For two years, team ADT Champion Racing with its customer R8 has been one of the toughest opponents of the Audi works team in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). As Audi is refraining from a works effort this season and Champion Racing is competing at the same conditions as the team led by Reinhold Joest, the team from Florida will now have a go at the title in the ALMS. "Last year, Champion Racing was the best-placed privateer team in the ALMS. In 2003, we have a fair chance of winning the championship," says team principal Dave Maraj. Moreover, Champion Racing will be participating in the Le Mans 24 Hour race for the second time after 2001, while also defending the title in the GT category of the SPEED World Challenge with two newly developed Audi RS6 cars.

Founded by Dave Maraj in 1994, Champion Racing has quickly made a name for itself in sportscar racing in American motorsport. Champion has been relying on the Audi R8 in the ALMS since 2001.

Champion Racing is just a part of Dave Maraj’s car emporium in Florida. Champion is one of the biggest and most important Audi dealers in the south east of the USA. The competition department Champion Racing is one of the most up-to-date outfits in America. Audi works-driver Emanuele Pirro, who will be racing for the American team at Sebring and Le Mans, was impressed after his first visit in Pompano Beach: "Now I know why Champion Racing has been such a tough opponent for the works team in recent years."

Champion Racing’s most important successes
Class winner in Sebring 12 Hour race in 1996
Class winner in "Petit Le Mans" in 1998
Winner of USRRC series in 1998
3rd in Sebring 12 Hour race in 1998, 2001
Winner of SPEED(VISION) World Challenge GT class in 2001, 2002
2nd in "Petit Le Mans" in 2002
2nd in Sebring 12 Hour race in 2002
Best privateer team of American Le Mans Series in 2002





In Japan, the status of the Le Mans 24 Hours is huge. In Asia, the race has been broadcast live on television for many years and in Japan, Le Mans winners are being considered heroes. So with good reason, the Japanese Audi importer is entering its own team for Le Mans.

Audi Japan has chosen the team Goh International as a partner. The team was founded in 1996, won the team classification in the Japanese GT Championship right away and has five starts at Le Mans to its tally - last year for the first time with the Audi R8. In spite of an accident in practice and a range of setbacks during the race, the Japanese team brought the R8 home in seventh place. "This was a great success for our team," team owner Kazumichi Goh says. "I have really enjoyed our debut with Audi at Le Mans. In spite of the troubles, we never gave up. The Japanese life philosophy ‘Daruma’ says: when you have problems seven times, you stand up again eight times..."

In 2003, the Audi Sport Japan Team Goh will be racing at Le Mans again, with the goal of significantly improving on last year’s result. Japanese Sheiji Ara already was part of Goh’s line-up in 2002. "Crossing the finish line alongside the three winning Audi drivers was a great feeling," he reveals.

With Dane Jan Magnussen and German Marco Werner, Ara is getting two new team mates who will be completing an intensive test programme with the Goh team in the build-up to Le Mans.

The most important successes of Team Goh International
Winner of the team classification in the Japanese GT
Championship in 1996
2nd GTS class Suzuka 1000 km race in 1999
3rd and class winner Fuji 1000 km race in 1999
6th and best private team at Le Mans 24 Hours in 2000
2nd in Sportscar World Cup in 2001 (joint project with Team Den Bla Avis)
7th at Le Mans 24 Hours in 2002





The British Audi importer, the 1996 British touring car champion under the banner of "Audi Sport UK" with an Audi A4, has unfinished business at the Le Mans 24 Hours. In 1999, the Audi Sport UK team ran the two enclosed Audi R8C Coupés at Le Mans. The ultra-flat sportscars caught a lot of attention, but lacked development.

In 2003, Audi Sport UK will have another go at Le Mans, but with better conditions: the Audi R8 is the car to beat. For its campaign, Audi Sport UK has chosen a team that is quite familiar with the sportscar from Ingolstadt: in 2001, British team Arena Motorsport ran Stefan Johansson’s car in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS), at Le Mans and in selected rounds of the ALMS. Winning the title in the ELMS and second place at the "Petit Le Mans" have been on Arena Motorsport’s record since.

At an international level, the team from Littlehampton is still relatively unknown. But with Mike Earle, Arena has a seasoned team principal, who has 30 years of experience in motorsport. His Onyx team made it all the way up to Formula 1. In recent years, Arena Motorsport has become established in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC).

In preparation for the participation at Le Mans with Frank Biela, Perry McCarthy and Mika Salo, Audi Sport UK will be competing in the Sebring 12 Hour race.

