Audi R15 future depends on ACO decision

[bmer]

Sunday, September 27th 2009, 11:40 GMT
By Simon Strang and Matt Beer

Audi motorsport boss Wolfgang Ullrich says the future of the R15 TDI programme depends entirely on the outcome of the current rules deliberations with Le Mans organiser the ACO.

Peugeot protested the front end design of the Audi R15 prior to this year's Le Mans 24 Hours - an issue resolved by the ACO promising discussions with the LMP1 manufacturers to clarify the rules going forward.

Ullrich insists that if the outcome of the talks goes against Audi's current design, the team will be forced to pull-out as it will not be able to make substantial alterations to the R15.

"If you really have to do a significant change, I think we can't make it because that is not planned," Ullrich told AUTOSPORT.

"The budget is in place, the activities are in place. The R15 was planned to be a car that runs for two years, with for sure an improvement step over the winter, but for sure not doing a nearly new car. This was not planned."

He said Audi could not decide its plans for 2010 until the ACO's final decision on the rules.

Full article: autosport.com - Le Mans News: R15 future depends on ACO decision