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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">AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">11/02/2001</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">Johansson Audi</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">Plus Gulf</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><img border="1" src="Storage/AudiPlusAME.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">It’s official at last – Stefan Johansson will be running a customer Audi R8 in the ELMS, plus Le Mans (entry permitting of course).<BR> <BR> Arena International Motorsport will be running the car, from their UK base. Arena were expected to be running the MG Le Mans programme this year, but immediately after the official MG release was sent out, they declined the offer – clearly in favour of this project.<BR> <BR> Johansson himself will take on the lead driver role, with the support act expected to be announced soon. Backing comes from Gulf Oil, which makes a return to sportscar racing for the first time since 1997. This year marks the company’s centenary.<BR> <BR> The car will race for the first time at Sebring, with initial testing due at the same track in the week before the 12 Hours.<BR> <BR> Stefan Johansson: "I have worked very hard to put this program together since late last year and although it is quite late we have secured a fantastic package which will be very competitive. Securing Gulf as a partner for this program is fantastic, they have an amazing history in Sportscar Racing and I am really looking forward to carrying their colours this year.<BR> <BR> “Mike and I have worked together in Formula One and Gulf really understand what racing and winning is all about so I am sure we will have a very good year." That’s a reference to Johansson driving for Onyx in F1.<BR> <BR> Mike Earle believes that, “Sportscar Racing has a great future, the ELMS is a well promoted and managed series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans is still the greatest single race in the world." <BR> <BR> Now we’ll all be looking closely to see how the two privateer Audis compare against the Reinhold Joest entered cars. Champion are currently in Germany finding out how the car goes together. Will the customers be competing on a level playing field? It’s difficult to see Herr Joest giving up many of his secrets.<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>