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Here is the english version of our interview with Herr Dr Ullrich. We'd like to apologize for the quality of our translations but both of our usual translators were not available today. So we have decided to post it even if there were some mistakes. However, we de hope it's better than a Google automatic translation! And easier to read...
First very important question but also a little bit humoristic : Were you surprised that Tom Kristensen didn’t win at Le Mans? No one expected him to be ever defeated in La Sarthe! We did not remember that he could also withdraw from an endurance race!
Dr. Ullrich: « Of course Tom has a great record at Le Mans, but everybody involved in motorsport knows that sometime every winning streak will come to an end. This happened to Tom in 2006. By the way: It was not the first time Tom did not finish at Le Mans. He retired twice before joining Audi. Once in the past he had to retire after a crash in a “Petit Le Mans” race. »
Maybe is it because his car didn’t have the right number? Is seems like an official Audi must carry #8 (2000 and 2006) or #1 (2001, 2002 and 2007) to win at Le Mans. Do you believe to that kind of signs?
Dr. Ullrich:« No, honestly, I do not belive too much in that kind of signs. There were even some people saying that a “yellow” marked factory Audi can not win at Le Mans. But the reason to have no more “yellow” R10 TDI cars was not due to this but because of our marketing department which did not like the yellow color. Audi’s colors are silver, grey and red. »
Let’s talk a bit more seriously. Second win in a raw at Sebring, Le Mans, Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca, the Audi R10 has continued to improve its impressive records during this 2007 season (let’s not forget the overall win in St Petersburg). But despite these impressive results, this season has been much more difficult for the TDI powered cars. Before Sebring, did you expect such difficulties during the season?
Dr. Ullrich: « Yes, we expected the season to be as difficult as it proved to be. We new that the regulations would favour the lighter LM P2 cars. We said this before the season started and eight overall victories in a row for the LM P2 Porsches proved that we were right. We were close to withdrawing from the ALMS because of the regulations after Sebring. But we decided to continue despite knowing that it would be more than difficult for the LM P1 cars because we believe in the series and did not want to threat what we have helped to develop over seven years. »
We know very well your feelings about the P1-P2 balance. But even if we do very well understand your arguments and even if your cars had to face opponents of the “lower” class, don’t you feel like ALMS 2007 has been one of the most exciting season ever?
Dr. Ullrich: « For sure there have been exciting races. But imagine how exciting this races would be if Porsche and Acura would race with LM P1 cars against Audi. We had great battles in LM P1 in the past with BMW, Cadillac, Panoz and others. LM P1 is meant to be the top class of Le Mans Prototypes for manufacturers – not LM P2. »
And don’t you think it’s better for Audi Sport to face such strong opponents as Porsche and Acura rather than just winning in front of a very good privateer like it was the case in the end of the R8 career? In other words, don’t you think, it’s better for the promotion of your brand to have to fight very hard on the track even if sometimes, you may lose? The fans and TV spectator have seen a fantastic fight and each brand involved in the series has raised its reputation. They have not seen a P1-P2 fight but a Audi-Porsche-Acura one.
Dr. Ullrich: « We have nothing against losing if everybody has the same chances. But our computer simulations showed us before the races that the LM P2 cars had an advantage. This is difficult to accept. »
Link: Audi Sport 2007 and 2008 : Dr Ullrich tells us everything... - Endurance Info - Endurance Info WebSite
