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<body> <Table Width="550" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0"><TR><TD Width="35"><IMG SRC="//www.totalmotorsport.com/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="1"></td><td> <CENTER><Table border="0" width="100%"> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="5">LE MANS</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">19/04/2004</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">British Audi Team Heads For Vital Le Mans Test</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">Revised Aero Kit For Test</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><img border="1" src="Storage/audi-r8-revised-04(1).jpg"></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="1">  </FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2"><B>British Audi Team Heads For Vital Le Mans Test</B><BR> <BR> Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx contests the important Le Mans 24 Hours “Preliminary Practice” on Sunday (25 April) in preparation for the 72nd running of the famous Le Mans race which has attracted a top-class and varied field.<BR> <BR> The Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) received 77 entries for this year’s race (12-13 June). Fifty cars plus six reserves have subsequently been invited to take part in the two practice sessions (0900-1300 & 1400-1800) allowing teams to fine tune their race cars around the 8.48-mile circuit featuring predominantly closed public roads.<BR> <BR> Both Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx R8s now feature revised aerodynamics which includes a narrower rear wing - mandatory for Le Mans and the Le Mans Endurance Series. The Northamptonshire-based team enjoyed a stunning race début last month (20 March). Frank Biela/Pierre Kaffer/Allan McNish and Jamie Davies/Johnny Herbert/Guy Smith finished first and third in the Sebring 12 Hours in Florida for the new British Audi team which tested at Paul Ricard (6-7 April) in advance of the LMES opener at Monza (9 May). <BR> <BR> <B>Audi R8 - No.8</B><BR> <BR> <B>Frank Biela</B><BR> “In achieving first and third places on the British team’s race début at Sebring, Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx showed it’s already competitive. But Le Mans is unique, the opposition will be very strong and we will need to work very hard at the test to keep ahead.” <BR> <BR> <B>Pierre Kaffer</B><BR> “It is my first drive at Le Mans - although a month ago I had my first prototype race at Sebring and I did a good job. I will take advice from my co-drivers but will not put pressure on myself - a system which worked well at Sebring. This is a team sport.” <BR> <BR> <B>Allan McNish</B><BR> “I need to reacquaint myself with the Le Mans circuit having been away from sportscars for four years but I’m not expecting that to take long. Our goal is to finish the test knowing we can return for the race week 100% ready. I’m expecting a close contest.” <BR> <BR> <B>Audi R8 - No.88</B><BR> <BR> <B>Jamie Davies</B><BR> “I want to learn as much as I can about the Audi R8 whilst also hoping we can achieve quick and competitive times. I scored two class victories at Le Mans [24 Hour & 1,000km races] for Veloqx last year and I’m really excited to be going back to drive an Audi R8.”<BR> <BR> <B>Johnny Herbert</B><BR> “Having finished second at Le Mans for the past two years, I’m hungry to add to my ’91 Le Mans victory and the foundations for a successful race in June can be laid by completing a good, thorough test. We need to learn about the R8’s new configuration.” <BR> <BR> <B>Guy Smith </B><BR> “The test is vital. It’s the only occasion where we can fine-tune the Audi R8 to the Le Mans track before the race. We’ll try different car set-ups, calculate fuel consumption and try out various tyre compounds. It will be good returning as a Le Mans winner!” <BR> <BR> <B>Sam Li, Team Principal:</B> <BR> "After a successful result at Sebring, the team is working through a most comprehensive period of preparation for Le Mans. The Paul Ricard test demonstrated that the competition is going to be most intense. My job is to make sure that we do not miss a single detail during our preparations before the challenge passes into the hands of our drivers. This is certainly an intense time for the team, but we are quietly confident about our chances of success. We will definitely be in for a fight for honours."<BR> <BR> </FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE><BR> </CENTER> <BR><CENTER><font size="1" color="#808080" face="Tahoma">Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </table> </body>