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2005 LE MANS 24 HOUR     

2005 LE MANS 24 HOUR RACE (24 Heures du Mans)

• 18-19 June 2005 , LE MANS, FRANCE
• 73rd Le Mans Grand Prix d'Endurance
• 24 hour race ; first race 1923 ; since 1953 - part of the World Sports Car Championship
• circuit 8.6 miles
• SCHEDULE:
• WED - first qualifying
• THU - final qualifying
• FRI - drivers parade
• SAT - WARM UP AT 9 am
• RACE - Saturday 4 pm till Sunday 4 pm
• FRENCH TEAM PESCAROLO ON POLE
• Tom Kristensen's quest for record 7th Le mans win
  "I'm happy that I've been given the chance within the Audi family to realise my dream of another win .... Le Mans is of great importance to me particularly as the race helped to establish my name in motorsport."
• Sebastien Loeb to drive Pescarolo-Judd at Le Mans
• 2005 ENTRY includes:
• German AUDI teams (winner in 2000-2002, 2005):
  car 1: Tom Kristensen, JJ Lehto, Marco Werner
  car 2: Allan McNish, Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro
• French Pescarolo teams
  car 1: Jean-Christophe Boullion, Erik Comas, Emmanuel Collard
  car 2: Eric Helary, Soheil Ayari a, Sebastien Loeb
• French Courage teams
• Italy's Dallara team
• Japan's Dome team
• GT1 class:
• Aston Martin DB9 (last time they raced here in 1989)
• Corvette C6-R (Oliver Gavin, Jan Magnussen, Olivier Beretta)

2005 LE MANS RESULT

RACE REPORT

• CHAMPION REPORT
• AUDI REPORT
• GT2 CLASS WINNER REPORT

FINAL RESULT AFTER 24 HOURS

• 1 AUDI - JJ Lehto (Fin)/ M Werner (Ger)/ T Kristensen (Den) 370 laps
  2 PESCAROLO - E Collard (Fr)/ J-C Boullion (Fr)/ E Comas (Fr) 368 laps
  3 AUDI - E Pirro (It)/ F Biela (Ger)/ A McNish (GB) 364 laps
  4 J-M Gounon (Fr)/ S Ortelli (Fr)/ F Montagny (Fr) 362 laps
  5 O Gavin (GB)/ O Beretta (Mon)/ J Magnussen (Den) 349 laps *** GT WINNER ***
  6 R Fellows (Can)/ J O'Connell (US)/ M Papis (It) 347 laps
  7 J Lammers (Ned)/ J Bosch (Ned)/ E Julian (US) 346 laps
  8 A Frei (Swi)/ D Schwager (Ger)/ C Vann (GB) 339 laps
  9 D Brabham (Aus)/ D Turner (GB)/ S Sarrazin (Fr) 333 laps
  10 M Lieb (Ger)/ M Rockenfeller (Ger)/ L Hindery (US) 332 laps

PROGRESSIVE RESULT AFTER 12 HOURS / 24

• 1. AUDI - JJ Lehto (FIN) / Marco Werner (GER) / Tom Kristensen (DEN) Champion Racing (Audi R8) 182 laps
• 2. AUDI - Emanuele Pirro (ITA) / Frank Biela (GER) / Allan McNish (UK) Champion Racing (Audi R8) +1 LAP
• 3. PESCAROLO - Emmanuel Collard (FRA) / Jean-Christophe Boullion (FRA) / Erik Comas (FRA) Pescarolo Sport (Pescarolo H Judd GV5) +4 LAPS
• 4. DOME - Ryo Michigami (JAP) / Katsutomo Kaneishi (JAP) / Seiji Ara (JAP) Jim Gainer International (Dome S101hb - Mugen Honda V8) +5 LAPS
• 5. AUDI - Jean-Marc Gounon (FRA) / Stephane Ortelli (FRA) / Franck Montagny (FRA) Oreca (Audi R8) +7 LAPS
• 6. JOTA - John Stack (UK) / Sam Hignett (UK) / Haruki Kurosawa (JAP) Team Jota (Zytek 04S) +9 LAPS
• 7. ASTON MARTIN - Peter Kox (NED) / Pedro Lamy (POR) / Tomas Enge (CZE) Aston Martin (Aston Martin DBR9) +9 LAPS
• 8. CORVETTE - Oliver Gavin (UK) / Olivier Beretta (Monaco) / Jan Magnussen (DEN) Corvette Racing (Corvette C6.R) +10 LAPS
• 9. CREATION - Nicolas Minassian (FRA) / Jamie Campbell-Walter (Scotland) / Andy Wallace (UK) Creation Autosportif (DBA4-03S - Zytek V6) +10 LAPS
• 10. CORVETTE - Ron Fellows (CAN) / Johnny O'Connell (United States) / Max Papis (ITA) Corvette Racing (Corvette C6.R) +10 LAPS

