A truly expert opinion
To conclude this memorable day, guests had the chance to sit down with Audi factory race drivers Allan McNish and Rinaldo (Dindo) Capello. The two were in town for the Mosport Grand Prix, the ninth round of the ALMS endurance racing championship.
Eventually, the questioning turned to the car we had just driven, the Audi R8 - a car that Capello, it turns out, is uniquely qualified to talk about.
First of all, he has been racing for Audi (on and off) since 2000. That initial year, competing in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), Capello won six races with the mighty Audi R8 (the racing version) and finished second in the driver's championship to teammate McNish. Last year, he shared the title with McNish; the car that powered their victory was the groundbreaking Audi R10 turbo diesel racer.
Back home in Europe, the Italian has enjoyed a massive amount of success as well. In 2003, paired with Tom Kristensen and Guy Smith, Capello won the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans driving the Bentley Speed 8, which was powered by an Audi engine. The following year, he drove the Audi R8 to victory, partnering Kristensen and Seiji Ara.
Aside from all his racing exploits, Capello has another close connection with Audi: He owns an Audi dealership in Italy. So he knows all about the Audi fleet and what constitutes a well-sorted sports car. The R8, he believes, is a very well-sorted sports car.
"The R8 is the very first road car that gave the same feeling as a racing car," he explains, "The front end is so precise. For me, it is the best car Audi have ever built. In Italy, we say it's the cherry on top of the cake... I don't think there would be many road cars that would go on a racetrack any faster."
I think I agree with that statement. Although I also think that I'll need to take it out on the track one more time just to be sure...
photo:Mark Hacking
To conclude this memorable day, guests had the chance to sit down with Audi factory race drivers Allan McNish and Rinaldo (Dindo) Capello. The two were in town for the Mosport Grand Prix, the ninth round of the ALMS endurance racing championship.
Eventually, the questioning turned to the car we had just driven, the Audi R8 - a car that Capello, it turns out, is uniquely qualified to talk about.
First of all, he has been racing for Audi (on and off) since 2000. That initial year, competing in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), Capello won six races with the mighty Audi R8 (the racing version) and finished second in the driver's championship to teammate McNish. Last year, he shared the title with McNish; the car that powered their victory was the groundbreaking Audi R10 turbo diesel racer.
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Back home in Europe, the Italian has enjoyed a massive amount of success as well. In 2003, paired with Tom Kristensen and Guy Smith, Capello won the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans driving the Bentley Speed 8, which was powered by an Audi engine. The following year, he drove the Audi R8 to victory, partnering Kristensen and Seiji Ara.
Aside from all his racing exploits, Capello has another close connection with Audi: He owns an Audi dealership in Italy. So he knows all about the Audi fleet and what constitutes a well-sorted sports car. The R8, he believes, is a very well-sorted sports car.
"The R8 is the very first road car that gave the same feeling as a racing car," he explains, "The front end is so precise. For me, it is the best car Audi have ever built. In Italy, we say it's the cherry on top of the cake... I don't think there would be many road cars that would go on a racetrack any faster."
I think I agree with that statement. Although I also think that I'll need to take it out on the track one more time just to be sure...
photo:Mark Hacking
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