Audi R10 Teams in '06

[m.piedgros]

Now, this is complicated. The brand new Audi R10 debuted to much acclaim at Sebring, winning it in traditional dominating fashion. As I understand it, that was the German Joest Audi Sport team that added a North America to their name for the American event. Champion Racing, (the team that has been running R8's in North America since Joest's withdrawel (sp.?) following the completion of development on the car) will run two R8's at the events prior to Le Mans with McNish, Cappello, and Biela, Pirro driver combos. Now I get confused. Following Le Mans, Audi will use the same driver line up (because Kristiensen is after a DTM championship, to many clashing dates and Werner is now big man on Audi's campus for R10 development.) Joest have been careful not to give out any information more than is commonly known amongst the racing community, and as I understand it, not even to Champion. With two cars, will one be run by Joest and the other by Champion. The impression I got from reading Champions "new" website (championracing.net,) is that they will be somehow involved with the R10. The only pictures I've seen on their site are of Audi Sport North America's Joest team cars. Yet they have this lame top-of-page avatar that changes from R8 (insert pic of #2 Champion R8 2005) to R10 (insert lame artsy drawing of R10's nose and pic of Joest's R10 from Sebring.) I suppose what this post boils down to is, does anyone know what is going on there? Will it be the 1 and 2 Joest cars (ol' Red and Yellow as I call them) or will the 1, 2, or 38 Champion car be a second? Also, what happens to J.J. Lehtto now? Is he out of a job or is he waiting for '07 and a two team effort Champion - Joest. Where a ride would be made available. For me, this is all to confusing and I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on the situation.

m.piedgros

 

[dougiemeats]

From what I understand, it is a joint effort by Audi Sport, Team Joest, and Champion Racing. So even though the R10 didn't bear Champion's colors during Sebring, they were very much involved in the 12-hour campaign.

I believe that after Le Mans, Audi Sport is handing over the responsibility to Champion. I think the livery of the cars up to this point is pure speculation. My guess is that they will keep the silver color for this season.

 

[m.piedgros]

Thanks for the reply and clearing it up,

I understood that Audi didn't give Champion any information on the R10 at Sebring or at all. Of course, I'm not even sure of where I got this mis?-information so I would assume it is highly un reliable.

m.piedgros