Tom (aka Godzilla)
01-04-2006, 11:02 PM
from www.americanlemans.com
Los Angeles - Nearly two months before its race debut at the 54th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, the new Audi R10 made its American debut Tuesday night at the annual Los Angeles Auto Show. Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Motorsport, and Tom Kristensen, the first of six drivers who will pilot the car at Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, were on hand to discuss the R10 and its revolutionary diesel technology.
"Audi tries to do something with the R10 which no other manufacturer has attempted in motorsport," explained Dr. Ullrich. "The diesel project is the greatest challenge ever to have been given to Audi Sport."
Audi already has confirmed that it will enter two R10s at Sebring — the opening race for the 2006 American Le Mans Series — and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Kristensen, who has won Le Mans a record seven times, including the last six consecutive, joined Dr. Ullrich as Audi unveiled the R10 to a select group during "Audi Designers' Tuesday."
"It was very important for us to be able to continue this long and successful partnership, particularly in such a demanding project," said Dr. Ullrich. "The R10 project is a very special challenge for which the best drivers are required – and Tom is without a shadow of a doubt one of the world's best."
Tom Kristensen and Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich pose with the R10, which will make its race debut at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
Kristensen recently was named Denmark's "Sports Personality of the Year" for a second time. He has been driving for Audi since the 2000 season and has won Le Mans each of the past six years — a record. Kristensen captured the 2002 American Le Mans Series' driver's championship and has an impressive total of nine Series victories in only 25 starts. Driving for Champion Racing in last year's run at Sebring, Kristensen crossed the finish line first in what was a preview of Le Mans, as later he teamed with JJ Lehto and Marco Werner to win in the R8's final appearance at La Sarthe.
"I'm absolutely delighted to be a part of this fantastic team again," said Kristensen. "We won everything there was to win with the R8. This era has come to a close. Now it's a question of turning the new R10 into a winning car. Because we are dealing with a completely new vehicle concept, everybody in the team must give their maximum. As a racing driver you can't wish for anything better than to be involved in such a project from the very beginning."
The R10 was flown back to Germany immediately after the presentation at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. An intensive test program, including planned participation in the Series' Winter Test at Sebring, January 23-25, is scheduled before the first race at Sebring.
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Los Angeles - Nearly two months before its race debut at the 54th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, the new Audi R10 made its American debut Tuesday night at the annual Los Angeles Auto Show. Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Motorsport, and Tom Kristensen, the first of six drivers who will pilot the car at Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, were on hand to discuss the R10 and its revolutionary diesel technology.
"Audi tries to do something with the R10 which no other manufacturer has attempted in motorsport," explained Dr. Ullrich. "The diesel project is the greatest challenge ever to have been given to Audi Sport."
Audi already has confirmed that it will enter two R10s at Sebring — the opening race for the 2006 American Le Mans Series — and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Kristensen, who has won Le Mans a record seven times, including the last six consecutive, joined Dr. Ullrich as Audi unveiled the R10 to a select group during "Audi Designers' Tuesday."
"It was very important for us to be able to continue this long and successful partnership, particularly in such a demanding project," said Dr. Ullrich. "The R10 project is a very special challenge for which the best drivers are required – and Tom is without a shadow of a doubt one of the world's best."
Tom Kristensen and Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich pose with the R10, which will make its race debut at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
Kristensen recently was named Denmark's "Sports Personality of the Year" for a second time. He has been driving for Audi since the 2000 season and has won Le Mans each of the past six years — a record. Kristensen captured the 2002 American Le Mans Series' driver's championship and has an impressive total of nine Series victories in only 25 starts. Driving for Champion Racing in last year's run at Sebring, Kristensen crossed the finish line first in what was a preview of Le Mans, as later he teamed with JJ Lehto and Marco Werner to win in the R8's final appearance at La Sarthe.
"I'm absolutely delighted to be a part of this fantastic team again," said Kristensen. "We won everything there was to win with the R8. This era has come to a close. Now it's a question of turning the new R10 into a winning car. Because we are dealing with a completely new vehicle concept, everybody in the team must give their maximum. As a racing driver you can't wish for anything better than to be involved in such a project from the very beginning."
The R10 was flown back to Germany immediately after the presentation at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. An intensive test program, including planned participation in the Series' Winter Test at Sebring, January 23-25, is scheduled before the first race at Sebring.
http://www.cchanphotography.com/r10/tr10-1.jpg (http://www.cchanphotography.com/r10/r10-1.jpg) http://www.cchanphotography.com/r10/tr10-2.jpg (http://www.cchanphotography.com/r10/r10-2.jpg)
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