September
2004
Johnny
returns to Champion
Champion Racing press release August 31, 2004 – Team
ADT Champion Racing is excited to announce the addition of a
second Audi R8 LMP1 “prototype” to contest the two remaining
American Le Mans Series races at Road Atlanta (Petit Le Mans)
and the season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Johnny
Herbert, former Formula 1 Driver, 24 Hours of Le Mans winner
and popular American Le Mans Series driver will return to the
United States along with up and coming Audi “works” driver Pierre
Kaffer. Herbert and Kaffer will join ADT Champion Racing regulars
JJ Lehto and Marco Werner to pilot a second, identically prepared
Audi R8.
Veteran
driver Johnny Herbert is no stranger to U.S. road courses and
especially not to Team ADT Champion Racing. Herbert joined ADT
Champion Racing in their maiden year (2001) and quickly earned
the team three podium finishes. Herbert returned again with
ADT Champion Racing in 2002 and 2003 and continually brought
home more podium finishes for the team including the 12 Hours
of Sebring, Petit Le Mans, and other American Le Mans Series
races.
Pierre
Kaffer, a new member to the Audi “factory” squad, began his
racing career in Karting in 1990. In 1995 he won the German
Formula Ford Championship and in 1996 he won the German Formula
Opel Championship. He quickly moved on to compete in the German
Formula 3 Championship, Porsche Carerra Cup and Supercup races
before earning a coveted spot with Audi AG in 2004.
“We
are very happy to announce Johnny Herbert and Pierre Kaffer
as the drivers for our 2nd ADT Champion Racing Audi R8 car,”
said Team Owner Dave Maraj. “We look forward to Johnny driving
for Champion again. He was a huge asset during the three years
he drove for us.”
Herbert and Kaffer currently drive for the two-car customer
Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx that competed this year at the 12
Hours of Sebring, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and in the newly
created Le Mans Endurance Series. Although they compete with
different cars (Herbert with co-driver Jamie Davies and Kaffer
with co-driver Allan McNish) collectively the Audi Sport UK
Team Veloqx team has been on the podium at every event this
year, including four 1st place finishes.
Johnny
Herbert said: "I am really happy to have this opportunity
to race in the last two races of the ALMS series with Champion
Racing. I have missed not racing with them this season and
it will be good to get back into the team and see everybody
again.
"I
have raced against Pierre Kaffer in the LMES championship
this year and I know him to be a very good driver, I am looking
forward to having him as my teammate.
"This
is going to be a great challenge, the Audi R8 has won six
of the ALMS races this year and having been given the opportunity
to win Petit Le Mans again I intend to do just that. I am
also looking forward to finishing the series on a high note
at Laguna Seca.”
Herbert
and Kaffer will pilot the No. 2 ADT Champion Racing Audi R8
at Petit Le Mans September 23-25 and again at the season finale
at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca October 14 – 16.
Johnny
joins Maserati at Imola
Three-time grand prix winner Johnny Herbert has joined the driving
strength for Maserati's FIA GT Championship challenge with its
MC12 supercar. Herbert drove the car for the first time at Mugello
yesterday.
He
will partner Fabrizio De Simone in the car's debut race at Imola
on September 5. Fellow ex-F1 driver Mika Salo and Andrea Bertolini
will share the other car.
Both
Herbert and Salo pronounced themselves happy with the development
of the new Maserati MC12 ahead of its debut.
Johnny
said: "I am more than satisfied because we signed the agreement
a few days ago and the first test at Mugello went extremely
well. The MC12 is a pleasant car to drive. Comfort is very
important in races of this type. A car has to be set up in
two specific ways for two different drivers and I think that
the perfect combination has been found".
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