Audi R15 TDI
2009 Le Mans car greets the world
The car was apparently due to be unveiled next month, but was photographed during secret testing at Vallelunga by Autosport magazine last week, prompting the German manufacturer to release its own photo from the same event.
Unfortunately the gloomy economic outlook has forced Audi to withdraw from the American and European Le Mans Series, where last year’s diesel R10 cleaned up. That leaves only the 12 Hours of Sebring in March and Le Mans in June for the Audi R15 TDI Le Mans Prototype to make its mark, with ‘Nishy’, Dindo Capello and Tom Kristensen defending their 2008 Le Mans title in one car, and Lucas Luhr, Mike Rockenfeller and Marco Werner sharing another.
According to Autosport, the new open-cockpit prototype racer is a radical departure from the R10, not least thanks to a new high-level nose that mimics latest aerodynamic thinking on the F1 grid. The new car’s radiators are also closer to the front wheels, there are newly scalloped sidepods and the rear end is much lower – apparently a ruse to improve downforce in the light of new LMP1 regulations demanding a 20 percent reduction in aero aids.
The recently all-conquering Audi diesels will hopefully have another decent fight on their hands at Le Mans this year, with tough competition expected from Peugeot and the gorgeous Gulf-liveried Astons. As if you needed any more encouragement to come and pitch your tent at the official PH campsite in Sarthe…
They're there to win, not fund your petrolhead desires for flame spitting over runs.
They would have to play sound from the bloody speakers.
Its ruining the sport imo.
Don't get me wrong, I love standing at Arnage for the sunrise with the corvettes and Astons noisely spearing into view, then shooting off into the distance. The Audis and Pugs then come along and it's different and interesting.
But if they were ALL like that, I hadn't considered that thought. I think it would be a very strange feeling and probably not as much of a spectacle.
Interesting question - hadn't considered that.
They're there to win, not fund your petrolhead desires for flame spitting over runs.
the rules for the dismals are so rigged, it's just pointless...
if they actually ran 'real' diesel it would be a start (as opposed to synthetic from CNG), and then the same CC, restrictor and turbo rulesas the petrol cars, they would be nowhere.
They're there to win, not fund your petrolhead desires for flame spitting over runs.
the rules for the dismals are so rigged, it's just pointless...
if they actually ran 'real' diesel it would be a start (as opposed to synthetic from CNG), and then the same CC, restrictor and turbo rulesas the petrol cars, they would be nowhere.
We should be welcoming different engine types into motorsport as I think it makes it more interesting. I do agree that they still need to tweak the equivalency rules but surely if they get them so that both sorts of cars are roughly equivalent in terms of lap times then I can only see it being a good thing watching two cars with such differing power delivery characteristics competeing.
It makes it more interesting if you know that that the diesels have the punch out of corners but their weight disadvantage means that their corner speeds aren't quite up to that of the petrols. Its better than watching F1 or touring cars where you never see any real differences between the cars and the way they attack the track.
Is it that much different (forgetting the noise) to classic touring cars where you used to get tiny mini's up against mk2 jags and mustangs. One smaller car that has a severe power disadvantage but better cornering versus a big brute of american muscle that can demolish the straights!!
Motorsport should be about progression not just sticking to what we know works, I personally see it as a good thing.
It also says some thing about Audi's engineers that even with the weight distribution disadvantage and sheer size of the block compared to the other cars they can still compete on absolute cornering speeds aswell!!
Don't get me wrong, nothing will ever replace being 3 feet from the back of a Panoz when it fires up, but they do have something far more subtle than i would ever have believed that creeps up on you.
The fact the Pug looks so damn good hasn't hurt, that this appears pig ugly in photos, i'm not sure about.
If someone invented a new engine (electric, otherwise, or even a completely new design of diesel engine) which was a better proposition for motor racing than petrol, then I'm all for it. What I'm not "all for" is a contrived reason for diesels to tarnish a great sport.
I used to be deeply into Group 5, Group C, etc, but have no interest whatsoever at the moment. </harumph>
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