Audi UK pre-test preview

Former British Touring Car Champion Frank Biela attempts to lay the foundations for a fourth consecutive Le Mans 24 Hour race victory on Sunday (4 May).

The 38-year-old Monaco-based German, winner of the 1996 BTCC title, spearheads a British-based Audi team's quest for honours in the annual round-the-clock marathon on 14-15 June.

Ex-Formula One driver Mika Salo, of Finland, and Britain's Perry McCarthy who competed in the Grand Prix category in 1992, partner Biela in the 2002-specification "customer" Audi R8.

Biela commented: "I'll have my first drive in the Audi Sport UK R8 at Snetterton on Wednesday before Sunday's Le Mans eight hour test session. We'll arrive at Le Mans with an identical set-up as Audi Sport had there last year - it seemed to work well enough on that occasion!

"It will be difficult in that the Audi will be a new proposition for my team-mates at Le Mans but so long as we are all equally happy with the set-up, everything should be good for the race itself."

McCarthy added: "The test day allows us to ultimately compare ourselves directly to the performance of our immediate competition. The Audi R8 has an impeccable track record at Le Mans having won there for the past three years."

Salo, who has never raced at Le Mans, concluded: "I only once visited the 24 Hour race - for fun in 1989. Despite this, I do not believe the track will pose a problem for me. I am able to learn tracks very quickly and having driven the Audi R8 in the Sebring 12 Hour race in March, I'm more than happy."

-Audi UK