Audi Extends Drivers Line Up for Le Mans 2010

After getting a serious beating from Peugeot in last year’s 24 Hour Race at Le Mans, Audi decided to make serious changes as it probably misses the first place and the marketing opportunities it offers.

So in order to be able to write “Audi TDI - Le Mans Winner Technology” on posters trying to sell a 140 bhp A4, the Germans not only tried to update the technology present on the Audi R15 TDI, but also extended their drivers line-up for the 2010 race. The three new drivers who will share the cockpit of one of three Audi R15 TDIs are Swiss Marcel Fässler (33), German André Lotterer (28) and Frenchman Benoît Treluyer (33).

"In view of our strong competitors, we want to – and have to – be perfectly positioned in terms of drivers too," explained Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "Therefore, we decided to extend our driver line-up. Marcel, André and Benoît attracted our attention during the past two years in a particularly positive way. They are used to handling fast prototypes and know each other extremely well. The three of them, and we too, are convinced that they are a very good combination for Le Mans."

If you’re wondering where the guys came from, there you go: “Marcel Fässler successfully contested two races in the American Le Mans Series for Audi in 2008. André Lotterer impressed at Le Mans last year at the wheel of an Audi R10 TDI of the private Audi customer team Kolles. Benoît Treluyer competed in the 24-hour classic in a Peugeot in 2009,” says Audi.

The trio will show their value on May 9, in the 1000-kilometer race at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), which is practically a dress rehearsal for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.