AS AUDI CHASE NINTH VICTORY
Allan McNish bids to earn himself a third and Audi a ninth Le Mans 24 Hours race victory when the Briton drives a revised diesel engined Audi in this year’s gruelling race next weekend (12-13 June).
The 40-year-old Scotsman drives an Audi R15 TDI along with co-drivers Dindo Capello (45/Italy) and Tom Kristensen (42/Denmark) ) – the “Great Dane” gunning for his ninth Le Mans triumph – in the same driver combination for the past four years.
“Le Mans is the toughest motor race in the world and we have everything in place to take the fight to our rivals,” confirmed McNish. “Personally, I’m hungrier than ever for more Le Mans success.”
“Audi Sport is determined to claim back the Le Mans ‘crown’ after finishing third last year. We’ll face intense competition from Peugeot and Aston Martin. But we are all focussed on making it win number nine this time around and I want to be standing on the top step of the podium for a third time myself.”
The 78th Le Mans 24 Hours features 55-cars – including three “factory” Audi R15 TDI sports-prototypes – designated R15 “plus” internally – battling for honours around the 8.47-mile circuit comprising of closed public roads.
Allan added: “I believe we’re better prepared than last year. I scored a début win at Paul Ricard and then finished third at Spa, with the R15 TDI in full Le Mans spec, in our two races this year while testing has also gone very well.
Joining McNish/Capello/Kristensen in driving the latest diesel-engined Audi R15 TDI will be Marcel Fässler (34/Switzerland)/André Lotterer (29/Germany)/Benoît Treluyer (23/France) plus Timo Bernhard (29/Germany)/Romain Dumas (32/France)/Mike Rockenfeller (26/Germany).
Efficiency – especially in relation to aerodynamics – was a key factor when the R15 TDI was being further developed. McNish continued: “This year’s Le Mans regulations mean smaller air restrictors and lower manifold pressure which in effect results in reduced engine power so a big emphasis was placed on making the aerodynamics even more efficient.”
Audi completely revamped the front of the R15 TDI following regulation changes made last November with the Audi now sporting a striking two-part nose design. The entire shape of the R15 TDI bodywork has been reworked for maximum efficiency combined with a modified cooling and tank system.
The V10 TDI engine has been optimized and despite the smaller air restrictors and the reduced manifold pressure, the 5.5-litre V10 twin turbo engine still produces around 590-hp. Torque of over 1,050 Nm is transmitted to the rear wheels by a pneumatically operated five-speed gearbox.
“There were about 20 important points on our specification sheet for the ‘R15 plus’ after Le Mans 2009,” says Dr. Martin Mühlmeier, Head of Technology. “Most of them concerned issues of efficiency and reliability, but there were also details such as a request from the drivers for better night-time illumination of the racetracks. And we met this request with a new headlamp concept.”
(ends)
* Editorial Copyright free photographs plus MP3 audio files can be downloaded from the Audi UK Press website. www.audi-press.co.uk Generic login details: guest (username) and R8LMS (password). Go to Motorsport section. Direct link to images: http://www.audi-press.co.uk/motorsport/images.asp?md=home&npp=10&scn=1
Listen to Allan McNish on his and Audi’s prospects at Le Mans and him talking around the circuit:
http://www.audi-press.co.uk/motorsport/section_detail.asp?md=secthome&scn=9&div=38
Audi at Le Mans 2010
#7 Allan McNish (GB) / Dindo Capello (I) / Tom Kristensen (Den)
#8 Marcel Fässler (CH) / André Lotterer (D) / Benoît Treluyer (F)
#9 Timo Bernhard (D) / Romain Dumas (F) / Mike Rockenfeller (D)
Timetable
Monday 7 June
Administrative Checks and Scrutineering (Jacobins):
15:50-16:20 #7 Audi Sport Team Joest – Audi R15 TDI
16:00-16:30 #8 Audi Sport Team Joest – Audi R15 TDI
16:10-16:40 #9 Audi Sport North America – Audi R15 TDI
Tuesday 8 June
14:00-15:00 Meet the Team, Audi Team & Media Hospitality, Paddock, Le Mans
Wednesday 9 June
14:00-15:00 Meet the Team, Audi Team & Media Hospitality, Paddock, Le Mans
16:00-20:00 Free practice
22:00-24:00 Qualifying
Thursday 10 June
14:00-15:00 Meet the Team, Audi Team & Media Hospitality, Paddock, Le Mans
19:00-21:00 Qualifying
22:00-24:00 Qualifying
Friday 11 June
1400 Audi Press Conference, Audi Racing Arena, Parc du Raccordement
18:00-19:00 Drivers' Parade (City centre)
Saturday 12 June
09.00-09:45 Warm-Up
14:22 Beginning of starting procedure 24 Heures du Mans
15:00 Start of the 78th race of the 24 Heures du Mans ®
* All times above are local and are +1hr BST
Allan McNish Biography . . .
