| Four of Audi DTM (German Touring Car Masters) | | | | Here is what the four DTM drivers said after the |
| drivers had the chance to test drive the popular | | | | two-day test drive in Southern France. |
| and undisputed Audi race car who had | | | | Mike Rockenfeller (German): |
| successfully achieved victories at the American Le | | | | "The thing just takes off like a rocket in every |
| Mans Series (ALMS) and 24 Hours of Le Mans. | | | | gear. You get used to everything with time - but |
| The four drivers, including Mattias Ekström | | | | this engine is simply amazing. It's a fantastic |
| Lucas Luhr, Alexandre Prémat, and Mike | | | | feeling every time you hit the throttle." |
| Rockenfeller went aboard the Audi R10 TDI and | | | | Alexandre Prémat (French, with Formula 1 |
| completed the test drive at the "High Tech Test | | | | experience): |
| Track" at Paul Ricard located in the southern part | | | | "It's incredible to see just how professionally the |
| of France. The four drivers completed about | | | | Audi team works. The R10 is simply unbelievable: |
| 1,400 km (870 mi) of test run, which is a part of | | | | It is a TDI, but has the power of a Formula 1 car. |
| the development test for Audi's diesel powered | | | | I'm extremely grateful that Audi gave me the |
| race car in preparation for the upcoming 24 Hours | | | | opportunity to test this car. And of course it was |
| of Le Mans. In addition, the test drive is also a | | | | a nice birthday present." |
| part of preparation of the four drivers at the | | | | Lucas Luhr (German, won the LM P2 class at the |
| 2007 season of DTM that will kick-off on April 22 | | | | 2006 American Le Mans Series): |
| at Hockenheim. | | | | "You notice that the car is 150 kilograms heavier, |
| According to Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi | | | | particularly when you brake into the corners or |
| Motorsport: | | | | have to change direction rapidly. However, the |
| "This test was very positive since all four drivers | | | | R10 TDI is very driveable, reacts precisely to |
| had prepared themselves extremely well for this | | | | changes and is great fun to drive - and obviously |
| opportunity and remained focused on driving the | | | | the engine power is staggering." |
| R10. All four approached the task in the | | | | Mattias Ekström (Swedish, won the 2004 |
| professional manner I expected. They all | | | | DTM): |
| immediately reached an exceptionally good level | | | | "First of all I need to sleep on this experience for |
| and more than fulfilled my expectations." | | | | a few days and analyse the whole thing, because |
| The four drivers was impressed by the Audi R10 | | | | it was so amazing that I drove every lap with |
| TDI's powerful performance coming out from the | | | | adrenalin pulsing through my veins. I felt |
| monstrous 5.5-liter all-aluminium bi-turbo diesel V12 | | | | immediately at home in the car, but I need more |
| engine pumping out 650 horsepower (485 kW) | | | | experience to keep calm. The power, torque and |
| and produces 811 lb ft (1100 Nm) amount of peak | | | | downforce are phenomenal and obviously |
| torque. The engine is connected into a gearbox | | | | completely different to the DTM car. I could only |
| with quality VW transmission mount. | | | | have kept up in the slow corners with my A4. |