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AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES |
21/03/2004 |
Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx Take Victory |
Sebring Cruise For Audi |
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The Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx outfit delivered a crushing victory on the British team’s race début in the 52nd Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on Saturday (20 March). The Audi R8 of Frank Biela, Pierre Kaffer and Allan McNish claimed a comfortable 5-lap victory to earn the German prestige car manufacturer its fifth consecutive Sebring win, AUDI AG’s British importer, Audi UK, a maiden international motor race win and the Veloqx team its début sports prototype class race win.
The “sister” Veloqx Audi R8 of Jamie Davies, Johnny Herbert and Guy Smith recovered to claim an excellent third place having slipped from second to fifth approaching seven hours following a 37-minute pit-stop to replace a driveshaft seal.
The new British Audi team based in Northamptonshire - which led all but 101-minutes of the 1,295-mile race - was using Sebring as a “warm-up” for the Le Mans 24 Hours (12-13 June). The Brackley team’s next race will be at Monza in Italy (9 May) - the opening round of the Le Mans Endurance Series.
Audi R8 - No.28
Frank Biela (D):
“This is my third Sebring victory in the last five years while an Audi R8 has now won five times in a row - a fantastic achievement for this sports prototype. This is a perfect way to start off my 2004 season - I hope I can enjoy the same success in DTM and at Le Mans.”
Pierre Kaffer:
“I cannot believe I have won my début race for Audi on my Sebring début in my first long distance race - I’m overjoyed. I didn’t want to take big risks during my stints but the Audi R8 gives a driver, even a prototype ‘rookie’ like me, amazing confidence.”
Allan McNish:
“Coming back to Audi and scoring this victory is amazing. It’s like a great ‘home coming’ - they are truly fantastic people. I really enjoyed this win, made especially sweet after narrowly missing out here four years ago. This gives the team confidence for Le Mans.”
Audi R8 - No.88
Jamie Davies:
“I enjoyed myself taking the lead in my first stint - I was grinning from ear-to-ear. I was very comfortable in the car, got myself in to a good rhythm, and just put my head down and got on with it. I couldn’t have dreamt of such a great result in my first race for Audi.”
Johnny Herbert:
“I thought I’d got a puncture at first but it was obviously lubricant spraying on to the tyre. It’s a shame, everything was looking good, we were comfortably in second place less than half a minute behind our team-mates but to recover on to the rostrum is pleasing.”
Guy Smith:
“I’m a little disappointed but if we’re going to have a problem, then I’d rather have it here today than at Le Mans in June which is what happened last year. Our pit crew showed great spirit and technique in dealing with the issue. The future looks promising.”
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