Audi LeMans 3-peat (reuters)
06-13-2002, 10:42 AM
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Audi LeMans 3-peat (reuters)
Motor racing-Audi trio target unique Le Mans hat-trick
By Nick Mulvenney
LE MANS, France (Reuters) - The Audi team of Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Tom Kristensen could make Le Mans history at the 70th running of the 24-hour classic this weekend.
If the trio's Audi R8 crosses the line first at the Circuit de la Sarthe on Sunday, as it has for the last two years, they will become the first team of drivers to win the world's greatest endurance race three times.
They will face stiff competition from three other Audis, a two-car Oreca challenge and Bentley, back again after their triumphant return to the podium last year.
But such has been the dominance for the last two years of the R8 that it would be a major surprise if one of the three Audi factory cars did not win.
"Winning the Le Mans 24 Hours three times in a row would be a dream come true," said German Biela. "I would rather not talk or think about it but it crosses my mind time and time again."
Last year he and his team mates drove a virtually error-free race to lead home an Audi one-two ahead of the third-placed Bentley but the horrendously wet conditions proved once again that nothing can be taken for granted at Le Mans.
"Le Mans would not be Le Mans when nothing unexpected occurs," said Dane Kristensen, also a winner here with Porsche in 1997. "Last year, it was the torrential rain, let's wait and see what awaits us this year."
British former Formula One driver Johnny Herbert, a 1991 winner at Le Mans, leads the challenge in the number two Audi alongside Italians Rinaldo Capello and Christian Pescatori, who finished second last year.
STRONG OPPOSITION
The strength of their challenge was emphasised when Capello topped the times at the official test day last month.
"During the pre-event test, we set the fastest time in the closing stages," said Herbert. "But this race is unique and we feel by no means safe.
"We will be facing strong opposition, not to mention our Audi team mates. Anything can happen during a race that lasts 24 hours," added the Englishman.
Leading that strong opposition will be the two cars entered by the French Oreca team, who had the second fastest time at official testing through Frenchman Stephane Sarrazin.
Their best finish may come from their other car, which will be driven by Monegasque Olivier Beretta, Frenchman Erik Comas and Portugal's Pedro Lamy, who replaced 1997 winner Stefan Johansson who was a late withdrawal.
Former F1 drivers Beretta and Lamy finished fourth in the race for Oreca last year but it remains to be seen if the car has the reliability to match the speed.
Despite its location in northern France, Le Mans has become a very British occasion in recent years and 80,000 fans were estimated to have made their way across the channel last year.
Those who return will have Bentley and MG to cheer on again this year, along with an unlikely challenger in the shape of a Morgan entry.
APPALLING WEATHER
Bentley returned last year after an absence of more than 70 years and one of their two cars -- driven by Scot Andy Wallace, American Butch Leitzinger and Belgian Eric van de Poele -- finished third despite the appalling weather which particularly affected their closed coupe.
Wallace, Leitzinger and Van de Poele will be driving Bentley's single entry this year as the British marque intends to keep its powder dry for a full-blooded challenge next year.
MG, whom former F1 driver Martin Brundle got as high as third last year before technical problems ended their race early, are more confident that this year's challenge will last longer.
Brundle will again be at the wheel of the lighter 675 class car, which managed to beat all but four of the bigger cars in the top 900 category, including Bentley, at the testing day.
"I'm expecting a good end result in qualifying along with a much stronger showing in the race than last year -- I'd like to see us up amongst the 900 cars," said Brundle.
But, according to Brundle's compatriot and former rival in F1 Herbert, Audi are most likely to celebrate a hat-trick of wins this weekend and retain the trophy for the marque.
"An Audi will win Le Mans again this year barring a major catastrophe," said Herbert. "It's the fastest, best handling and most reliable machine in the entire 50-car Le Mans field."
By Nick Mulvenney
LE MANS, France (Reuters) - The Audi team of Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Tom Kristensen could make Le Mans history at the 70th running of the 24-hour classic this weekend.
If the trio's Audi R8 crosses the line first at the Circuit de la Sarthe on Sunday, as it has for the last two years, they will become the first team of drivers to win the world's greatest endurance race three times.
They will face stiff competition from three other Audis, a two-car Oreca challenge and Bentley, back again after their triumphant return to the podium last year.
But such has been the dominance for the last two years of the R8 that it would be a major surprise if one of the three Audi factory cars did not win.
"Winning the Le Mans 24 Hours three times in a row would be a dream come true," said German Biela. "I would rather not talk or think about it but it crosses my mind time and time again."
Last year he and his team mates drove a virtually error-free race to lead home an Audi one-two ahead of the third-placed Bentley but the horrendously wet conditions proved once again that nothing can be taken for granted at Le Mans.
"Le Mans would not be Le Mans when nothing unexpected occurs," said Dane Kristensen, also a winner here with Porsche in 1997. "Last year, it was the torrential rain, let's wait and see what awaits us this year."
British former Formula One driver Johnny Herbert, a 1991 winner at Le Mans, leads the challenge in the number two Audi alongside Italians Rinaldo Capello and Christian Pescatori, who finished second last year.
STRONG OPPOSITION
The strength of their challenge was emphasised when Capello topped the times at the official test day last month.
"During the pre-event test, we set the fastest time in the closing stages," said Herbert. "But this race is unique and we feel by no means safe.
"We will be facing strong opposition, not to mention our Audi team mates. Anything can happen during a race that lasts 24 hours," added the Englishman.
Leading that strong opposition will be the two cars entered by the French Oreca team, who had the second fastest time at official testing through Frenchman Stephane Sarrazin.
Their best finish may come from their other car, which will be driven by Monegasque Olivier Beretta, Frenchman Erik Comas and Portugal's Pedro Lamy, who replaced 1997 winner Stefan Johansson who was a late withdrawal.
Former F1 drivers Beretta and Lamy finished fourth in the race for Oreca last year but it remains to be seen if the car has the reliability to match the speed.
Despite its location in northern France, Le Mans has become a very British occasion in recent years and 80,000 fans were estimated to have made their way across the channel last year.
Those who return will have Bentley and MG to cheer on again this year, along with an unlikely challenger in the shape of a Morgan entry.
APPALLING WEATHER
Bentley returned last year after an absence of more than 70 years and one of their two cars -- driven by Scot Andy Wallace, American Butch Leitzinger and Belgian Eric van de Poele -- finished third despite the appalling weather which particularly affected their closed coupe.
Wallace, Leitzinger and Van de Poele will be driving Bentley's single entry this year as the British marque intends to keep its powder dry for a full-blooded challenge next year.
MG, whom former F1 driver Martin Brundle got as high as third last year before technical problems ended their race early, are more confident that this year's challenge will last longer.
Brundle will again be at the wheel of the lighter 675 class car, which managed to beat all but four of the bigger cars in the top 900 category, including Bentley, at the testing day.
"I'm expecting a good end result in qualifying along with a much stronger showing in the race than last year -- I'd like to see us up amongst the 900 cars," said Brundle.
But, according to Brundle's compatriot and former rival in F1 Herbert, Audi are most likely to celebrate a hat-trick of wins this weekend and retain the trophy for the marque.
"An Audi will win Le Mans again this year barring a major catastrophe," said Herbert. "It's the fastest, best handling and most reliable machine in the entire 50-car Le Mans field."
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