| Team ADT Champion Racing will continue their quest for the Team and Manufacturers’ Championships in the American Le Mans Series this Saturday at Road Atlanta as part of the 6th annual Petit Le Mans sports car endurance race. The unique format of this race calls for 1,000 miles (394 laps) or 10 hours, whichever comes first.
For the first time, Team ADT Champion Racing will compete in the American Le Mans Series with two Audi R8 sports cars. JJ Lehto and Marco Werner, who already have clinched the Drivers’ championship, will be supported in the fight for the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ titles by Johnny Herbert and Pierre Kaffer, current Audi R8 drivers for Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx in the Le Mans Endurance Series in Europe. Lehto and Werner will pilot the #38 Audi R8 while the “sister” car with Herbert and Kaffer will feature the #2 on the hood.
Audi has a four-year winning streak in the Petit Le Mans, having won for the first time in 2000 when the Audi R8 Prototype was in its first year of competition. Team ADT Champion Racing has produced nine overall victories in the last two years - four times in 2003 and five (of seven times) in 2004, finishing second at Sebring behind Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx and second at Mosport behind the Dyson Lola.
Chevy presents Petit Le Mans will get the green flag at 12 noon (Eastern) on Saturday, September 25. The race will cover 1,000 miles, or 10 hours, which ever comes first on the 2.54-mile, 12-turn Road Atlanta circuit. Qualifying will be held on Friday, Sept. 24.
The race will be televised live in North America by the SPEED Channel and in Europe by MotorsTV. American Le Mans Series Radio will have live coverage of qualifying and the race that can be heard online at www.americanlemans.com.
DRIVER QUOTES:
Marco Werner (Germany). “This is a special event for us. It's one of the longest distances that we race, and we will have a lot of good competition not only from the Dyson cars and the Zytek,, but also from our own sister car. It's a great track, I like it and it's one that I think suits JJ very well".
JJ Lehto (Finland). “I really like the Road Atlanta track - we won there last year and I want to try and do it again this year. The circuit is really challenging and there are always so many fans which makes the atmosphere very special."
Johnny Herbert (England). "I'm very much looking forward to rejoining the ALMS and delighted it's with Champion. It'll be fun 're-igniting' the relationships and at one of the best ALMS races on the calendar. I'm itching to get back in the seat.”
Pierre Kaffer (Germany). "I am really looking forward to Atlanta. I tested there prior to Sebring and it's one of the best race tracks, a bit like the Nurburgring. And to drive with Johnny is a big pleasure for me. I hope we can enjoy the race and have a good result."
LMP1 DRIVERS
1. JJ Lehto and Marco Werner, 138
2. Andy Wallace, 85
3. Butch Leitzinger and James Weaver, 79
4. Chris Dyson, 71
5. Frank Biela, Pierre Kaffer and Allan McNish, 26
LMP1 MANUFACTURERS
1. Audi, 142
2. Lola, 114
3. Dallara, 16
4. Riley & Scott, 12
5. Panoz, 10
|
