Audi R10 TDI Also Wins “Petit Le Mans”

• First victory for a diesel engine in US classic
• Audi R10 TDI remains unbeaten
• Audi clinch American Le Mans Manufacturers’ title

For the first time, a diesel-powered sportscar has won the American Endurance classic "Petit Le Mans”. With victory at Road Atlanta (US state of Georgia), Audi prematurely clinched the Manufacturers’ Championship in the LM P1 "top class” of the American Le Mans Series having already won the Drivers’ and Teams’ titles. The new Audi R10 TDI remains unbeaten in the seventh race of its début season, having now won the third most important Endurance race of the year after the 12 Hours of Sebring in March and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.

Audi triumphed at Road Atlanta despite its petrol-driven LM P1 prototype competitors being allowed to race with 65 kilograms less weight making them faster than the two R10 TDI prototypes. The key to success was the reliability of the revolutionary diesel sportscar which ran throughout the 1000 miles without the slightest technical problem. Consistent lap times, a good strategy, fast pit stops and the low consumption of the V12 TDI engine made the Audi success possible.

In front of a record crowd of over 90,000 spectators, the Audi drivers had to fight hard with the petrol-driven prototypes especially in the first half of an incident-packed race. The lead kept changing before the two Audi R10 TDI cars finally settled themselves in the top two positions at the beginning of the seventh hour and looked set for a commanding 1-2 result.

Thirteen minutes before the end of the 9-hour plus long race, however, contact with a slower GT car ended the race of the R10 TDI of Frank Biela/Emanuele Pirro/Marco Werner. Running in second position, Werner had to pit with damaged front left suspension. The repairs were completed exactly at the moment when Allan McNish crossed the finish line as the winner in the "sister” car.

Biela/Pirro/Werner were classified 7th overall and 4th in the LM P1 class. It was the sixth overall victory in nine races for the new ALMS Champions Dindo Capello and Allan McNish. Audi celebrated its seventh "Petit Le Mans” victory in a row – and the first one with the new R10 TDI.

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It couldn't have been any other way. Kudos to Audi.