Grapevine: Salo to Make Le Mans Debut with Audi

Finland's Mika Salo will make his Le Mans debut in June with Audi's three times winner Frank Biela after being dropped by the Toyota Formula One team at the end of last year.

"The opportunity of making my Le Mans debut in a car that has won the race for the past three years, with one of the drivers that has been victorious in each of those years, was simply too attractive," said the Finn today.

Audi Sport UK said in a statement that Salo, 36, will team up with Biela and Briton Perry McCarthy in a 2002 specification R8 car for the classic 24 Hour sportscar race on June 14-15.

Germany's Biela has won for the past three years in a factory Audi but the German carmaker has decided not to enter a works team this year.

"To be racing at Le Mans again in an Audi makes me very happy and I truly believe we have a great chance to win," said the 38-year-old.

Salo, who started 110 Grands Prix without winning one, announced his Formula One retirement after losing his drive at Toyota and has been looking at opportunities in America and in sportscars.

The Finn had been on the shortlist for a Le Mans drive with Bentley but that team, part of the Volkswagen Group with Audi, opted for former Grand Prix drivers Johnny Herbert, Mark Blundell and David Brabham in their second car.

Salo will also drive in the Sebring 12 Hours endurance race in Florida on March 15 with McCarthy and Northern Irish driver Jonny Kane.

"The Audi is an awesome machine in this category and we will start both the Sebring and Le Mans races with a very realistic chance of podium finishes," said Salo.