LAKEVILLE, CT.  (June 30, 2005) – Fresh from Team ADT Champion Racing’s successful first and third place victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the team has quickly returned to North America to contest the fourth round of the American Le Mans Series at Lime Rock Park.  Lime Rock, the toughest track on the 10-race circuit, will host the New England Grand Prix, July 1-4.  Because of local ordinances, racing cannot be held at Lime Rock Park on Sundays, so the ALMS race will be held on Independence Day, Monday, July 4. 

The Lime Rock Park track is 1.54 miles long, the smallest circuit that the ALMS will visit in the 2005 season.  For the drivers of the No.1 Audi R8, JJ Lehto and Marco Werner, this marks their second visit to the historic track.  At last year’s inaugural race, the duo captured first place on the podium after a strong battle with the Dyson Racing Team.  “Last year we had a very good battle with the Dyson cars,” commented Lehto.  “I know this year it will be just as exciting and just as competitive.”  

Teammates Emanuele Pirro and Frank Biela (Audi R8 No. 2) will have to adapt quickly to the short and narrow circuit.  Neither driver has much less seen the circuit nor had the opportunity to drive it.  “I’ve heard a lot about the track but until I get there and have my first practice session, I really don’t know what to expect,” said Biela.  “I am sure it will be quite different from what I am used to but I like that kind of challenge.”

In the battle for the LMP1 team championship, Team ADT Champion Racing leads Dyson Racing by four points as the ALMS enters its critical July stretch with three races in five weeks.

The New England Grand Prix, Round 4 of the American Le Mans Series, is set for 3:00 p.m. July 4 at Lime Rock Park.  SPEED Channel will provide live coverage, along with American Le Mans Series Radio at www.americanlemans.com.

DRIVER QUOTES:

TEAM ADT CHAMPION RACING AUDI R8 #1

JJ Lehto (Fin). Age: 39. Born: Espoo, Finland. Lives: Monte Carlo, Monaco:

“Lime Rock will be a challenge for us.  It is a very tricky, bumpy track.  I did have a lot of fun driving there last year so I am expecting it to be that way again.  I like racing near New York City.  There are good fans there and the crowd is always good.  Marco and I look forward to our race this weekend.”

Marco Werner (D). Age: 38. Born: Dortmund, Germany. Lives: Ermatingen, Switzerland: 

“Lime Rock suits the Dyson cars better as they are lighter than our Audi R8s.  We will have a good car though as the team always prepares an excellent car.  It will be a good fight and a hard fight with the Dyson team.  But we like that and it is good for the series.”

TEAM ADT CHAMPION RACING AUDI R8 #2

Frank Biela (D). Age: 40. Born: Neuss, Germany. Lives: Monte Carlo, Monaco: 

“The good thing is that after the last race (Mid-Ohio) the Championship is still open.  Unfortunately we will be racing on a circuit that we (myself and Emanuele) do not know.  We have heard that it is a difficult track for us so I hope we can get used to it very quickly.  I think there is no doubt that on race day we have to be competitive.   We expect the Dyson cars to be strong so we’ll do our best to keep them in line.” 

Emanuele Pirro (It). Age: 43. Born: Rome, Italy. Lives: Monte Carlo, Monaco:

“This is a new race track for me so I can only go by what I have heard.  It seems like the track is short and narrow so I know we will have to be extra careful in traffic.  My motivation is high after our strong performance at Le Mans.  The Dyson cars will be strong so we will have to work extra hard to beat them.”

For more information on Audi motorsports visit www.audiusa.com.  For more information on Champion Racing, visit www.championracing.net. 

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