ALMS 2000
Allan McNish

Following the successful debut at the 1999 Le Mans 24 Hour race, Audi takes on another motorsport challenge. In 2000, the latest evolution of the Audi R8R will not only compete at the French endurance classic. Audi Sport North America enters two of the open R8 sportscars in the American Le Mans Series.

"The American Le Mans Series provides attractive motorsport," declares Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Sport. "We are extremely pleased to be able to fulfil the wish of Audi of America to compete there."

For Audi Sport, motorsport in the USA is by no means new terrain. In the eighties the Audi quattro took three consecutive victories at the legendary Pikes Peak mountain climb. 1988 saw Hurley Haywood win the American TransAm Series driving an Audi 200 quattro. One year later the 600 bhp Audi 90 quattro GTO created a stir with seven victories in the IMSA GTO series.

The American Le Mans Series assault will be coordinated by Reinhold Joest and his team, lending a great deal of experience in American racing. For many years the team has been based at its US branch in Atlanta, from where Audi Sport North America will operate.

The season-opener of the American Le Mans Series on 18 March is of particular importance for Audi. As last year, the Sebring 12 Hour race in Florida will serve as a shakedown for the season highlight at Le Mans on 17/18 June.

Until the debut at Sebring, the new Audi R8 will undergo an intensive test programme, which began successfully in early January at Vallelunga (Italy). "The car makes a tremendous impression," enthuses Audi pilot Emanuele Pirro.