Photo: Audi Motorsport
Audi Motorsport has unveiled the new version of the R18 prototype race car, which has made the switch from pure diesel to hybrid tech for this year’s LMP1 class of Le Mans endurance racing. The car’s competition debut will take place at the 6-hours of Spa Francorchamps, after which it will hit the 12-hour race at the US’ Sebring circuit.
This year’s car will be the first to incorporate the a diesel hybrid powertrain into a prototype that also uses Audi's e-tron quattro all-wheel drive system. The R18’s shape has been largely retained from last year’s car, but the magic underneath is quite serious.
As the schematic in the gallery below shows, the front axle features a kinetic energy recovery braking system that stores energy via flywheel that can be reused by the electric motors on the front wheels.
At the same time, the back axle is motivated by a V6 TDI diesel engine that produces up to 375 kW (510 HP) under racing conditions. However, the electric motors at the front can only operate at speeds above 120 km/h (74 mph).
"Audi has always consciously selected championships and categories in racing that have a close relationship to production and therefore have technical relevance for the Audi customers," explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, who personally drove the new Audi R18 e-tron quattro onto the stage on Wednesday evening during its world premiere in the Audi Training Center at Munich airport - electrically and almost silent. "quattro, TFSI and TDI are three excellent examples of how motorsport has stimulated production development. A similar tendency is apparent with the e-tron quattro: we test a completely new technology on the race track before it's introduced to the Audi production line."
Audi will still field the non-hybrid R18 Ultra, which is now he lightest Audi prototype they’ve ever made, thanks to a new carbon fiber gearbox housing.
As the schematic in the gallery below shows, the front axle features a kinetic energy recovery braking system that stores energy via flywheel that can be reused by the electric motors on the front wheels.
At the same time, the back axle is motivated by a V6 TDI diesel engine that produces up to 375 kW (510 HP) under racing conditions. However, the electric motors at the front can only operate at speeds above 120 km/h (74 mph).
"Audi has always consciously selected championships and categories in racing that have a close relationship to production and therefore have technical relevance for the Audi customers," explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, who personally drove the new Audi R18 e-tron quattro onto the stage on Wednesday evening during its world premiere in the Audi Training Center at Munich airport - electrically and almost silent. "quattro, TFSI and TDI are three excellent examples of how motorsport has stimulated production development. A similar tendency is apparent with the e-tron quattro: we test a completely new technology on the race track before it's introduced to the Audi production line."
Audi will still field the non-hybrid R18 Ultra, which is now he lightest Audi prototype they’ve ever made, thanks to a new carbon fiber gearbox housing.
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