Audi's privateer trio gear up for title defence.

It's the most famous week leading up to the most famous race in sportscar racing, and Audi is out in force once again as it prepares to enter the 71st running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with three privateer teams - Team ADT Champion Racing, Audi Sport UK and Audi Sport Japan Team Goh.

All three teams have been developing their cars as well as their strategies for what is widely regarded - and hoped - to be one of the most competitive 24 Hours in recent memory. Ironically, perhaps, it is the crushing dominance of the Audi marque that has led to this year's race being so open, for the works team is gone, replaced by the trio of independently entered R8s, which will be battling with two Bentley GTP machines, as well as a host of LMP900 and LMP675 prototypes for the honour of standing on the podium at five minutes past four on a French Sunday afternoon.

"Le Mans is one of the greatest motorsport events in the world - and the 71st will not be an exception," Rod Bymaster, Audi Sport North America's motorsport manager commented, "The battle between Audi and Bentley will be very dramatic and the family rivalry between Audi Japan, Audi UK and Champion Racing will add even more entertainment to the mix. Le Mans requires as much preparation, and puts as much stress, as for a complete racing season into one race - and the one best able to handle these conditions will win the race."

For Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro, the 2003 race presents a chance to break records with a fourth consecutive victory but, with the former ALMS double-act now in different teams, one will definitely end up missing out.

"I'm more determined to win Le Mans again, but the pressure is different this year," Biela, now with Audi UK, said, "The 'factory' Audi team started the last three Le Mans races as the favourites but, this year, it's different with three 'customer' teams, all running the same specification Audi R8, and with the Bentleys showing so strong at Sebring and in the test.

"Before spinning off on oil in the pre-test last month, we showed that we could set competitive times too. I'm as motivated as I have always been for Le Mans and I'm very optimistic that the whole 'package' will enable the Audi Sport UK team to be successful."

"After Sebring and the Le Mans test, my evaluation has not changed," an equally confident Pirro echoed, "We have a good chance of winning at Le Mans, but we face very tough opposition - especially in the form of Bentley.

" At the test, we concentrated on achieving consistently fast laps during a stint as opposed to one-off lap times, and we gathered extremely useful data for race. Our team has proved to be able to work in a really professional and efficient way, and I'm confident that we will be able to use all the potential of the R8. If we do that, we'll be looking pretty good."

Aside from the Audi UK and Champion Racing operations represented by Biela and Pirro, Audi is also fielding a car under the banner of its Japanese arm and the Team Goh outfit. Following the dispersal of last year's works crew - which has also seen four-time winner Tom Kristensen despatched to Bentley - Marco Werner lines-up in the multinational Goh squad, alongside Jan Magnussen and Seiji Ara.

"This is my second time driving the Audi R8 for Audi and I am very impressed with this team," Werner admitted, "Team Goh is very motivated. The mechanics have been working really hard in preparing a strong car. With Audi you always have a good car but, if we do have trouble, it is very important to have a good team of mechanics who can work on the car. I am very proud to be with Audi and Team Goh this year."

Biela is joined in the Audi UK entry by Le Mans rookie Mika Salo and veteran Perry McCarthy, while Pirro partners Stefan Johansson and JJ Lehto, both of whom have ample 24 Hours experience.