Fear of Competition?

[Otto Puzzell]

With all due respect to Audi's Lemans juggernaut, I believe they have had, for much of the time, no major manufacturer competition as they have racked up the wins. Maybe that's why the following does not surprise me at all:

Audi rules out F1
(GMM) Audi has ruled out entering formula one in the near future.

The marque, whose parent company Volkswagen is also regularly linked with a possible grand prix foray, won the Le Mans 24-Hour race at the weekend with its innovative diesel-powered R10, but denied that F1 is the next step.

''F1 is too far away from road car technology,'' head of Audi Sport, Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, was quoted as saying by 'sid' news agency.

Audi/VW's direct luxury car rivals in Germany, however - BMW and Mercedes-Benz - are well-ensconced at the pinnacle of motor sport.

But Ullrich insisted: ''F1 is simply too expensive for us.''

For now, then, Audi is content to leave its formula one connection at a high-revving rumour -- that Michael Schumacher could one day appear for Audi in the German 'DTM' category.

''I wouldn't rule it out,'' Ullrich winked, quickly adding that 'absolutely no discussions' with the Ferrari star have taken place.
Jun 19, 2006, 13:54

[Rich]

As much a fan of Audi as I am, and the techno tour de force the R10 appears to be, it is undeniable that they've been running a greyhound in a pack of chihuahuas for years now.  Too bad, but I wonder if the other manufacturer's absence in the LMP game says more about the diminishing status of LeMans than anything else?

[Ultra]

Too bad, but I wonder if the other manufacturer's absence in the LMP game says more about the diminishing status of LeMans than anything else?

Whoomp!  There it is......

[Otto Puzzell]

As much a fan of Audi as I am, and the techno tour de force the R10 appears to be, it is undeniable that they've been running a greyhound in a pack of chihuahuas for years now.  Too bad, but I wonder if the other manufacturer's absence in the LMP game says more about the diminishing status of LeMans than anything else?

Thankfully the lesser classes seem well-represented from the manufacturers and privateer teams alike. I thought the Vettes were cooked this year, but AM once again snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. And the Panoz win in GT2 was a nice surprise. 

[Rich]

For whatever reason, I really wanted AM to do well this year...

[Ultra]

I find the Aston's easy to like as well.

Still and all, seeing the Vette win didn't break my heart.