A1 Team India’s lead-driver Narain Karthikeyan, has been invited to test the Audi R10 TDI LM P1 Sportscar. The private test will be conducted at the Eurospeedway Lausitz Circuit near Berlin in Germany. The invitation has come from Dr. Colin Kolles, who was Narain’s Team Principal when he raced for the Jordan Formula 1 team in 2005. The test will be conducted during the week starting 6 March 2009.

Dr. Kolles has bought two Audi R10 TDI race cars from Audi and will be racing them in the European Le Mans series (LMS) and The 24 Hour Le Mans endurance race in 2009. The team will have the full support from the factory Audi race team. The test will focus around evaluation of an improved aerodynamic package, and will offer Narain his first taste of an LMP1 Sports Prototype racer. Dr. Kolles has been working with Audi since 2006 in DTM (German Touring Car Championship).

Along with the Monaco GP and the Indianapolis 500, The 24 Hour Le Mans endurance race is one of the holy trinity of international motor races. Held annually since 1923, over the 2nd weekend in June, it is the ultimate test of automotive endurance. There are four categories of cars which participate in the race. Two classes of purpose built prototype racers (LMP1 & LMP2) and two categories of Gran Tourisimo cars (LMGT1 & LMGT2), which are started their lives as street legal sports cars, but have been specifically modified to meet the rigorous demands of endurance racing. The value of this racing is so great, that even in these times of a worldwide financial crisis, no fewer than eight manufacturers (Audi, Peugeot, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, Chevrolet & Mazda) are directly involved with entries in the 2009 24 Hour Le Mans race.

The revolutionary diesel powered Audi R10 TDI succeeds the petrol powered Audi R8, which dominated the Sportscar scene between 2000 and 2005. The relationship to its successful predecessor is immediately recognisable. The R10 TDI was nevertheless a complete new design at the end of 2005 including numerous innovative details and design principles, which have since been frequently copied. Furthermore, the R10 TDI sports prototype was specifically developed for the use of a diesel engine. Audi have written a remarkable chapter in the history of Sportscar racing. In its tenth attempt in 2008, Audi has won this legendary endurance race 8 times. The revolutionary diesel powered Audi R10 TDI is amongst the most successful racing cars in history, with 3 consecutive Le Mans victories in 2006, 2007 & 2008. The R0 TDI has 22 race victories (and counting) in the Le Mans Series and 4 LMP1 championships. Audi has also stamped its mark on the American Le Mans Series like no other automobile manufacturer. Audi celebrated 61 overall victories between 2000 and 2007, the most successful brand of the series to date. Porsche follows in second place in the all time winners list with nine overall victories to date. Audi has been the king of the LMP1 class since 2000. The Ingolstadt based brand has won the Drivers’, Team and Manufacturers’ title in the top class eight times in succession. Audi beat factory teams from BMW, Cadillac, Chrysler and Panoz in the process.

Slotting in the test between two race weekends of his ‘day-job’, A1 Team India’s lead-driver Narain Karthikeyan said, “I am very excited about this test that Dr. Kolles has offered me. I have been following the Le Mans races for many years now, and have been waiting for the right opportunity to test one of the front running cars. The Audi R10 TDI is a legendary racer, and I feel honoured, privileged and thankful for this opportunity. I have been talking to some people who have driven the Audi R10 TDI, and they all tell me that it is blindingly quick and has plenty of downforce, very similar to a Formula 1 car. These attributes in a race car resonate very well in my brain, and I can’t wait to get to Germany and start what could be a very exciting adventure.”