Audi has tested two of its brand-new R18 LMP1 cars at Sebring, although it still plans to use an updated R15 in the 12 Hours at the circuit in March.
All nine members of Audi's Le Mans lineup drove both types of car during the tests, which concluded on Saturday. Team boss Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich said Sebring had been selected mainly for weather reasons.
"We're very pleased with the performance of the Audi R18 at our first outing at Sebring," he said. "We opted for this racetrack because it makes high demands on the mechanical systems of our vehicles. The temperatures are better than in Europe right now, plus the dry weather provides us with assurance that we're able to conduct the endurance runs as planned. On a wet track the loads would be lower and the test results therefore less conclusive."
The R18 is not scheduled to make its competition debut until the Spa round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup and Le Mans Series in May.