RACE REPORT

AUDI/CHAMPION RACE REPORT

TEAM ADT CHAMPION RACING WINS THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS!! DAVE MARAJ AND HIS AMERICAN TEAM MAKE HISTORY!!

• LE MANS, France. (June 19, 2005) - In front of over 230,000 spectators and approximately 2,000 media representatives, Team ADT Champion Racing and the No. 3 Audi R8 piloted by JJ Lehto, Marco Werner and Tom Kristensen, crossed the finish line in first position in what will be remembered as one of the most fiercely contested races in the history of the event. In doing so, Team ADT Champion Racing re-wrote history for an event that dates back to 1923.
• For Dave Maraj, owner of Champion Racing (Pompano Beach, FL), winning the 73rd 24 Hours of Le Mans fulfills a lifetime achievement that began back in 1993. Not only is this win significant to Maraj personally, but it also marks the first time in 37 years that an American team has won the coveted 24 Hours of Le Mans trophy. The elusive trophy will now travel across the ocean and live for a year under the sunny blue skies of southern Florida.
• "For us, this win is everything, " exclaimed a jubilant Dave Maraj, Team Owner, Champion Racing. "To be able to win Le Mans after all these years of trying is just an absolutely amazing feat. And now it's given us the taste that we want to come back and do it again."
• For the drivers of the winning Audi R8, earning this checkered flag signifies three very important accomplishments. JJ Lehto (Finland) now celebrates his second Le Mans win, the first having been achieved in 1995. Marco Werner (Germany) celebrates his first Le Mans win and completes a motorsports tri-fecta by winning the three most prestigious sports car endurance events in the world: the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring and now the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The most significant however, would be that of Tom Kristensen, as he will now be known as the most successful Le Mans driver ever. Last year the Dane celebrated his sixth victory at the French 24-hour classic and equaled the record held by the Belgian Jacky Ickx. In only his ninth Le Mans appearance, the Audi "works" driver is now the first driver in history to claim a seventh victory.
• As expected, the Audi R8 sports cars were not the fastest cars in the field due to the handicaps imposed by the regulations. Thanks to the low fuel consumption of the Audi Turbo FSI engine, however, the Audi drivers could complete up to 13 laps on one tank of fuel. The Pescarolo- Judd that had started from pole position, had to refuel for the first time after eight laps despite being allowed to race with 10 liters more fuel tank capacity.
• Now the Audi R8 can retire with it's last, well deserved honor. It's fifth win at Le Mans. "What a magnificent send off to the greatest racing car the world has ever seen," commented Johan de Nysschen, Executive Vice President, Audi of America. "Nothing could stop the Audi R8. The victory was ours in a very convincing fashion and Audi is on a roll. Nothing is holding us back and the future is even greater."
• "I'm very proud of Champion Racing and what these gentlemen have achieved over the last few years," commented Rod Bymaster, Motorsports Manager, Audi of America. "They've risen to the point where they are the number one sports car team in the world. They've won the American Le Mans Series, they've won the 12 Hours of Sebring and now they've won Le Mans. They are the best sports car team in the world. No one can dispute that now."
• DRIVER QUOTES:
• TEAM ADT CHAMPION RACING AUDI R8 #3
• JJ Lehto (Fin). Age: 39. Born: Espoo, Finland. Lives: Monte Carlo, Monaco:
• "Ten years ago when I won it the first time, I didn't really understand what it takes and what it means but now all the work we have been doing in the last years with Champion Racing, it just now is paying us back."
• Marco Werner (D). Age: 38. Born: Dortmund, Germany. Lives: Ermatingen, Switzerland:
• "I feel so fantastic, so great. I can't believe it. Le Mans was always a goal for me so I am quite happy. This was not just about the driver's job. It was a team job: teamwork, pit-stops, strategy, everything was very important. The Audi was perfect, as always. It delivers every time, every time."
• Tom Kristensen (Den). Age: 37. Born: Hobro, Denmark. Lives: Monte Carlo, Monaco:
• "It's fantastic what we took from Sebring as a crew and made this one possible. Without the strong desire from Mr. Maraj to come here, I would never have had the chance to win my seventh victory. I drive full-time for DTM so I thank Audi AG for allowing me the privilege to drive for Champion Racing. This year was an extreme pleasure because of winning with these penalties. I also want to thank the Danish sponsor on our cars, Jyske Bank. It makes me extra motivated to do well."
• TEAM ADT CHAMPION RACING AUDI R8 #2
• Frank Biela (D). Age: 40. Born: Neuss, Germany. Lives: Monte Carlo, Monaco:
• "We had a little bad luck and a few problems so I am happy that we were on the podium. Third place is always hard but still, this is the biggest event so to be up there, I am quite happy. The guys did a brilliant job, especially our crew, as it was their first Le Mans race. They made no mistakes."
• Emanuele Pirro (It). Age: 43. Born: Rome, Italy. Lives: Monte Carlo, Monaco:
• "It's been a great day for Audi and Champion Racing. The R8 can retire in glory and Champion Racing can now bring the trophy home to America. I'm a little sad because we had a very good car but our luck wasn't so good, again."
• Allan McNish (GB). Age: 35. Born: Dumfries, Scotland. Lives: Monte Carlo, Monaco:
• "It's a proud moment for everyone within Team ADT Champion Racing. From a personal point of view, it rounds out my podiums as I've now finished first, second and third here. Knowing Mr. Maraj since 1999, seeing the development of the team, I honestly could not believe they could have achieved so much in such a short space of time. It's just a testament to everybody in Champion Racing how they attack their motor racing and how they go for the big goals, not just the little ones."

