Young drivers in line for third R10

The manufacturer has three of the diesel-powered R10s entered for the race this year, although the third entry depends on finding a backer for the car.

Audi's motorsport boss Dr Wolfgang Ullrich told autosport.com: "If we go with the third car, we will make it with young drivers, and it will be drivers already in the team."

German duo Mike Rockenfeller and Lucas Luhr have been tipped for the car since they switched from Porsche to Audi over the winter, although the pair are focusing on racing in the DTM this year.

Ullrich added: "The idea was that both of them wanted to do DTM, and I know that both are able to be good in sportscars.

"Having these two programmes at present, it makes a lot of sense, and it is good for us to bring young drivers into the Le Mans prototypes."

The drivers are yet to test the R10 since joining Audi, and currently there is no plan in place for them to drive the car in the near future.

No decision will be made on the third car until the finance for the project has been put in place, but Audi are optimistic that a deal will come together.

"We are working for a third car, but there is no decision yet," said Ullrich. "We must find finance for the programme, then we will decide on the drivers."