New audi r18

[webby74]

I see audi are developing a new closed cockpit R18 for 2011, said to be running kers to.
Any thoughts?

[ellroy]

If I recall, they have to as LMP1 will all have to be closed cockpit at some point soon. I'm sure someone will be along to confirm in due course.

Kers type arrangements do, to me, make more sense for endurance racing and also do follow the logic of Le Mans, also, always having been about technical innovation.

[webby74]

ellroy said:

If I recall, they have to as LMP1 will all have to be closed cockpit at some point soon. I'm sure someone will be along to confirm in due course.

Kers type arrangements do, to me, make more sense for endurance racing and also do follow the logic of Le Mans, also, always having been about technical innovation.

Especially as audi usually lead the way in technical innovations (tfsi, tdi etc)

[Nick M]

ellroy said:

If I recall, they have to as LMP1 will all have to be closed cockpit at some point soon. I'm sure someone will be along to confirm in due course.

Kers type arrangements do, to me, make more sense for endurance racing and also do follow the logic of Le Mans, also, always having been about technical innovation.

I *think*, but would need to check, that the rules for 2011 onwards have been relaxed so that open cars are still permitted. But there was definitely talk of them all being closed cockpit cars at one point.

However, other rule changes, such as the number of people who can change tyres, have played into the hands of the closed cars so there's less benefit to an open car from that perspective. AIUI, Audi are looking at building closed cars on the basis that they're more efficient aerodynamically and because the pit-stop advantage of open cars has been eroded.

As for KERS, Audi have actually said that the new rules are forcing teams to spend a lot of money to be competitive by having to develop technology such as KERS. They, along with Aston, had been lobbying the ACO for lighter cars which wouldn't need KERS but they weren't successful.

That said, I would be very surprised if Audi didn't already have a functioning system which they would casually roll out next season with relatively little fuss.

Quite looking forward to the 2011 season.

[Man-At-Arms]

Nick M said:

ellroy said:

If I recall, they have to as LMP1 will all have to be closed cockpit at some point soon. I'm sure someone will be along to confirm in due course.

Kers type arrangements do, to me, make more sense for endurance racing and also do follow the logic of Le Mans, also, always having been about technical innovation.

I *think*, but would need to check, that the rules for 2011 onwards have been relaxed so that open cars are still permitted. But there was definitely talk of them all being closed cockpit cars at one point.

that would've meant all the other LMP1 & LMP2 teams would have to redesign their cars
€€€€ !

and all the second hand Audi/Pug cars would be worthless

[Nick M]

Announcement due today apparently...

[24lemons]

http://www.endurance-info.com/version2/actualite-e...

Crikey!!

[24lemons]

Not the prettiest I think you'll agree

[24lemons]

[Save Ferris]

A better view....

[J B L]

That looks properly menacing.

I like it

[bobthemonkey]

Striking.

Interesting choice to go for a V6 as opposed to a V8, especially with 3.7l of displacement.

[webby74]

Looks like they are going to scare the opposition off the track this time.
Looks evil and i like! Cant wait for the 24hr now

[Nick M]

Save Ferris said:

A better view....

Darth Vadar with wheels !!!

[Great Dane]

Don't get your hopes up about keeping the black all over.... they have been red/black recently...

It is ugly whatever the colour....
Here is a list of the best looking cars in order IMHO

Aston LMP1 (by a country mile)

Lola Coupe
Zytek


Oreca
Pescarolo
Norma
Lola open ala KSM
Ferrari GT2
Oreca FLM
WR
Aston GT1



and from the bottom
Pug
Audi
Saleen

[webby74]

Looks dont win races though!



Will be interesting to see if anyone can make the shark fin look good.
+1 for the lola aston looking the best though

[The Angry Gopher]

+1 for 2010 Aston LMP1.

Seems strange that Aston should be going open top then for 2011, especially considering Dr Ulrich effectively writing-off open cars as being competitive next year.

[DS240]

I cannot wait to see that next year at LM.

Love the whole Audi effort at LM. This looks like another winner.

Shame to see the open top LMP1 going out of favour. Liked the look of them more.

[Rs2oo]

Nick M said:

ellroy said:

.

I would be very surprised if Audi didn't already have a functioning system which they would casually roll out next season with relatively little fuss.

Quite looking forward to the 2011 season.

I may be wrong here (but dont think I am) but im sure I either read or heard in conversation that Porsche already have an effective KERS system. If this is true, adapting it or at least using their knowledge on the system to develop it puts them in a good position technically and finantially.

[Nick M]

Rs2oo said:

Nick M said:

I would be very surprised if Audi didn't already have a functioning system which they would casually roll out next season with relatively little fuss.

I may be wrong here (but dont think I am) but im sure I either read or heard in conversation that Porsche already have an effective KERS system. If this is true, adapting it or at least using their knowledge on the system to develop it puts them in a good position technically and finantially.

Porsche do indeed have a tried and tested system which they ran at, I think, either the Spa or Nurburgring 24 hours and at Petit Le Mans. Seemed pretty reliable too.

And I suspect you're right that there is a good possibility that the same technology has been deployed by Audi, or substantially used to design and build their own system.