AUDI REPORT

Audi wins Le Mans in front of a record crowd

• 230,000 spectators watch fifth Le Mans victory of the Audi R8 Tom Kristensen writes a new chapter in Le Mans history First triumph for an American team since 1967 The last start of the Audi R8 in the Le Mans 24 Hour race could hardly have been more impressive: Tom Kristensen (Denmark), JJ Lehto (Finland) and Marco Werner (Germany) clinched the fifth victory of the Audi R8 in the French endurance classic in what will be remembered as one of the most fiercely contested races in the history of the event.
• A record crowd of 230,000 spectators saw a stunning demonstration of Audi's corporate slogan "Vorsprung durch Technik". Whilst ambient temperatures of 35 degrees caused a high attrition rate amongst the 49 cars entered, the three Audi R8 sportscars of Audi's importer teams from the USA and France ran immaculately throughout the 24 hours. Thus, the Audi drivers were able to overcome the handicap imposed by the regulations. Although the three Audi R8 cars were not the fastest contenders in the field, they clinched first, third and fourth position thanks to their reliability and their constant run to the finish.
• Tom Kristensen, JJ Lehto and Marco Werner didn't put a foot wrong, too, during the 24 hour race, thus helping Team ADT Champion Racing to celebrate its first victory at Le Mans -- and the first one for an American team since 1967. In addition, Audi works driver Tom Kristensen opened a new chapter in Le Mans history: the Danish driver won arguably the toughest race in the world for a record seventh time thus surpassing previous record holder Jacky Ickx. JJ Lehto won the Le Mans 24 Hour race for the second time after his inaugural win in 1995. For Marco Werner, a dream came true when he scored his first Le Mans victory in only his fourth attempt.
• The driver combination of Lehto/Kristensen/Werner which won the Sebring 12 Hour race in the USA at the beginning of the season led the race from the fourth hour to the finish. Tom Kristensen performed miracles: as the advantage over the second-placed Pescarolo-Judd had come down to less than one lap on Sunday at noon, Kristensen stayed in the cockpit for a stint of three and a half hours so as to avoid one more driver change in order to save time.
• Frank Biela (Germany), Allan McNish (Scotland) and Emanuele Pirro (Italy) finished third in the "American" Audi R8 sister car. Biela/McNish/ Pirro lost their chance to fight for overall victory on Sunday morning due to a puncture, causing a run-off that necessitated a change of the front right suspension. Audi PlayStation Team ORECA from France had to change the right front suspension twice. Jean-Marc Gounon, Franck Montagny and Stephane Ortelli who all hail from France still came home fourth.
• Out of a total of six starts since 2000, the Audi R8 has won the Le Mans 24 Hour race five times. "This is a fantastic result," said Dr Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of AUDI AG, who had green-flagged the race at 16.00 hours the previous day as Honorary Starter. "There is no way for a more impressive demonstration of the slogan ^ Vorsprung durch Technik' in motorsport than at Le Mans. To clinch the fifth Le Mans victory in more difficult conditions than in previous years is a remarkable feat. It was only possible thanks to the unique reliability of the Audi R8. Congratulations to the members of Audi Sport, to the team of Audi USA and, of course, to Tom Kristensen who is now finally the 'King of Le Mans'. This weekend, we have seen once more the excitement and the worldwide interest in the Le Mans race. Hence we want to continue meeting this challenge in the future. It is no secret that a new sports prototype is under development at Audi Sport for the 2006 season. However, we will define the details of our motorsport programme for next year delete in the autumn."