Allan McNish (GB). Age: 40. Born: Dumfries, Scotland. Lives: Monte Carlo, Monaco. Married to Kelly, one son (Finlay, 5yrs), one daughter (Charlotte, 20 months)
1981-82 Kart
1983 British Kart Champion
1985 3rd Kart World Championship
1986 British Kart Champion
1987 2nd Formula Ford 1600 Championship
1988 1st Formula Opel Lotus
1989 2nd British Formula 3 Championship
1990 4th International Formula 3000 Championship, Formula 1 test driver
1991-2 Formula 1 test driver, Int. Formula 3000 Championship
1993 Formula 1 test driver
1994 Formula 1 test driver, Int. Formula 3000 Championship
1995 Int. Formula 3000 Championship
1996 Formula 1 test driver
1997 Won three sportscar races in USA
1998 1st Le Mans 24 Hours, 5th FIA GT Championship
1999 24 Hours of Le Mans, 2nd in 24 Hours of Daytona
2000 1st American Le Mans Series (Audi R8)
2001 Formula 1 test driver, 24 Hours of Daytona
2002 Formula 1
2003 Formula 1 test driver
2004 2nd Le Mans Endurance Series (Audi R8): 1st Nürburgring 1,000km and 1st Silverstone 1,000km (Audi R8). 1st Sebring 12 Hours (Audi R8)
2005 3rd Le Mans Endurance Series (Audi R8). 1st Silverstone; 2nd Nurburgring & Istanbul 1,000km (Audi R8). 2nd Sebring 12 Hours (Audi R8). German Touring Car Masters (Audi A4DTM)
2006 1st American Le Mans Series (Audi R8 & Audi R10 TDI): 7 outright/8 LM P1 class wins (from 10 races). 3rd Le Mans 24 Hours. British Racing Drivers’ Club / Automobile Club de l'Ouest Trophy and Scottish Motor Racing Club's William Lyons Trophy winner.
2007 1st American Le Mans Series (Audi R10 TDI): 3 outright wins/9 LM P1 wins (from 12 races).
2008 1st Le Mans 24 Hour race (Audi R10 TDI), 3rd Le Mans Series (Audi R10 TDI), 3rd Sebring 12 Hour race (Audi R10 TDI), 1st "Petit Le Mans" race (Audi R10 TDI). “Drive of the Race Award” (award created by SPEEDtv.com to honour the most stirring performance in an ALMS/LM24 race). Autosport Magazine Sportscar Driver of the Year. Voted Driver of the Decade by ALMS fans. Audi Driver Magazine Personality of the Year. British Racing Drivers' Club ACO Award for the highest-placed British driver in the Le Mans 24 Hours race. British Racing Drivers' Club Silverstone/Le Mans Challenge Award. Awarded the British Competition Driver of the Year Award at the AutosportAwards.
2009 1st Sebring 12 Hour race (Audi R15 TDI), 3rd Le Mans 24 Hour race (Audi R15 TDI).
2010 1st Paul Ricard 8hr LMS, 3rd Spa 1,000km LMS, currently 1st Le Mans Series (all Audi R15 plus TDI).