Arena Motorsport’s most important successes
Winner of European Le Mans Series in 2001
Winner of Brno ELMS race in 2001
2nd in "Petit Le Mans" in 2001
3rd in ALMS race at Laguna Seca in 2001
5th in British Touring Car Championship in 2002

Most important successes of Audi Sport UK
British Touring Car Champion in 1996
2nd in British Touring Car Championship in 1997

Stefan Johansson
Date of birth: 8 September 1956 Place of birth: Vaxjo (S) Place of residence: Monte Carlo (MC) Status: Married to Gabriela, two daughters, one son Audi Team: Team ADT Champion Racing Started career in: 1973 (Audi driver since 1999)	Career 1973 Scandinavian Kart Champion 1975 Formula Ford 1977 3rd in Swedish Formula 3 Championship 1978 5th in Swedish Formula 3 Championship, 8th in British Formula 3 Championship 1979 4th in British Formula 3 Championship 1980 British Formula 3 Champion 1981 4th in European Formula 2 Championship 1982 8th in European Formula 2 Championship 1984 Formula 1 World Championship, 1st in Sebring 12 Hour race, 2nd in Japanese Formula 2 Championship 1985 7th in Formula 1 World Championship 1986 5th in Formula 1 World Championship 1987 6th in Formula 1 World Championship 1989 11th in Formula 1 World Championship 1991 Formula 1 World Championship, World Sports Car Championship 1992 CART series, World Sports Car Championship 1993 13th in CART series 1994 11th in CART series 1995 13th in CART series 1996 15th in CART series 1997 1st in Le Mans 24 Hour race, 1st in Sebring 12 Hour race 1998 2nd in "Petit Le Mans" 1999 3rd in Sebring 12 Hour race (Audi R8R) 2001 European Le Mans Series Champion (Audi R8), 2nd in "Petit Le Mans" (Audi R8) 2002 2nd in Sebring 12 Hour race (Audi R8), 2nd in "Petit Le Mans" (Audi R8), 7th in American Le Mans Series (Audi R8)
JJ Lehto
Date of birth: 21 January 1966 Place of birth: Espoo (FIN) Place of residence: Monte Carlo (MC) Status: Married to Satu, two daughters, one son Audi Team: Team ADT Champion Racing Started career in: 1972 (Audi driver since 2003)	Career 1972-1980 Karting 1981 Motocross 1982 Motocross 1985 4th in Finnish Formula Ford 1600 Championship 1986 Winner of European, Scandinavian and Finnish Formula Ford 1600 Championship 1987 Winner of European and British Formula Ford 2000 Championship, Winner of Formula Ford World Cup 1988 British Formula 3 Champion 1989 Formula 3000, Formula 1 1990 Formula 1 1991 12th in Formula 1, 3rd place at Imola 1992 Formula 1 1993 13th in Formula 1 1994 Formula 1 1995 Winner of Le Mans 24 Hour race, 13th in German Touring Car Championship (DTM), 11th in International Touring Car Championship (ITC) 1996 9th in Le Mans 24 Hour race, Winner of Suzuka 1000 km race, 5th in International Touring Car Championship (ITC) 1997 Le Mans 24 Hour race, 2nd in FIA GT Championship 1998 ChampCar series 1999 Le Mans 24 Hour race, 4th in American Le Mans Series 2000 6th in American Le Mans Series 2001 2nd in GT class of American Le Mans Series 2002 Le Mans 24 Hour race, 13th in American Le Mans Series
Emanuele Pirro
Date of birth: 12 January 1962 Place of birth: Rome (I) Place of residence: Monte Carlo (MC) Status: Married to Marie-Hélène, two sons Audi Team: Team ADT Champion Racing Started career in: 1980 (Audi driver since 1994) Website: www.pirro.com	Career 1976-79 Karting (Italian Champion 1976 and 1979) 1978 2nd European Kart Championship 1980 1st in Italian Formula Fiat Abarth 1981 6th in European Formula 3 Championship 1982 2nd in European Formula 3 Championship 1983 3rd in European Formula 3 Championship 1984 6th in European Formula 2 Championship 1985 3rd in European Formula 3000 1986 3rd in European Formula 3000 1987 Touring Car World Championship 1988 3rd in Japanese Formula 3000 1989 Formula 1 World Championship, Winner of Nürburgring 24 Hour race 1990 Formula 1 World Championship, German Touring Car Championship, 2nd in Italian Touring Car Championship 1991 18th Formula 1 World Championship, 3rd in Italian Touring Car Championship, Winner of Touring Car Grand Prix Macau 1992 Winner of Touring Car Grand Prix Macau, 6th in Italian Touring Car Championship, German Touring Car Championship 1993 13th in Italian Touring Car Championship 1994 Italian Touring Car Champion, 3rd in German Touring Car Cup (both in Audi 80 competition) 1995 Italian Touring Car Champion (Audi A4 quattro) 1996 1st in German Super Touring Car Cup (Audi A4 quattro) 1997 6th in German Super Touring Car Cup (Audi A4 quattro) 1998 German Super Touring Car Championship (Audi A4) 1999 3rd in Le Mans 24 Hour race (Audi R8R) 2000 Winner of Le Mans 24 Hour race (Audi R8), Winner of Sebring 12 Hour race (Audi R8), 3rd in American Le Mans Series (Audi R8) 2001 Winner of Le Mans 24 Hour race (Audi R8), Winner of American Le Mans Series (Audi R8), Winner of "Petit Le Mans" (Audi R8) 2002 Winner of Le Mans 24 Hour race (Audi R8), 4th in American Le Mans Series (Audi R8)
Seiji Ara
Date of birth: 5 May 1974 Place of birth: Chiba (J) Place of residence: Kanagawa (J) Status: Single Audi Team: Audi Sport Japan Team Goh Started career in: 1991 (Audi driver since 2002) Website: www.seiji-ara.com	Career 1991 Karting 1992 Karting 1993 Karting 1994 Winner of Volkswagen Cup 1995 4th in Skip Barber Eastern Series 1996 Barber Dodge Pro Series 1997 2nd in Regional Japanese F4 Championship 1998 Japanese Formula 3 Championship 1999 6th in Japanese Formula 3 Championship, "Rookie of the year", Formula 3 Grand Prix Macau, Class winner of Fuji 1000 km race 2000 3rd in Japanese Formula 3 Championship, Formula 3 Grand Prix Macau, 21st in Japanese GT Championship, winner of Tokachi 24 Hour race 2001 Japanese Formula Nippon, 19th in Japanese GT Championship 2002 7th in Le Mans 24 Hour race (Audi R8), 16th in Japanese GT Championship, 11th in Japanese Formula Nippon
Jan Magnussen
Date of birth: 4 July 1973 Place of birth: Roskilde (DK) Place of residence: Gainesville (USA) Status: Single, one child Audi Team: Audi Sport Japan Team Goh Started career in: 1984 (Audi driver since 2003) Website: www.janmagnussen.com	Career 1987 Kart Junior World Champion 1989 Kart Junior World Champion 1990 Kart World Champion 1991 First Formula race (Formula Ford in Denmark) 1992 3rd in British Formula Ford Championship, Winner of Formula Ford Festival in Brands Hatch 1993 British Formula Vauxhall Championship, Formula Opel Euroseries, British Formula 3 Champioship 1994 British Formula 3 Champion, 3rd in Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix, Formula 1 testdriver 1995 2nd in International Touringcar Championship, 8th in German Touring Car Championship, Formula 1 test driver (1 race) 1996 10th in International Touringcar Championship, Formula 1 test driver, 24th in ChampCar Series 1997 Formula 1 World Championship 1998 Formula 1 World Championship 1999 11th in Le Mans 24 Hour race, 6th in American Le Mans Series 2000 15th in Le Mans 24 Hour race, 8th in American Le Mans Series 2001 Le Mans 24 Hour race, 5th in American Le Mans Series 2002 Le Mans 24 Hour race, 8th in American Le Mans series
Marco Werner
Date of birth: 27 April 1966 Place of birth: Dortmund (D) Place of residence: Kreuzlingen (CH) Status: Divorced (partner Annett), one daughter Audi Teams: Infineon Team Joest (ALMS), Audi Sport Japan Team Goh (Le Mans) Started career in: 1984 (Audi driver since 2002) Website: www.marco-werner.de	Career 1984 German Endurance Cup 1985 German Formula Ford 1600 1986 German Formula Ford 1600 1987 3rd in German Formula Ford Championship 1988 4th in German Formula Opel Lotus Challenge 1989 2nd in German Formula Opel Lotus Challenge 1990 8th in German Formula 3 Championship 1991 2nd in German Formula 3 Championship 1992 2nd in German Formula 3 Championship, Winner of Formula 3 Grand Prix Monaco, ADAC Driver of the Year 1993 3rd in German Endurance Cup, class winner of Nürburgring 24 Hour race, German Touring Car Trophy, German Touring Car Championship, German Formula 3 Championship 1994 German Touring Car Cup, German Endurance Cup, German Formula 3 Championship 1995 Winner of Daytona 24 Hour race, 5th in Porsche Supercup, 4th in German Porsche Carrera Cup, Interserie, German Super Touring Car Cup 1996 10th in German Super Touring Car Cup, class winner of Nürburgring 24 Hour race 1997 German Super Touring Car Cup, FIA GT Championship, German Porsche Carrera Cup 1998 ISRS series 1999 German Endurance Cup, Euro DTC final Zandvoort 2000 11th in Porsche Supercup, Touring car races at Spa and Macau 2001 2nd in Porsche Supercup, 19th in FIA GT Championship, German GTP Endurance races 2002 3rd in Le Mans 24 Hour race (Audi R8), 2nd in Porsche Supercup 2003 Winner of Sebring 12 Hour race (Audi R8)
