Audi R15 TDI wins its first race
The high tech Audi R15-TDI racing sports car ran the entire distance without any problem during the test race. Right after the opening lap of the eight-hour race, Audi race driver Allan McNish managed to overtook the Peugeot driven by Frenchman Stéphane Sarrazin which had started from pole position. After the victory against the Peugeot, on the third lap the R15 TDI overtook the Lola-Aston Martin of Stefan Mücke.
From then the Audi R15 TDI driven by Allan McNish and his teammate Dindo Capello did not relinquish the lead. The race went smooth and without any problem for Audi Racing Team. Amazingly after 266 laps the two Audi R15 drivers had managed to take a whole five-lap lead over the Lola-Aston Martin driven by defending champion Stefan Mücke, Harold Primat and Adrian Fernandez. The Oreca team Peugeot finished in 4th place because of a technical problem.
The only unscheduled visit to the pit stops was made just before the end of the race, Joest had to put rain tires.
Audi Sport Team Joest used the Le Mans Series 2010 season opener as training exercise for the 24-hour race at Le Mans on 12/13 June 2010.
Race results after the first race:
1 Capello/McNish (Audi R15 TDI) 266 laps in 8h 00m 36.415s
2 Primat/Mücke/Fernandez (Lola-Aston Martin) – 5 laps
3 Belicchi/Boullion/Smith (Lola-Rebellion) – 5 laps
4 Panis/Lapierre/Sarrazin (Peugeot) – 8 laps
5 Ayari/Andre/Duval (Oreca-AIM) – 8 laps
6 Ragues/Mailleux/Ickx (Lola-Aston Martin) – 10 laps
7 Leventis/Watts/Kane (Acura/Honda) – 16 laps
8 Moreau/Gulliaume/Hein (Pescarolo-Judd) – 16 laps
9 Erdos/Newton/Wallace (Lola-Honda) – 17 laps
10 Lahaye/Nicolet (Pescarolo-Judd) – 17 laps
source: audiusa.com
