ALMS 2000
The podiumat Silverstone: Rinaldo Capello, Allan McNish

The first appearance of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in Europe was a real thriller. After an exciting 500 kilometre race, Audi ultimately made it to the podium. Rinaldo Capello and Allan McNish finished third, Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro claimed fifth place at Silverstone.

The race was decided only in the last few miles in the 98 lap race. After a tremendous start when Allan McNish moved from fourth to third place and Emanuele Pirro from eighth to fifth, McNish took over the lead after 14 laps. But during the second pit stop, both cars lost time and positions.

A few laps before the finish Rinaldo Capello demonstrated what unexpected things can happen during a 3 Hour race: Although Capello´s car suffered broken suspension caused by a collision during early stage of the race, he made it to the chequered flag on three wheels.

Quotes after the race

Allan McNish (#77): “
This was one of the races you think is going well and then it goes away and then it comes back again. When Rinaldo came into the pits at the end of the race I had already gone to the truck to get changed because I thought it was all over. The podium was a big surprise – but a very pleasant one.”

Rinaldo Capello (#77): “To be honest, I didn´t really know what was going on because my radio didn´t work. I just felt there was something wrong at the rear. But apart from that the car felt very good. I had some trouble when I took over the car. It was quick in right hand corners but very difficult in left hand corners. But after ten laps it worked out and I could push.”

Frank Biela (#78): “I hadn´t expected the race to be so close. When Emanuele handed over he was already complaining about the air vent over the front left tyre getting loose. And he was right: I had a lot of understeer and oversteer and the car was bouncing in the corners.”

Emanuele Pirro (#78): “It was going better than we thought. But then one part of the body work broke and after that the car was very difficult to drive especially when the tyres ran out. At the end we have been very lucky.”

Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Sport: “For the last race with the 99 cars it was a nice success. But on the other hand I´m very disappointed. We made too many mistakes in the pits which no driver can make up again on the track. We have to work on this a lot before Le Mans.”

Reinhold Joest, Team Director Audi Sport North America:
“That was really an exciting and crazy race. We were lucky at the end but I think we deserved that little present because the spectators had a nice show. Unfortunately we´ve lost a lot of time in the pits.”

Race results

1. Lehto/Müller (BMW) 98 laps
2. Brabham/Magnussen (Panoz) + 33.493 sec.
3. Capello/McNish (Audi R8) + 1m44.322s
4. O´Connell/Katoh (Panoz) - 1 lap
5. Biela/Pirro/Alboreto (Audi R8) - 1 lap
6. Collard/Bernard (Cadillac) - 1 lap
7. Clerico/Grouillard/Bourdais (Courage) - 4 laps
8. Beretta/Wendlinger (Chrysler Viper) - 7 laps
9. Donohue/Archer (Chrysler Viper) - 8 laps
10. Gache/Formato (Courage-Judd) - 10 laps