Frank Biela
Date of birth: 2 August 1964 Place of birth: Neuss (D) Place of residence: Monte Carlo (MC) Status: Single, one dauther Audi Teams: Infineon Team Joest (ALMS), Audi Sport UK (Le Mans) Started career in: 1982 (Audi driver since 1991) Website: www.frank-biela.de	Career 1983 4th in German Kart Championship 1984 4th in Formula Ford 1600 European Championship 1985 3rd in Formula Ford 1600 1986 2nd in German Formula Ford 2000 1987 14th in German Touring Car Championship, 7th in German Formula 3 Championship 1988 3rd in German Formula 3 Championship, 15th in German Touring Car Championship 1989 13th in German Touring Car Championship, German Formula 3 Championship 1990 10th in German Touring Car Championship 1991 German Touring Car Champion (Audi V8 quattro) 1992 15th in German Touring Car Championship (Audi V8 quattro) 1993 French Touring Car Champion (Audi 80 quattro) 1994 2nd in German Touring Car Cup (Audi 80 competition) 1995 3rd in German Super Touring Car Cup (Audi A4 quattro), 1st in Touring Car World Cup, Le Castellet (Audi A4 quattro) 1996 British Touring Car Champion (Audi A4 quattro), Winner of Touring Car Grand Prix Macau (Audi A4 quattro) 1997 2nd in British Touring Car Championship (Audi A4 quattro) 1998 14th in German Super Touring Car Championship (Audi A4) 1999 3rd in Le Mans 24 Hour race (Audi R8R) 2000 Winner of Le Mans 24 Hour race (Audi R8), Winner of Sebring 12 Hour race (Audi R8), 4th in American Le Mans Series (Audi R8) 2001 Winner of Le Mans 24 Hour race (Audi R8), Winner of "Petit Le Mans" (Audi R8), 2nd in Sebring 12 Hour race (Audi R8), 2nd in American Le Mans Series (Audi R8) 2002 Winner of Le Mans 24 Hour race (Audi R8), 3rd in American Le Mans Series (Audi R8), ADAC Motor Sportsman of the Year 2003 Winner of Sebring 12 Hour race (Audi R8)
Perry McCarthy
Date of birth: 3 Marsch 1961 Place of birth: London (GB) Place of residence: Brentwood (GB) Status: Married to Karen, three daughters Audi Team: Audi Sport UK Started career in: 1982 (Audi driver since 1999/2003)	Career 1982-1985 British Formula Ford Championship 1983 British Formula Ford 1600 Champion 1986 French Formula 3 Championship, British Formula 3 Championship 1987 8th in British Formula 3 Championship 1988 Formula 3000 Championship 1989 8th in British Formula 3000 Championship, International Formula 3000 Championship 1990 World Sportscar Championship, IMSA series 1991 Formula 1 test driver, IMSA series 1992 Formula 1 World Championship, IMSA series 1993 Formula 1 test driver 1995 Formula Classic 1996 Le Mans 24 Hour race, BPR GT series, British Formula 2 Championship 1997 Le Mans 24 Hour race, FIA GT Championship, IMSA series 1998 Daytona 24 Hour race, Sebring 12 Hour race race, SCCA series 1999 5th Sebring 12 Hour race race (Audi R8R), Le Mans 24 Hour race (Audi R8C) 2002 Le Mans 24 Hour race
Mika Salo
Date of birth: 30 November 1966 Place of birth: Helsinki (FIN) Place of residence: Castel s. Pietro (CH) Status: Married to Noriko, one son Audi Team: Audi Sport UK Started career in: 1972 (Audi driver since 2003) Website: www.mikasalo.net	Career 1972-1977 Karting 1978 Finnish Kart 100 Champion 1980 Finnish Kart 100 Champion 1982 Finnish Kart 100 Champion 1983 Finnish Kart 100 Champion 1987 2nd in Finnish Formula Ford 1600 Championship, 3rd in Scandinavian Formula Ford 1600 Championship 1988 European Formula Ford 1600 Champion, Scandinavian and Finnish Formula Ford 1600 Champion 1989 13th in British Formula 3 Championship 1990 2nd in British Formula 3 Championship, 2nd in Formula 3 Grand Prix of Macau 1991 Japanese Formula 3000 Championship 1992 14th in Japanese Formula 3000 Championship 1993 Japanese Formula 3000 Championship 1994 Japanese Formula 3000 Championship, two Formula 1 races 1995 15th in Formula 1 World Championship 1996 13th in Formula 1 World Championship 1997 16th in Formula 1 World Championship 1998 15th in Formula 1 World Championship 1999 10th in Formula 1 World Championship 2000 11th in Formula 1 World Championship 2001 Formula 1 test driver 2002 15th in Formula 1 World Championship