ALMS 2000
Allan McNish in the Audi R8R #77

This weekend, Audi Sport Team Joest starts its journey towards France. On board their trucks are the three Audi R8s that will contest the Le Mans 24 Hour race on 17-18 June. After their successful début last year finishing third and fourth on their very first attempt, a team of nine works drivers are ready for one of the biggest challenges in international motor racing.

There will be stiff opposition particularly from the USA. No fewer than five Panoz cars will contest the event, having achieved remarkable results more than once in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), as well as the works squads from both Cadillac and Chrysler. Similarly, the entries which are often referred to as small teams have shown previously this season that they are able to claim top results in the ALMS races so they must never be underrated.

Preparing for this event, Audi Sport Team Joest didn´t leave anything to chance. Audi Head of Sport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich: “We have tested until recently and we are glad things are about to start now.” The race is extremely demanding for both man and machine as the drivers will complete a distance equalling an entire Formula 1 season during this 24 Hour race – mind you without interruption. “Exactly for this reason“, says Audi Chairman of the Board of Directors Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen, “Le Mans has a very special meaning. A 24 Hour race is a bigger technical challenge than today´s usual sprint races.“

The 67-year history of the endurance classic shows that it does not only require speed from both drivers and cars but also full reliability until the end of the very last hour.

The race week starts for Audi on Tuesday with technical scrutineering in Le Mans town centre. On Wednesday and Thursday, drivers will fight for the best starting positions in four-hour sessions each night. The race will start at 16.00 hours (CET) on Saturday.

Timetable

Tuesday, 13 June
14.50 – 15.40 hours Technical scrutineering Audi R8

Wednesday, 14 June
19.00 – 21.00 hours 1st Qualifying Part 1
22.00 – 24.00 hours 1st Qualifying Part 2

Thursday, 15 June
19.00 – 21.00 hours 2nd Qualifying Part 1
22.00 – 24.00 hours 2nd Qualifying Part 2

Friday, 16 June
11.00 hours Audi Press Conference

Saturday, 17 June
09.00 – 09.45 hours Warm-up
16.00 hours Start 24 Hours of Le Mans 2000

Sunday, 18 June
16.00 hours Finish 24 Hours of Le Mans 2000

Le Mans on TV

Tuesday, 13 June
19.00 – 20.00 hours Highlights of the 1999 race (Eurosport)

Friday, 16 June
19.00 – 20.00 hours Qualifying Summary (Eurosport)

Saturday, 17 June
09.30 – 10.00 hours Warm-up, Eurosport (live)
15.30 – 17.30 hours Eurosport (live)
19.00 – 20.00 hours Eurosport (live)
21.00 – 23.00 hours Eurosport (live)

Sunday, 18 June
08.30 – 09.00 hours Eurosport (live)
10.00 – 11.15 hours Eurosport (live)
13.00 – 16.30 hours Eurosport (live)

* local times Le Mans