Mike S

Communications Motorsport - Jürgen Pippig


19 January 2009


Private team plans LMS with Audi R10 TDI

Successful diesel sportscar in customer hands for the first time
Dr Colin Kolles' team plans to buy two Audi R10 TDI cars
Car may also be fielded at the Le Mans 24 Hours

Ingolstadt - The successful Audi R10 TDI is likely to appear again on European race tracks in 2009. While Audi will contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans as part of its factory commitment with the new R15 TDI in 2009, Dr
Colin Kolles is planning to buy two Audi R10 TDI cars for his racing team. The privately fielded prototypes are planned to return to the venues of their greatest exploits in 2009: to the European-based Le Mans Series and to the 24-hour race at Le Mans, in which the Audi R10 TDI has not been beaten so far.

Since the 2006 season Audi has been cooperating with Dr Colin Kolles, who has entered two Audi A4 DTM cars in the DTM since that time. Now, the team owner based in Greding near Ingolstadt wants to extend his motorsport involvement to the sportscar area on his own initiative. The team plans to contest the 24-hour race at Le Mans on 13 and 14 June 2009 as well as the five rounds of the European-based Le Mans Series.

Audi Sport will sell two R10 TDI vehicles to Dr Kolles for this purpose and complement the agreement by a service package encompassing support for the private racing commitments by members of Audi Sport's technical staff.

"We welcome the fact that Dr Kolles decided to take on this commitment and wants to purchase two Audi R10 TDI cars," said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. "While on the factory side of the house we are concentrating on the development and fielding of the new R15 TDI sportscar as well as on the DTM, we are pleased to see that the R10 TDI will be privately entered in future and that racing vehicles of the Audi brand will continue to be represented in the Le Mans Series. That is why we agreed to the sale of the cars. However, our involvement will be strictly limited to providing support under the terms of the service agreement."

In the 2006, 2007 and 2008 racing years, the Audi R10 TDI clinched as many as 22 overall victories in 38 worldwide entries. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as in the final LM P1 classification of the American Le Mans Series during that time frame the Audi R10 TDI remained unbeaten and last year won the LM P1 class of the European-based Le Mans Series as well.

Rakete

Sure was hoping that Champion would run the r10 in the ALMS....boo hoo

CarolK

Those that have tested the R10 are Vanina Ickx(she drove for Pescarolo Sport at LeMans and in LMS last year so much P1 experience), Katherine Legge and Christijan Albers. Should a sign be seen there? We will know it very soon.

This is good news for the championship,as members of staff of Audi Sport will be present to ensure the technical follow-up. Moreover, Dr. Kolles also hopes to take part in the 24 Hours of Mans. With already three R15 aligned officially, Audi could have FIVE LMP1, without counting the Swiss Lola/Audi engine.

I think that one of the best outcomes is that Dr. Kolles is from Ingolstadt and that the team remains "German". Dr. Kolles has been significantlly involved in motorsport having been the Managing Director for the Jordan F1 team; the Spyker take-over then the Force India take-over. In November 2008, it was announced that Force India chairman Vijay Mallya will also take over the role of Team Principal for 2009, leaving Kolles without a major role in the team.

The European racing scene is growing by leaps and bounds, the LMP1 grid is as large or larger than the entire ALMS grid for 09! Very exciting, I think we'll forgo some ALMS for the entire LMS season instead of just three of them.

Carol

jbchinoca

IMSA treated them like crap, so I guess that's out.

jbchinoca

They could at least have let Champion do it overseas.

CarolK

Christian Bakkerud has been announced as the first driver for Kolles' new team. Christian is from Denmark and has competed in GP2 with Super Nova; Carlin Motorsports in British F3; also competed in the German and British Formula BMW series. The Danes will really be out in force at LM with TK and now Christian driving Audis. Speculation has Peugeot now contesting LMS with the addition of the two R10's. The spectulative LMS grid has the following: 17-P1; 14-P2; 2-GT1; 18-GT2. That's looking like a possible 51 car grid (newest count of ALMS for the Sebring Test in just over a week is 23).

Carol

jbchinoca

I'd still cast a vote for JJ Lehto, unless they let Allan do it.

Jet Jockey/A4 Pilot

Silhouette Carbon Fibre cars with the drivers sitting almost if not mid ship with lots of aerodynamic downforce.

One well known DTM Merc driver (local to Montreal) says it's the closest thing to an open wheel formula car. I wouldn't be surprised if the DTM series cost as much if not more to Audi then their prototype racing.

I don't know if you have had the chance to watch the DTM series because it's crazy racing.

Mike S

budget for the ALMS and LMS series last year was 45 million Euro.

The factory DTM team had a 150 million Euro budget.

DTM is equal to LMP cars in all ways and beyond in many.

Mike S

Mike S

Hit the nail directly on the head their, jb. Audi should have pulled out prior to last season.