained important knowledge for Le Mans during the victorious race at Le Castellet, which will now be evaluated by Audi Sport in Ingolstadt and which go into further fine tuning of the R15 plus.

Next on the agenda is a 30-hour test and the Le Mans dress rehearsal at the 1000-kilomtere race at Spa-Francorchamps on 9 May, which Audi Sport Team Joest will contest, exactly like Le Mans, with three Audi R15 TDI.

>>>>>Read more in our RolfsRacing.com LeMans Series Pages.

Five Canadians set to race at Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Kicking off the American Le Mans Series season, the 58th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida takes the green flag at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 20. North America’s most demanding endurance race will see 36 of the world’s most talented and skilled drivers, including Canada’s own Tony Burgess, Kyle Marcelli, and Mark Wilkins.

TONY BURGESS

In the P1 class, Burgess, of Toronto, will drive with the Autocon Motorsports Team. This veteran racer, who has sixteen 24 hour sports car races under his belt, first participated in an ALMS event in 2000. His move up to the P1 class took place in 2007 and a podium finish at Mosport, his home track. Burgess plans to compete in at least seven series events this season, including Mosport, as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans in mid June.

With a career goal to be the youngest ALMS class champion, the 20 year old Kyle Marcelli will make his debut in the Series at Sebring’s opener. The Barrie native, who placed 5th in 2009’s IMSA Lites Championship, will be driving for Primetime Braille Battery Race Group in the new LMPC division. Marcelli will co-drive with team owner Joel Feinberg.

Recently announced, Mark Wilkins will also make an appearance at the Sebring kick off. Wilkins, a top competitor in the Grand Am Rolex Series, will be driving for Level 5 Motorsports in the No. 55 FLM09 in the LMPC class. He is looking forward to the opportunity, a first for him in the ALMS series. He is joining drivers Christophe Bouchut and Scott Tucker.

Canadians will have a chance to see all the ALMS action live when it makes it’s only north of the border stop at the Mobil 1 Presents the Grand Prix of Mosport from August 26-29.

Canada’s colours will also be carried in the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear by David Ostella and Mikael Grenier. The series, now in its 20th year, is known for the high profile career jumpstarts it offers young drivers. Ostella, 18, of Maple, Ontario, is returning for a second season with AIM Autosport in the championship. Last year he finished the series 13th overall, with seven top tens.

Also contending for the 2010 Star Mazda Championship title, is up and coming Canadian driver Mikael Grenier of Stoneham, Quebec. Grenier, 17, began racing when he was merely five. He will drive a full season, 11 race program for Andersen Racing this year, who were impressed with his performance through six races in 2009.

Both drivers will be at Mosport as part of Mobil 1 Presents the GP of Mosport weekend.

>>>>>Read all the latest in our RolfsRacing.com News Page.

The year 2010 could hardly have started any better for Audi “factory” driver Tom Kristensen: The Dane was voted “Sportsman of the Decade” as many as two times in his native Denmark. The TV channel “TV2″ as well as the major daily newspaper “Berlingske Tidende” awarded the prestigious title to the record Le Mans winner.

“I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me and helped me receive these two awards,” said the Audi driver. “Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have even dreamed of being so successful some day. But back then I had the great fortune of joining Audi. It’s a big privilege to have been a member of one of the world’s best race teams for as much as a decade now.”

The eight-time Le Mans winner clearly prevailed against such popular athletes as tennis pro Caroline Wozniacki, bicycle racer Michael Rasmussen and U.S. football star Morten Andersen in the votings.

Tom Kristensen was also recently recognized by the British racing magazine “Autosport,” which voted the Dane “Sports Car Driver of the Decade,” followed in second place by Allan McNish as another Audi “factory” driver.

Tom Kristensen has been competing for Audi since 2000 and has meanwhile won the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans (France) eight times, the 12 Hour Race at Sebring (USA) five times, the “Petit Le Mans” race at Road Atlanta (USA) and the LMP1 title in the American Le Mans Series in 2002. In addition, the Dane contested the DTM for Audi from 2004 to 2009, celebrating a total of four victories in the Audi A4.

