Monday, December 20, 2010

Audi R18 for 2011 Le Mans

This average looking machine is charged with the responsibility of winning the tenth Le Mans title for Audi who are the defending champions of the world’s most famous endurance race after conquering the 2010 podium with a 1-2-3 finish. And for the inaugural time since its Le Mans debut in 1999 the four rings will contest a car with a roof.

“In the future aerodynamic efficiency will be fifty-fifty more important at Le Mans than it was in the past” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. “A closed cable car has clear advantages in this respect. Our computing machine simulations have been confirmed in the wind tunnel and during initial track tests.”
The engines have shrunk for 2011 as the rule makers purpose to cap engine power. The R18 will be motivated  by a 3.7L V6 TDI (from a five.5L V10) but no more figures have been released. Although hybrid drive has been approved for 2011 Audi is keeping faith with a saturated  diesel. The 6-speed transmission has been modified for use with the little engine.

Today’s Audis sport eye communicable LEDs and it’s the same for the R18. Those imposing headlights which are the first to completely consist of LEDs with optimised amount of light are a method highlight here. During the day the lights form the embodiment of a “1″ inspired by Audi’s historic brand logo.
Development of the R18 started in mid 2009 while the V6 TDI has been continual on the dynos since the summer of 2010. This car completed its foremost track test with Allan McNish at the end of November. The planned slipstream debut is at Spa-Francorchamps 6 Hours in May 2011. Prior to that the prototype will be able to overlap Le Mans during the official test day on April 24. Audi will field three R18s which will be entered by Audi Sport animal group Joest. The team will contest the Intercontinental Le Mans United States liquid unit consisting of seven endurance races on three continents (including the Le Mans 24 Hours) with two cars. At the change of integrity race at Sebring in March the team will use two “R15 plus plus” cars instead of the R18. “Sending the R18 into a race at such an early point in time would be effortful in terms of logistics and interfere with our development program” explains Dr

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