Audi UK outlines Le Mans assault

Speaking at the AUTOSPORT international show in Birmingham's NEC today (Thursday), Audi Sport UK boss David Ingram revealed that the company has secured funding for the car to enter both Le Mans and the Sebring 12 Hours race. The Arena International team will run the car on behalf of the firm.

The R8 will undergo no further development for this season, but Ingram is confident that the car can challenge for victory.

"It's a fairly considerable investment, and we wouldn't have done it without believing that we had a chance of victory," he said.

The team has yet to confirm any drivers for its squad, but is aiming for a significant British presence.

"We'd like to try and get the driver situation sorted within the next few weeks," said Ingram. "There will certainly be at least one Brit. There is a chance that one of the factory Audi drivers might be available, but if that's not the case we will be looking very closely at an all-British driver line-up."

Racing at Le Mans will see the Audi Sport UK car racing against works entries from sister marque Bentley. However, Ingram rejected any suggestions that the private car might have to yield to its works stablemates.

He added: "We wouldn't have gone into this if there had been any suggestion that we were going to have to back off and let another team win. We're there to aim for a win and we know Bentley are as well, so hopefully we'll be in for a good scrap."