In 2010, Tom Kristensen wants to fully concentrate on his greatest passion: on sports car races with Audi. Yet again, the highlight will be the 24 Hour Race at Le Mans on June 12/13.

In the future, the so-called “Le Mans Intercontinental Cup” will consist of the major races of the Le Mans Series in Europe, the USA and Asia and aims to continue the heyday of the legendary World Championship for Makes. In its debut year in 2010, the 1000-kilometer race at Silverstone (Great Britain), the “Petit Le Mans” race at Road Atlanta (USA) and an event on the Asian continent. Further races are to be added in 2011.

Audi will contest the new Le Mans Intercontinental Cup in the 2010 season with two R15 TDI cars fielded by Audi Sport Team Joest. Three cars are planned for the 24-hour race at Le Mans on June 12/13. Audi Sport Team Joest plans also to contest the 1000-kilometer race at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), which Audi would like to use as a dress rehearsal for Le Mans, with three cars.

In 2010 Mosport International Raceway (formerly Mosport Park), will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of its opening. The track was built as a 2.459 mile long 28 feet wide 10 turn raceway, and widened to 40 feet in the year 2000 to accommodate the faster speeds of the ALMS.

The Launch for the year long celebration will officially start January 22 to 24, 2010 at the Canadian Motorsport Expo in Toronto, with Canadian racing legend Paul Tracy in attendance on Sunday January 24. Paul won the Formula Ford title at Mosport Park in 1985 and went on to score a Can-Am victory there in 1986, to become the youngest Series race winner at age 17.

Over the span of the last 50 years Mosport has hosted many race series and stars. Most notably Can-Am, Formula 1, Indy Cars, Trans-Am and since 1999 the American Le Mans Series.

The drivers that visited Mosport are to numerous to list but they included Stirling Moss, Gilles Villeneuve, Bruce McLaren, stock car king Richard Petty, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti, Nick Lauda, Rodger Ward, A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, Bobby Unser, Rick Mears, Gordon Johncock, Randy Pobst, Ron Fellows, Tom Kristensen, Emanuele Pirro, and Hans-Joachim Stuck.

Many more rising Stars are using the track as a starting point in their careers. These include Nigel Krikorian, Nicholas Krikorian, Nick Wittmer, David Ostella, Stefan Rzadzinski, Caitlin Johnston and Conor Daly.

>>>>>Read the full report and more in our RolfsRacing.com Mosport Page.

23 year old Jonny Cocker sprung a big surprise on the Okayama circuit today. In the Drayson Racing Lola coupe he shares with Paul Drayson, the current Minister for Science for GB, the young Englishman grabbed the pole for the first of this weekend’s Asian Le Mans Series races. The front row will be dominated by Judd engines as the second quickest car in the 20 minute session was the no. 17 Tinseau/ Nakano Pescarolo Judd.

>>>>>Read more in our RolfsRacing.com Asian Le Mans Series Page.

Canada will be represented by a strong contingent of drivers searching for wins on home soil. In the American Le Mans Series, Toronto’s Tony Burgess will suit up for Autocon Motorsports and do battle against the formidable Acura powered teams in the top level LMP1 class. Eric Jensen of Toronto will take on a strong field of rising open wheel stars in the Cooper Tires presents the Atlantic Championship powered by Mazda, while Toronto area racers David Ostella and Michael Furfari will look to climb the podium in the Star Mazda Championship. In Formula BMW, Gianmarco Raimondo and Alex Ellis (both from St. Catharines, Ontario) should be podium contenders at Mosport.

The spec clean diesel powered Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup features three Canadians looking to make their mark at Mosport; Andrew Cordeiro of Woordbridge, Ontario, David Richert of Niverville, Manitoba and Jake Thompson of Calgary, Alberta.

The IMSA Lites sports car developmental series could also produce some memorable Canadian moments as Kyle Marcelli of Barrie, Ontario and Michal Chlumecky look to put on a strong showing in front of the home fans.

>>>>>Visit our RolfsRacing.com ALMS Page.

