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CAPELLO, MCNISH IN R8 FOR THREE-RACE STRETCH

Following the diesel-powered Audi R10 TDI prototype's victorious debut in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, which wrote headlines all over the world, AUDI AG has also defined its program for the remaining races of the 2006 American Le Mans Series. From the sixth round at Salt Lake City on July 15, two Audi R10 TDI prototypes will compete in the world's most important sports car racing series with Sebring winners Dindo Capello and Allan McNish in one car and defending series champions Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro in the other.

Since an intensive test program is scheduled for the two Audi R10 TDI prototypes before the season's highpoint at Le Mans on June 17-18, the cars will be prepared for the American program after Le Mans. The Audi Sport North America team will thus rely on the proven Audi R8 for the races at Houston, Mid-Ohio and Lime Rock. Due to their victory at Sebring, Capello and McNish will share the R8, which has claimed 61 wins from 77 races to date, and must race with 35 kilograms extra ballast (935 instead of 900 kilograms) as stipulated by the 2006 regulations.

All four Audi "factory" drivers are among the most successful drivers in the American Le Mans Series. German Biela and Italian Pirro both have already won the championship twice (Pirro in 2001 and 2005, Biela in 2003 and 2005), and last year together for the first time. McNish (Scotland) won the title during the 2000 season, the Audi R8 prototype's debut year. Capello (Italy) was runner-up twice and third overall once, and with his 15 race wins he is one of the most successful drivers in the American Le Mans Series' LMP1 class. Capello and McNish formed a strong driver squad in the 2000 season and are now reunited.

"It wasn't easy to decide which of our six Le Mans drivers should compete in the American Le Mans Series," explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. "All six have already proven just how good they are at the wheel of the Audi R8 and also the R10 TDI. Because Tom Kristensen also starts in the DTM, and there are several clashing dates, he was not an option. It was obvious that Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro would compete again as defending champions. With Dindo Capello and Allan McNish we chose the two drivers who won at Sebring and who have already collected valuable championship points. Bearing in mind the strong competition, every point counts."

Marco Werner, who won the title in 2003 and 2004, will not compete in the American Le Mans Series for the time being. In 2006, the German will contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Biela and Pirro and is especially involved in the new Audi R10 TDI development program. "Furthermore, Marco is first choice if we should compete in any additional races with the R10 TDI," stresses Dr Ullrich.

The next round of the 2006 American Le Mans Series is the Lone Star Grand Prix, scheduled for 8 p.m. CDT on May 12 in Houston. It will be broadcast at 1 p.m. May 13 on CBS Sports, the first of five straight Series events on network television. Qualifying is set for 6:15 p.m. CDT on May 11. American Le Mans Radio will have live coverage at www.americanlemans.com, which also will have IMSA Live Timing & Scoring.