The new Audi R18 has hit the test track at the historic Sebring race circuit in Florida, four and a half months before the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Looking like Darth Vader's personal track toys, a pair of R18s completed the test with each of the nine Audi 'factory' drivers taking turns behind the wheel.
Alongside the two new cars - which were primarily there for development work - the Audi R15 'plus plus' also got plenty of circuit time. That car will be fielded at the 12-hour race at Sebring in March - the season opener of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC) - so the basic set-up for the race in March was worked out on that vehicle.
"We're very pleased with the performance of the Audi R18 at our first outing at Sebring," said Head of Audi Motorsport, Dr Wolfgang Ullrich.
"We opted for this race track 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."