BRITISH LE MANS WINNER SNAPPED UP FOR THIS YEAR'S RACE

Britain's former Le Mans winner Allan McNish will drive for Audi in this year's gruelling 24 Hour race at La Sarthe in June. The 30-year-old Scot lines-up with fellow 1998 Le Mans winners Laurent Aiello and Stéphane Ortelli in the German manufacturer's strong, three-car team for the 2000 Le Mans race.

Audi can also boast 1997 Le Mans winners' Michèle Alboreto and Tom Kristensen amongst its squad which will be aiming to improve on its excellent third and fourth Le Mans début positions last year.

Reigning British Touring Car Champion Aiello (30) and fellow Frenchman Ortelli (29) both drove for Audi at Le Mans last year as did Christian Abt (D), Frank Biela (D), Rinaldo Capello (It) and Emanuele Pirro (It), who complete the nine-driver Audi squad.

"We are pleased to have Laurent, Allan and Stéphane on board," said Head of Audi Sport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "After our successful début last year we have put together a team which is certainly able to bring home the first Le Mans victory for Audi."

The 68th Le Mans 24 Hour race will be staged on 17-18 June with official qualifying on the 13.605km circuit over 14-15 June.

New roadster on track for Sebring race début The opening round of the American Le Mans Series is of particular importance for Audi. As last year, the Sebring 12 Hour race in Florida will serve as a shakedown for Le Mans. Frank Biela lapped a test track in freezing conditions before Christmas (23 Dec) in the new roadster, an evolution of the Audi R8. Audi's former British Touring Car Champion commented enthusiastically: "The car was super and immediately felt right."

"Our new car has been built by Audi Sport in record time and we received the full support from all our partners", praised Dr Ullrich. "That was a great team effort. We wanted to have the first proper roll-out before Christmas so that we could start a proper test programme immediately in the new year."

Team Joest Racing will again be responsible for entering a trio of open-topped Audi sports racing cars. Until its race début at Sebring, the new 600-bhp Audi R8 undergoes an intensive test programme, which began successfully in Italy and continued in South Africa. "The car makes a tremendous impression," enthused Pirro.