« I believe that one Audi will win the race ! »
Emanuele Pirro of ADT Champion Audi 
By Margot Orenchuk
Photos courtesy Champion Audi and Noel Bradford

VANCOUVER, Canada (May 27, 2004) – Those who have followed the American Le Mans series in North America are very well acquainted with Emanuele Pirro. He was ALMS champion in 2001, racing with Frank Biela (now racing for Audi in the DTM) and was an outspoken proponent of the concept of Dual Championship for the two drivers who share the driving duties in the series all year, which now is the rule. A seven time competitor and 3 time winner at La Sarthe, Pirro returns to Le Mans in 2004 once again with ADT Champion Audi, rejoined by J.J. Lehto, his teammate from last year, and Lehto‘s ALMS partner Marco Werner. Always ready with a quip, M. Pirro entertained us all at the press conference in 2003 Friday before the Big Show -- and then jumped into the car and kept the excitement going, finishing on the podium third overall in the First Car Not a Bentley. We caught up with him between Le Mans Pre-Qualifying and Le Mans for his thoughts on the new ADT Champion Audi and a look forward to the 2004 race.

Margot Orenchuk: Was there a significant handling change to the car for you at Le Mans with the new wing configuration from last year?

Emanuele Pirro: There was almost no difference at all! The car lost a little bit of efficiency, that’s it. The lap times were extremely fast, thanks to the new Michelin tyres.

MO: How much time did you get in the car at Pre Q? Was it enough to get done what you needed to?

EP: We were very happy about the work done during PQ. We mainly went through all the tyres that Michelin provided us, using different compound at different time of the day and track temperatures. We split the work – about 1/3 for each of us.

MO: How did you find the atmosphere at Pre Q this year? Does it feel a bit different for you coming back as a privateer team?

EP: Not really! The professionalism and preparation level of Team Champion is as good as any “works” team out there!

MO: What was the team working on in the afternoon that slowed the pace down so significantly compared to the morning times?

EP: I don’t think the pace was particularly slower in the afternoon.

MO: How much more testing will you be getting in before the race?

EP: No more testing is planned before the race.

MO: Is the new gas tank size going to come into play at a track the size of Le Mans? Is this even a worry?

EP: It does not make any difference, really. We will have slightly shorter stints but no worries at all.

MO: Do you know who will be qualifying the car yet – or when that decision will be made?

EP: We don’t know yet. I believe qualifying is [unimportant], and we will be only concentrating on having a good car for the race. Now that you have seen who else is out there, which team do you think will be your biggest rival in June?

EP: I believe that one Audi will win the race; and I reckon the four cars have 25% chance each. The reliability and the time spent in the pits will be crucial.
 

RFM thanks Melissa Grunnah and Emanuele Pirro for giving us some of their valuable time, and we look forward to following all of ADT Champion Audi through their preparation and their race, beginning June 9^th, 2004 to the chequered flag on the 13^th.  Check back with us frequently to eavesdrop as the team prepares for the biggest challenge of the racing year: the 24 Hours du Mans.