Audi not yet committed to the American Le Mans Series

Contrary to our previous report that Audi confirmed it will return to American Le Mans Series competition in 2008, the company will not commit to a return until it knows if the ALMS will impose a 50-kilogram (110-pound) weight penalty–mandated for the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans–on LMP2-class cars.

Audi believes that the extra weight will allow its LMP1 prototypes to compete with the Penske-run Porsche RS Spyders, which won eight of 12 races in 2007. It wants IMSA, the ALMS sanctioning body, to impose the full weight, but Audi Sport boss Wolfgang Ullrich has suggested he will accept a compromise.

"The full 50 kilograms would be the best that could happen, because I always ask for consistency of rules [between Le Mans and the ALMS]," he said. Will he accept the 25-kilogram (55-pound) compromise rumored to be IMSA's favored option? "I don't want to go into details, but we have to see that we have a fair chance to win this championship." AutoWeek