Champion of Champion Audi
 JJ Lehto is ready to win
By Kate Shaw
Photos © Kate Shaw
SEBRING, Florida (March 17, 2005) – To American Le Mans regulars, and those who follow the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the face of Champion Audi is 2004 ALMS Champion JJ Lehto. No one who watched him overcome the early-hours accident at Le Mans in 2004 and storm to a podium finish will ever forget it. His colorful and entertaining racing style (highlighted at the Portland round of the ALMS) is widely admired and his smiling motto “If you want to win, you need a Finn!” is evidence of his confidence that he will succeed.

When asked about the off-season, JJ only laughed, “What off season?” Champion Audi has expanded to a two-car team in 2005, and this entailed a lot of new personnel, many of them from the Champion Audi GT team program which has now been concluded; there’s more work, more people, and more parts to be integrated, but in true Champion Audi style they are, he said, “Improving all the time.” The team have been working on tire testing with new tire partner Michelin (which is one reason JJ had no off season), and JJ is confident and happy with the car that he has lived with since it was young. “The Champion Audi is well bedded in now,” he said, “and I know it very well; everything is optimum and reliable, and I can concentrate on enjoying the car and winning races! This is the last year for this car, and we want it to be a good one.”

Of course, JJ’s immediate focus is on claiming the overall victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring for himself and his team. “We have come so close over the past two years,” he said,”and it’s only bad luck that has kept us from the top step. This year we are confident we can do it – and of course, having two cars in the team means it’s twice the chance that Champion Audi will win.” A question about possible Team Orders was met with a firm thumbs down. “We are allowed to race each other,” he said, “at least for 11 hours; we only have to be sensible – don’t push each other off, don’t take unneeded risks – but definitely there is no other hold put on our ability to take the race to one another.”

The question of Team Orders brought up memories of the days when JJ raced in Formula One, and I asked him if he thought racing had become less romantic than it was back then. “Not at all,” he said. “In fact, I think the kind of racing we do in the ALMS is the most romantic racing of all – with four classes of cars, a different field each race, all the tactics and strategy and racecraft you need to navigate the field – and never knowing how each lap will come out. I don’t even think about racing in Formula One anymore.” JJ mentioned that he does, however, do F1 commentary for Finnish TV, but when asked about what he has to say about Ferrari he only laughed and said, “I just tell them what I see!”

The ACO regulations for 2006 decree that all the cars will be different, and that includes Champion Audi. About the coming new car, JJ would only say that nothing can be said just yet, including who will be driving it. JJ is on the last year of his contract, and in racing nothing is certain. There is some speculation that Champion may become the factory team next year – which would mean more integration and not less Champion, JJ hastened to add – and in time all will be revealed.

Meanwhile, Champion Audi and JJ Lehto have a 12 Hours of Sebring to win and another championship to win. Look for “the face of Champion Audi” on the top step at an ALMS track near you.