Lemarié Joins Johansson for American Races

Frenchman Patrick Lemarié will partner Stefan Johansson in the forthcoming American Le Mans Series races at Laguna Seca (9 Sep) and Atlanta (6 Oct) in the 2000-specification Gulf Audi R8.

The 33-year-old BAR Formula One test driver has co-driven with the Swede in the Le Mans 24 Hours plus the European Le Mans Series races at Estoril and Most.  The Gulf Audi scored its maiden ELMS victory in the Czech Republic.  Johansson and Audi are now assured the ELMS LMP900 Driver's and Chassis/Engine Manufacturers' titles.

The Brocade-supported outfit misses the final race in ELMS race in preference to contesting the Laguna and Atlanta races.  Indeed the Johansson Motorsports transporter sets off on a mammoth 12,000-mile round trip today (16 Aug).

The Audi R8, transporter, support truck with various equipment on board, is being shipped from Liverpool today and arrives in New York on 29 August.

It then embarks on a gruelling 3,000-mile drive from one side of America to the other as the Laguna Seca racetrack is 100 miles south of San Francisco on the Pacific coast in California.

After the 165-minute race, where sponsor Brocade will have a presence, the transporters sets off for Atlanta in Georgia for a 10-hour event billed at the Petit Le Mans race.  The transporter will then return to New York to start its journey home.

(ends)

Martyn Pass
Audi UK Sport Press PR Manager