Audi promises all-out war

"The Audis will be racing each other," said Audi Sport boss Wolfgand Ullrich. "Spectators don't want to pay to see anything else. Also I think it is the best thing for our brand. We're looking forward to a very exciting race where nobody will get any presents."

The Audis are expected to dominate the race after the opening hours, even though their expected monopoly of the grid has been hit by the Zytek (third) and one of the Pescarolo-Judds (fifth). Audi UK, the only team running two R8s, will fill the front row but its boss Sam Li says there will be no team orders.

"We've had a long chat with Dr Ullrich about how he runs Audi Sport," said Li. "And the point is just that - it's Audi Sport. We are going to be sporting and let our drivers race flat out throughout the race."

The Champion Audi was the slowest of the R8s, but Audi UK driver Allan McNish still believes it is the favourite. Its driver JJ Lehto has promised a cautious start, but

"It will be like a war out there," said the Champion team boss Dave Maraj. "It's going to be a very tough race from flag to flag."