Ingolstadt Aug. 25, 2009- For the first time since its victorious debut at Sebring in March, the technologically innovative Audi R15 TDI will again compete in an endurance race in the USA: On September 26, Audi Sport Team Joest will contest the 1000-mile “Petit Le Mans” race, which is part of the American Le Mans Series, at Road Atlanta (Georgia) with two cars. The two diesel powered racing sports cars will be driven by Dindo Capello (Italy) and Allan McNish (Scotland) as well as the two Germans Lucas Luhr and Marco Werner. DTM racer Mike Rockenfeller is planned to be the team’s reserve driver.

“The race at Road Atlanta already marks the first part of our preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2010,” explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “We want to use it as an opportunity for our engineers to learn even more about the new Audi R15 TDI in direct competition with strong rivals. A lot of things can be simulated on test rigs and in track tests. But nothing can replace the experience gathered in actual racing events.”

“We’re convinced that we weren’t able to fully exploit the potential of the R15 TDI at Le Mans,” says Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “At Road Atlanta, we’ll have the opportunity to test on Sunday before the race so that we should be in a better position than we were at Le Mans. Despite the strong competition by Acura/Honda, Peugeot, Mazda, Oreca and other prototype teams we figure on having good chances of fighting for victory, as we did over the past few years.”

Audi will contest the “Petit Le Mans” race for as much as the tenth time this year and has been unbeaten there so far. The Audi R8 won six times, the Audi R10 TDI three. Now, the plan is for the Audi R15 TDI to continue this impressive string of exploits.

>>>>>Visit our RolfsRacing.com ALMS Page.

Le Mans: Audi “factory” driver Allan McNish has received the “Segrave Trophy” – one of the highest-ranking awards in British motorsport – by the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) for his outstanding achievements in the 2008 season. The Scotsman succeeds the reigning Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton in receiving this honor.

• Technical scrutineering in Le Mans town center
• New diesel racing sports car besieged by fans
• Thousands of spectators despite pouring rain

Ingolstadt/Le Mans – Audi Sport has spooled off approximately 20,000 test kilometers with the Audi R15 TDI since its roll out last December. Now things get serious: The first 24 Hours of Le Mans race for the technically innovative racing sports car from AUDI AG is on the agenda this coming weekend.

Audi Sport Team Joest cleared the first compulsory hurdle in France without encountering any complications: On Monday, all three Audi R15 TDI concluded technical scrutineering in the Le Mans town center without problems, which was followed, despite the pouring rain, by thousands of fans but also by numerous representatives from the competition.

“It’s fantastic that in spite of the terrible weather so many spectators attended the technical scrutineering, which traditionally opens the Le Mans week,” explained Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. “That our competitors were also interested in the R15 TDI is clear – after all they haven’t seen the car since Sebring.”

After its victorious début in March the diesel racing sportscar has been purposely optimized for the peculiarities of the extremely fast race track at Le Mans. “We had planned two aerodynamic configurations for the R15 TDI from the very beginning,” says Dr Ullrich. “A version for Sebring with maximum downforce, and one for Le Mans with greater emphasis on the aerodynamic efficiency. The basic concept is, however, exactly the same. The modifications which we undertook for Le Mans were already planned before Sebring.”

It was not only the three Audi R15 TDI which took the limelight on Monday, but also the nine Audi drivers who signed innumerable autographs despite the bad weather. Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas came directly to Le Mans from America after completing a race for Porsche at Watkins Glen, Dindo Capello from a race with the Audi R8 LMS at Magione, Italy.

Tom Kristensen surprised the spectators with his new helmet design which portrays the Audi R15 TDI. The Le Mans record winner was surrounded, as usual, by fans, journalists, photographers and television camera teams. “We had technical scrutineering a day earlier than in the previous years,” said the Dane. “That so many spectators already turned up on Monday, in spite of such bad weather, shows just how important the race at Le Mans is. That our three cars once more passed effortlessly through scrutineering proves that our mechanics and engineers have done a perfect job. This gives us drivers a confident feeling. We’ll use the extra day to inspect the track.”

Rainy weather is forecast up to and including Wednesday. Sunshine and temperatures of up to 26 degrees Celsius in the shade are expected in time for the weekend.