Scrutineering Conversations – Part 14
Factory Fellows 1 – Audi
 
All of the nine R15 drivers at Le Mans come here with major successes under their belts within the last 12 months. For Tom Kristensen, Rinaldo Capello and Allan McNish of course they come to La Sarthe as reigning champions.
 
Lucas Luhr and Alexander Premat are the reigning LMS champions; Marco Werner and Mike Rockenfeller reigning ALMS LMP1 Champions; and even the ‘free transfer’ Porsche boys Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas are, of course, reigning ALMS GT2 champs    
 
Wolfgang Ulrich
 
“The scrutineering is a very important part of the race week here, it builds up the interest
 
“The changes we have made to the front bodywork of the car are things we had already decided would be needed here before Sebring. This configuration is for Le Mans only whilst the Sebring car was for maximum downforce, the basic concept beneath that though is identical.
 
“I have now worries about the technical inspection at all.  As always we have worked closely with the ACO to make sure that everything we do is within the rules. They make the rules not us, we must comply with what they tell us and I believe we have done that.
 
“Of course we would like to be doing more racing this year but this is at the moment something we must accept in the current economic situation.”

 
Romain Dumas and Timo Bernhard are the new boys in the camp of course, both sporting Porsche and Audi branding on their race overalls recognising their ‘on loan’ status here – Interestingly one arm of the overalls has the Porsche logo embroidered in whilst the other sports a sew on patch – a last minute disagreement between the ‘family’ members perhaps?

 
Romain Dumas
 
“Of course it is fantastic to be here – There was talk of this happening from March or April.
 
“We have tested twice and the car is very good indeed.  The main differences (from the RS Spyder) are of course that on the straights this car is much much quicker.  I was surprised though how quick the car is in the faster corners too.  On the other hand though you do feel the extra weight, the car is definitely less agile and from the drivers point of view all the reference points are very different too.
 
“All in all though this car is very strong, a great car for Le Mans and we have been welcomed into the team with no politics.  Audi wanted new guys in the team this year and this was a good way to achieve that with drivers who are known quantities.
 
“Our job is to make no mistakes either on the track or in the pits.

Timo Bernhard

“Romain and I have had two tests in the car, and we have had plenty of time in the car.

“It’s not so much the step up from the P2 to P1 that takes getting used to; it’s the change from petrol to diesel engine. That’s really different with the lack of engine noise, although I’m sure that will be good at night.

Was he finding much difference, culturally, between the Porsche and Audi factory teams?

“No – we have been welcomed into the Audi fold.

“We’ve had some good, hard fights with these guys in the ALMS, but it’s always been clean and appropriate and as a result we all have a great deal of respect for each other.”

Was Le Mans an important race for the German? “Oh yes. A top three finish would be very special for me.

“Also, as I race a lot in the USA, it’s good that people in Europe can see me race here and at the Nurburgring 24.” 

Alexandre Prémat

When did he discover that he would have new team-mates for this year’s race?

“There have been a lot of discussions about splitting the line-ups since Sebring, and it’s been quite complicated. The final decision was made quite recently.

“However, I think it’s a good decision to have me racing with Romain and Timo. With Romain and I being French, that will make it a lot easier for him to integrate into the team.

“We’re all being open and honest and I’m sure it will be a good line-up for Le Mans.”

Lucas Luhr and Mike Rockenfeller
 
We hear a lot about your car being the ‘youngsters’ car.  Are you ready to go out there and beat the older guys this season?

 
LL “I hope so – Last year we had the car in a podium position almost to the end of the race and then had a problem.  The reality though was that we were, for some reason, too slow to go with the leading cars.
 
MR “That probably came down to decisions earlier in the week – Here you have to start the race with the right car or you are always struggling and last year, for some reason, we were struggling with set-up all week.”
 
LL “This year though the R15 seems a more stable basis to set-up, the weight and weight distribution is better also and it is a much better handling package.  I’d describe it as a lot more agile, closer to an LMP2 car on handling than to the R10.  But then the R10 was, and felt like, a big car.”
 
MR “We have all tested in the wet but I very much doubt we will have as big an advantage in those conditions as we had last year (over the Peugeots).  The reality is that some of the R10’s weaker points in the dry help it in the wet, better traction because of where the weight is for instance, that’s less the case in the R15.
 
LL “Of course the car went well at Sebring but as confident as we are, without any other opportunity to race against the Peugeots it is difficult for us to assess where we really are (in comparison with the 908s).  And the reality is that whilst Sebring is a tough test, Sebring is NOT Le Mans.
 
MR “Of course we want to beat our team mates, the #1 car is very strong, we know that.  But we know we can beat them, we have a team that is strong in depth and we would love to prove what we all know we can do here.
 
LL “We come to this race having just done the Ring 24 Hours and with five hours to go there (in the Manthey 997 Cup S) it looked like we could win it after pushing so hard for the whole of the race. Then we had a problem  and the possibility was gone – that could happen here too of course.
 
MR “I think the whole race here could be like that, really full-on for the whole 24 Hours.”

GG & MH