Two of the four cars in action will be equipped with hybrid
drive for the first time. Audi Sport Team Joest also follows a
two-pronged approach in the newly created FIA World Endurance
Championship (WEC) during the 2012 season.
"Electrifying news! Not only will Audi compete with four cars at
Le Mans this year - two of them will be with hybrid drive! Having
been behind the wheel as part of the development phase I can say
that the test results are indeed very encouraging," says Tom K.
"To develop the hybrid technology for Le Mans is at least as
ambitious and challenging as our diesel project was in its early
stages," explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang
Ullrich.
"The first test results are very encouraging and we are intrigued
to see just how this technology performs in combination with our
ultra lightweight technology on the race track at Le Mans. As
before, we still, however, see potential with the conventional
drive - just as our colleagues do in production development. This
is why we are absolutely delighted that the ACO and FIA selection
committee has accepted our entries and that we can join the grid
with four cars at the commemorative running of the Le Mans
race."
Audi Sport Team Joest has entered two cars for the new FIA World
Endurance Championship (WEC). Audi plans to field additional cars
at selected races such as the 12-hour race at Sebring (USA) and in
the 6-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) which doubles as a
dress rehearsal for Le Mans for the Audi squad.
At the 80th running of the French endurance classic, Audi competes
with the start numbers '1' and '2' (hybrid drive) as well as '3'
and '4'. As stipulated by the regulations one driver per car is now
nominated. Those drivers are André Lotterer, Allan McNish, Timo
Bernhard and Oliver Jarvis. The new Audi sports prototype with
hybrid drive will be presented at the end of February.
The first competitive outing follows in the 6-hour race at
Spa-Francorchamps on May 5. For the World Championship opener at
Sebring on March 17 Audi Sport Team Joest relies once again on the
Audi R18 TDI that proved victorious at Le Mans last year.