After six consecutive championships in the American Le Mans Series' LMP1 class, another might seem "old hat" for Audi. That is far from the case as the German marque is closing in on another title, this time with a revolutionary prototype that has taken the sports car world by storm.
The diesel-powered Audi R10 TDI is unbeaten in its four starts around the world – including three in the American Le Mans Series. Combined with a perfect 3-0 mark in class for the now-retired Audi R8, Audi Sport North America is well on its way toward its seventh championship in as many seasons in North America. The next step is the Generac 500 at Road America, Round 7 of the 2006 season.
"I felt if we had reliability, we could compete," said Allan McNish, who leads the drivers championship with teammate Dindo Capello. "The team and driver lineups had won in America before with the R8, and we just had to wait to see what the R10 TDI was like as well as seeing the competition, which is getting stronger each race."
McNish and Capello have a 39-point advantage over Dyson Racing's James Weaver and Butch Leitzinger, and the Audi factory team has a 43-point edge in the team standings over the independent Dyson Racing squad heading into Road America, where Audi is unbeaten in four starts. Little is being taken for granted though, as the R10 TDI is making its maiden ventures at each of the remaining three venues on the schedule.
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