GT2 CLASS WINNER REPORT

Alex Job Racing – BAM! Win GT2 at Le Mans

• Le Mans, France – The combined effort of Alex Job Racing and BAM Motorsport won the GT2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans yesterday. Driver’s Marc Lieb, Mike Rockenfeller and Leo Hindery drove a flawless race to win the world’s toughest test of man-and-machine.
• The team went into the week as the class underdogs, going up against the defending race champions Peterson Motorsport and their seasoned driver lineup. Despite the challenge, Rockenfeller was able to capitalize on the Peterson qualifying crash and put the Porsche on pole in the GT2 class.
• During the first stint, the team lost the lead to fellow American Le Mans Series competitor Panoz. As night began to fall and darkness ascended on the French circuit, the team regained the lead in the nine-o’clock hour and never looked back. The constant pressure from the Peterson effort, forced the driving trio to run a 24-hour sprint race. Driver’s Lieb and Rockenfeller triple stinted through the night. The consistency of their Yokohama tires helped them come into sun rise leading the GT2 field. Leo Hindery ran a very competitive last stint to bring the car across the line securing victory.
• The win marks teams second Le Mans win, their first being in 2003. “We were definitely not the favorites going into the weekend,” said Alex Job. “Mike did a great job to put it on pole. The race really played into our favor, the car ran flawlessly the entire race, we only pitted for fuel, tires and driver changes. Mike and Marc really put their hearts into the race. Leo did a great job to keep the car in contention during his stints and it was a great moment to see him on the top step of the podium. Peterson and Panoz helped to make the class very competitive and making it a great showing for the ALMS competitors that made the trip over.”

QUALIFYING & RACE PREVIEW

2005 LE MANS ENTRY

LAST YEAR, 2004 WINNERS

• Tom Kristensen, Rinaldo Capello, Seiji Ara (AUDI JAPAN)
  
  KRISTENSEN (AUDI) 6 times winner: "... I have just been a part of a fantastic team every year, fantastic drivers, engineers and mechanics ... There are many people I need to thank and I will make sure I do it personally ... I have not thought to look back at my other wins yet. It still hasn't sunk in ... As a young kid looking at what Jacky achieved it was something I could barely dream of ... But now having the same number of individual victories as him I am very, very proud ... Jacky Ickx wished me good luck at the Monaco Grand Prix and he said I will make it one day ... "
• 2 Johnny Herbert, Guy Smith, Jamie Davies (AUDI UK)
• 3 AUDI, Lehto, Pirro, Werner +11 laps

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