After the previous tests of the further development of this
year's Le Mans winning car took place behind closed doors, Audi is
now going into public at a race track for the first time. Since
this Saturday, Audi Sport has been running tests with two vehicles
at the Sebring (Florida) circuit. The second LMP1 sports car serves
to compare the test results.
Taking turns at the wheel of the two development vehicles are
Tom Kristensen, Dindo Capello and Allan McNish, who were last
victorious at Le Mans in 2008. Also involved in the tests are the
2011 Le Mans winners, the Swiss Marcel Fässler, the German André
Lotterer and the Frenchman Benoît Tréluyer.
The tradition-steeped American circuit has a special
significance for Tom K who has won the Sebring 12 Hours a record
number of five times. Audi has celebrated nine victories in the
race since the 2000 season.
The 5.95-kilometer track that features 17 highly different types
of turns offers plenty of variety, which makes for excellent test
conditions. The rough concrete of the former airfield's take-off
and landing strip in combination with the tarmac of the other track
sectors puts the material to a particularly tough test.
On March 17th, the 12-hour race will open the new FIA World
Endurance Championship (WEC) as well as the American Le Mans Series
(ALMS) at this venue.
While the component tests have already started, Audi will not
announce the details of the 2012 racing program, the driver line-up
and the technical state of the development until a later date.