McNish, Kristensen lead Audi in ILMC

The German manufacturer today announced its driver line-ups for the American Le Mans Series opener at Sebring, the LMS round at Spa and the ILMC events after the Le Mans 24 Hours at Imola, Silverstone, Road Atlanta and in China, with its two lead drivers taking part in every event.

McNish and Kristensen will share with Dindo Capello at Sebring and Spa and will then tackle the remain events as a pair.

Last year's Le Mans-winning crew of Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Mike Rockenfeller will contest the same three opening events together, before Bernhand is joined by Marcel Fassler in the second car for the remaining ILMC races. A third Audi will run at Spa and Le Mans, with Fassler, Andre Lotterer and Benoit Treluyer sharing.

"Due to the clashing dates in the DTM and ILMC it wasn't easy to form the driver squad," said Audi motorsport boss Wolfgang Ullrich. "For example, it prevented Mike Rockenfeller from driving a complete season in the R18.

"But with Porsche factory driver Timo Bernhard, Marcel Fassler, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish for the sport prototypes we have a strong core squad with which we are well placed.

"Now we can concentrate solely on the development of the Audi R18 and need not integrate any new drivers into the team, which would have been associated with additional work and risks. The schedule to Le Mans is tight enough as it is."

McNish added: "I am very much looking forward to racing the R18, having tested it before Christmas and again this month.

"The calendar of Sebring, Spa, Le Mans, Imola, Silverstone, Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta and then China is essentially a season of the very best sportscar races in one championship, which is tremendously exciting."

Audi confirmed that it will retain last year's 24 Hours rosters at the launch of the R18 in December.