Frenchman Loic Duval has joined Audi's 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours lineup.
The winner of last year's Sebring 12 Hours with ORECA's semi-works Peugeot will share a conventional R18 ultra with Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas in the French classic. The 29-year-old's program also includes the FIA World Endurance Championship opener at Sebring later this month and the Spa 6 Hours in May.
Other newcomers to Audi are Italian Marco Bonanomi, who was test and reserve driver last year, and former DTM driver Oliver Jarvis. The Briton, whose Le Mans seat was confirmed last month, will share an R18 ultra with Bonanomi and former Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller. The rest of Audi's four-car Le Mans lineup, which will also contest the Spa WEC round, has a familiar look.
The winning partnership of Andre Lotterer, Benoit Treluyer and Marcel Fassler has been kept together, while Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen and Rinaldo Capello will again share a car. Only McNish and Lotterer have so far been confirmed for the WEC races after Le Mans. Audi has said that their teammates will be drawn from Sebring lineup.
Full Audi 2012 lineup
Sebring 12 Hours
#1 Marcel Fassler/Andre Lotterer/Benoit Treluyer Audi R18 TDI
#2 Dindo Capello/Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish Audi R18 TDI
#3 Timo Bernhard/Romain Dumas/Loïc Duval Audi R18 TDI
Spa 6 Hours and Le Mans 24 Hours
#1 Marcel Fassler/Andre Lotterer/Benoit Treluyer Audi R18 e-tron quattro
#2 Dindo Capello/Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish Audi R18 e-tron quattro
#3 Timo Bernhard/Romain Dumas/Loïc Duval Audi R18 ultra
#4 Marco Bonanomi/Oliver Jarvis/Mike Rockenfeller Audi R18 ultra
Remaining WEC rounds
#1 Andre Lotterer , Audi R18 e-tron quattro*
#2 Allan McNish , Audi R18 ultra*