De Ferran hopes for Audi U-turn

At present Audi - who have won every ALMS LMP1 title since 2000 - are only scheduled to contest the Sebring 12 Hours with their new R15 TDI, having scaled down their prototype programme this season.

Audi's exit comes just as Acura step up from LMP2 to LMP1, giving the Honda-owned brand a clear run at the 2009 title. But de Ferran says he would rather face the competition.

"I'm certainly hoping that Audi will reconsider its decision not to race in ALMS as it would be great to have them as regular competitors beyond Sebring," he said.

De Ferran is optimistic that the new Acura can challenge Audi and fellow one-off visitors Peugeot at Sebring in a fortnight.

"In theory, the rule changes should ensure that our petrol-powered Acura is more competitive with the turbocharged diesel machines that have been dominating sportscar racing in recent years - and that must be a good thing in terms of putting on a close race for different types of car," he said.

"However we won't know until Sebring just how successful these revisions will be."

He added: "We have no control over the performance of our competitors, so our strategy will be to push on with our own development with an 'us versus us' approach. In other words the first challenge is for us to get the most out of what we have.

"That said, we never enter a race with the intent of finishing second or third - we will certainly go for it on the day. We'll have to wait until the curtains open, though, before we know whether we'll be competitive enough to be fighting for the outright win."

Despite Audi and Peugeot departing after Sebring, de Ferran believes there will still be a tough fight between his team and fellow Acura LMP1 squad Highcroft.

"Right now we will probably be competing mostly against Highcroft," he said. "It's a team that has done very well in last year's championship and, running a similar Acura ARX-2a, it will be a formidable competitor at Sebring and thereafter."