Audi reveals R18 TDI Le Mans racer

Audi has unveiled its new track star! The R18 TDI racing car will compete in 2011’s Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC), the headline fixture of which is, of course, June’s 24 hours of Le Mans.

 

Four-ringed sports cars have been racing at La Sarthe for over ten years now, with Audis picking up nine victories from 12 races. In 2010’s race, an Audi driving team was on all three steps of the podium after a stunning 1-2-3 result following mechanical failures for the massively quick Peugeot team. Their lead driver, Britain's Allan McNish, will be going for his third Le Mans victory.

 

Mechanically, the all-new R18 racer marks a significant departure from its predecessors, which include the Audi R10 TDI and Audi R15 TDI – for the first time, an Audi Le Mans racer boasts a closed cockpit, and coupe body-style.

 

It’s due to the increased importance of aerodynamics, brought on by changes to the race regulations banning the huge engines that the the French track is famous for. V10s and V12s have now been banned, so the R18 is powered by a 3.7-litre V6 turbodiesel - the largest capacity diesel allowed.

Petrol-powered engines are limited to 3.4-litres naturally aspirated, and just 2.0-litres turbocharged. Current LMP1 cars (the fastest allowed in the race) will still be allowed to compete but only with significant restriction, either by carrying extra ballast weight or smaller air restrictors.

 

Further details on the R18 TDI’s powerplant, including its power and torque outputs, are as yet unrevealed. Audi is understandably keeping its cards close to its chest until the R18 first hits the track, which will be on May 8 2011 at the six hours of Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.

That means the new car will miss out on the action at March’s opening round of the ILMC at Sebring, to provide the maximum development time for the R18 ahead of the all-important Le Mans race in June.

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