The newly improved Audi R15 TDI won its race debut at the Le Castellet in France last week with the pairing of Dindo Capella and Allan McNish. The improved diesel racing sports car ran the entire distance without the smallest problem during the test race.

During the opening lap of the eight-hour race, Allan McNish overtook the Peugeot, which had started from pole position in the hands of Frenchman Stephane Sarrazin and on the third lap the Lola-Aston Martin of Stefan Mucke. From then on Allan McNish and teammate Dindo Capello did not relinquish the lead.

After 266 laps, the two Audi drivers held a five-lap lead from the Lola-Aston Martin of defending champion Stefan Mucke, Harold Primat and Adrian Fernandez.

The Oreca team Peugeot finished fourth after succumbing to a technical problem during the opening stages of the race.

The only unscheduled pit stop was made just seven minutes before the end of the race, when Audi Sport Team Joest switched to rain tires for safety reasons as rain began to fall.

Audi Sport Team Joest used the Le Mans Series 2010 season opener as preparation for the 24-hour race at Le Mans on June 12 and 13.

In the practice sessions on Friday and Saturday as well as Sunday morning’s warm-up the team compared different set-up configurations before selecting a version which allowed Dindo Capello and Allan McNish to record constantly fast laps in the relatively low temperatures.

Next on the agenda is a 30-hour test and the Le Mans dress rehearsal at the 1,000-kilometer race at Spa-Francorchamps on May 9, which Audi Sport Team Joest will contest using three Audi R15 TDIs.

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