AXF-24, New York City - 6/13/09

Some things in life go well together: peanut butter & jelly; ketchup & hot dogs; Asians & cameras. It also makes sense for Audi to team up with XBOX 360 and Turn 10 of Microsoft Game Studios, the developers of Forza Motorsport 1 & 2. What makes this partnership a great match is the passion that is shared for the love of automobiles and the attention to detail. Dan Greenwalt, Game Director at Turn 10, says, “What we love about the R8 is the car stands for much of what makes Forza Motorsport 3 the ultimate racing game – powerful but refined, sophisticated yet inviting, the perfect blend of design and performance. It’s that blend of design and performance that makes Audi the ideal partner for my team. It mirrors the way we approach the development of Forza.”

The launch this partnership, first on the list of promotional activities was the AXF-24, a 24-hour Forza Motorsport 3 race between three teams, three members each. This simulated race was run simultaneously as the Le Mans race in France. Kelli Stavast from Speed Channel was in attendance to kick off the event. In addition to the 24-hour challenge, media and VIP guests were able to preview first-hand Forza Motorsport 3 on a three LCD set up that any kid would die for. This was the same set up used at E3, complete with the hydraulics and Fanatec wheel.

Congrats to the winning team of Peter Fitzsimmons, Darren Guiao, and Eric Earley. The three will enjoy a trip to the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Also on display was the 2010 Audi R8 V10, which goes on sale late 2009. The 5.2L 525hp V10 finally gives the R8 what many enthusiasts have been asking for - more power. The R8 chassis has always been a strong point in the vehicle but the 4.2L 420hp V8 is underpowered for the platform.

What would a Le Mans weekend be without Audi's very own R10 TDI? On display was the #2 R10 TDI, the same vehicle that finished the 24 hours of Le Mans in first, piloted by Rinaldo Capello, Allan McNish, & Tom Kristensen, with a margin of victory of over 4 minutes in the 2008 race. The R15, the replacement to the R10, finished 3rd this year for the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Peugot team took 1st & 2nd, breaking Audi's amazing 5-year winning streak in the P1 class.

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