Audi Effort Formidable for Leather Center Grand Prix

Texas Motor Speedway Media Relations, (817) 215-8520

CONTACT: Sarona Winfrey
                 Gary Guehler

-- For Immediate Release

AUDI EFFORT FORMIDABLE FOR LEATHER CENTER GRAND PRIX

FORT WORTH-DALLAS (Feb. 26, 2001) - Sports dynasties are the result of hard work to capture a championship and continued efforts at high levels to maintain the championship status.  Audi is hoping to start a quest toward a dynasty March 3-4 at Texas Motor Speedway when the American Le Mans Series kicks off its 2001 season with the Leather Center Grand Prix of Texas.

The pair of silver Audi R8 prototype sports cars dominated the inaugural Grand Prix of Texas last September. Teammates Emanuele Pirro and Frank Biela covered 295.418 miles in the 2-hour, 45-minute time frame to take the Grand Prix victory.  The triumph was one of nine American Le Mans Series races won by Audi enroute to the Manufacturers Championship.

Audi will return to the first event of the 2001 ALMS season at Texas with another strong two-car effort.  Pirro and Biela will team again in one of the Team Joest R8 creations with Rinaldo Capello and Tom Kristensen aboard the other Audi. 

"The Audi Sport North American team is ready to kick off the 2001 ALMS Series at Texas Motor Speedway," said Len Hunt, head of Audi Sport North America.  "We are looking forward to the increased competition this year, Texas should prove to be a good barometer for the rest of the ALMS season."

So successful was the 2000 Audi campaign that Champion Racing, a private team featuring owner/driver Andy Wallace and co-driver Dorsey Schroeder, will also utilize an Audi for their 2001 ALMS season.  Champion Racing recently received delivery of their R8.

The Leather Center Grand Prix will feature competition in the LMP 900 and LMP 675 divisions along with the GTS and GT classes.  Other divisions competing during the Leather Center Grand Prix are the Speedvision World Challenge, the Star Mazda Series and Legends Cars.

Tickets for the Leather Center Grand Prix are available at the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office, by calling (817) 215-8500, online at www.texasmotorspeedway.com and at Ticketmaster locations.

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