Allan McNish at Le Mans (11th career appearance in 24 Hours):
1997 Roock Racing Porsche 911 GT1. Qualified: 11th. Race: Retired
Retired due to accident damage after 30mins.
1998 Porsche AG Porsche 911 GT1-98. Qualified: 5th (AM). Race: 1st
Led opening five hours building almost a one lap lead. Water pipe split after 14hrs losing 30mins for repairs. Swapped lead with Toyota GT1 around pit stops until it retired with 75mins to run.
1999 Toyota Motorsports Toyota GT-One. Qualified: 2nd. Race: Retired
Led initially then traded lead with BMW for next 12hrs until co-driver Boutsen retired after accident with backmarker.
2000 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R8. Qualified: 1st (AM). Race: 2nd + Fastest Lap (AM)
Led for opening 6hrs but lost over 6mins when rear section changed after almost 7hrs due to gear shift problems. Two pit-stops (losing almost 5mins) with rear diffuser problems after 9hrs, 2mins lost when front brake disc/pad changed after 17hrs
2004 Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx Audi R8. Qualified: 2nd (AM). Race: 5th
Led early stages but Allan crashed at high-speed on oil after two hours. Although suffering no injuries and declared physically fit, he was advised by race officials not to take any further part in the race. Two pit-stops for repairs cost 75mins.
2005 Champion Racing Audi R8. Qualified: 3rd (AM). Race: 3rd
Led after 2½ hrs but lost 3mins with a pit-stop for repairs after 3½ hrs when Pirro slid off at slow speed following a Safety Car period. Allan crashed out of 2nd approaching two-thirds distance when tyre delaminated. 4mins lost getting out of gravel trap and a further 18mins to repair the front suspension.
2006 Audi Sport Audi R10 TDI. Qualified: 1st. Race: 3rd
Led most of the opening three hours. After 3½ hours, right bank of injectors were changed (losing 21 mins), 11mins lost for suspension repairs after Capello contacted backmarker, a further 19mins for additional repairs and another 15mins to change turbo.
2007 Audi Sport Audi R10 TDI. Qualified: 2nd (AM). Race: Retired
Led from the first corner on the opening lap, dominated the race for over 16½ hours, led by over three laps but left rear wheel came off at Indianapolis Corner at around 150mph with co-driver Dindo Capello at the wheel causing instant retirement.
2008 Audi Sport Audi R10 TDI. Qualified: 4th (AM). Race: 1st
Led after 2½ hours, slipped to second on four hours then to third an hour later but back up to second place on seven hours. Rain shower after 13 hours handed the initiative back to Audi with Kristensen sweeping into the lead an hour later. With six hours to run and the rain falling harder, McNish led by two minutes ultimately finishing over four minutes ahead of the second-placed car having completed 381-laps, 3,227 miles at an average speed of 149.34mph in front of a record crowd of 258,000 – including an estimated 70,000 British fans.
2009 Audi Sport Audi R15 TDI. Qualified: 2nd (AM). Race: 3rd
Started second but slipped to fourth before briefly leading in the opening hour and thereafter remained in the top-three. Lost 13mins with suspension and electronics issues, still retaining third place. Allan drove for a total time of 8hrs 16mins on three separate occasions – setting his car’s fastest lap (3min 26.632, an average speed of 147.54mph).
Audi R15 “plus” TDI at a glance . . .
V10 5.5-litre diesel engine, twin-turbochargers, producing over 590hp (over 1,050 Newton metres torque). 5-speed sequential gearbox, rear-wheel-drive, 930kg, fuel tank capacity 81 litres (17.82 gallons).
Audi at Le Mans . . .
Made race début in 1999 (finishing 3rd & 4th). Has since won on eight occasions (2000-2, 2004 & 2005 with the petrol-engined Audi R8 and 2006-08 with diesel-engined Audi R10 TDI). Three “factory” Audi R15 “plus” TDI sports-prototypes will race in this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours.
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