| Paul Frère enthusiastic after test in the Audi R8
2003-04-23
After winning the Le Mans 24 Hour race in 1960 and a total of five decades
as a journalist and commentator, Paul Frère added another highlight
to his personal story of Le Mans: the 86-year-old Belgian tested the Audi
R8 during the pre-practice at Le Mans. Despite his age, Frère was
not all that slow: After three laps the motor journalist enthusiastically
climbed out of the cockpit of the three times Le Mans winning car and stated:
"That was an unforgettable experience."
Before the test drive, Paul Frère got a full explanation about
the most successful Le Mans sportscar of the modern era by Head of Audi
Sport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. "Although I didn’t push one single button during
my laps, it was very interesting to learn about the possibilities of this
car", says Frère, who, even today, is not able to do more than 50
meters in the Le Mans paddock without signing autographs. The most impressive
thing, said the former Formula 1 driver, was the enormous torque and the
amazing comfort of the Audi R8. To be best prepared, Frère absolved
a lap in the passenger seat of an Audi RS 6 while Audi works driver Frank
Biela explained the current circuit of Le Mans.
Dr Wolfgang Ullrich was very satisfied with the performance of his new
"test driver", who’s speed was measured at more than 280 kph on the famous
Hunaudières straight: "We were very impressed by his performance.
And I think Paul Frère got an impression of our R8 and now can understand
why our drivers praise this car after their victories." Frère is
considered one of the world’s most senior and distinguished motoring journalists
and celebrated his greatest successes as a racing driver in the 1950s and 1960s.
After three successive wins from 2000 to 2002, this year Audi plans
no “works” programme at the Le Mans 24 Hour race. Nevertheless, three Audi
R8s will line up for the race on 14/15 June, entered by the customer teams
Audi Sport Japan Team Goh, Team ADT Champion Racing and Audi Sport UK.
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