| Audi, luxury unit of Volkswagen and recipient | | | | corners or have to change direction rapidly. |
| of highly reliable VW repair manuals - to | | | | However, the R10 TDI is very driveable, |
| prepare for the 2007 DTM season has invited | | | | reacts precisely to changes and is great fun |
| four DTM stars to test drive its R10 TDI. The | | | | to drive - and obviously the engine power is |
| four DTM stars were given the chance to test | | | | staggering." Luhr has won LM P2 class in |
| drive the 650 hp Audi R10 TDI just before | | | | last year's American Le Mans Series and only |
| 2007 DTM season opens at Hockenheim on April | | | | knew of the Audi R10 TDI from the opponent's |
| 22. Mike Rockefeller, Alexandre Premat, Lucas | | | | perspective. He was so amazed by how |
| Luhr, and Mattias Ekstrom finished 1,400 test | | | | noticeable the heavier weight, stipulated by |
| kilometers with the revolutionary Diesel | | | | the LM P1 regulations was perfectly balanced |
| sportscar from Audi AG during a development | | | | in the R10 TDI. |
| test for the 24 Hours of Le Mans held at the | | | | |
| "High Tech Test Track" at Paul Ricard (South | | | | Mattias Ekstrom who is a 2004 DTM Champion |
| of France). | | | | just like the other three DTM stars just |
| | | | cannot hide his delight as he climbed from |
| The four DTM stars were really impressed by | | | | the Diesel sportscar's cockpit. He exclaimed, |
| the enormous torque and power produced by the | | | | "First of all I need to sleep on this |
| V12 TDI engine during their initial test. | | | | experience for a few days and analyse the |
| | | | whole thing, because it was so amazing that I |
| The Frenchman Alexandre Premat was also | | | | drove every lap with adrenalin pulsing |
| equally impressed with the V12 TDI engine and | | | | through my veins. I felt immediately at home |
| stated, "It's incredible to see just how | | | | in the car, but I need more experience to |
| professionally the Audi team works. The R10 | | | | keep calm. The power, torque and downforce |
| is simply unbelievable: It is a TDI, but has | | | | are phenomenal and obviously completely |
| the power of a Formula 1 car. I'm extremely | | | | different to the DTM car. I could only have |
| grateful that Audi gave me the opportunity to | | | | kept up in the slow corners with my A4." |
| test this car. And of course it was a nice | | | | Ekstrom has already tested an Audi R8 |
| birthday present." Premat has already a | | | | previously but the R10 TDI has proven to be |
| Formula 1 experience and the time that he was | | | | more of an exciting experience for him. |
| to test drive the V12 TDI engine coincides | | | | |
| with his 25th birthday. It was truly a | | | | The four DTM stars have showed excellent |
| wonderful birthday gift for him. | | | | driving prowess that they are now the first |
| | | | choice for the cockpit for a third Audi R10 |
| The German Lucas Luhr has also shared hi sown | | | | TDI in the 24 Hours of Le Mans which is |
| observation of the V12 TDI engine. He said, | | | | scheduled on June 16 to 17 that is if ever |
| "You notice that the car is 150 kilograms | | | | the entry is confirmed. |
| heavier, particularly when you brake into the | | | | |