So how did this wonderful four-wheeled creation come into the world? Well’ the last generation of Le Mans racer, the R15, used a 590 horsepower twin-turbo 10-cylinder diesel engine, but revisions to the rulebook forced Audi to switch engines.
The new oil-burner uses a 3.7-liter V6 TDI that churns out 575 horsepower, yet weighs 25 percent less than the previous V10 and is more frugal. That’s what we call progress!
In addition to the efficiency of the engine, the R18 is also faster because it makes extensive use of aluminum and carbon fiber. Although the minimum weight for LMP1 cars at Le Mans is a meager 900 kg, Audi’s target was to produce a car weighing significantly less than this limit in order to optimize the weight distribution with the help of ballast and to lower the center of gravity as much as possible.
“Carbon fiber is ideally suited for lightweight design and construction. We have deliberately made this material and the ultra lightweight technology visual for Le Mans. Lightweight design has occupied us for many years in motorsport. Everything that we have learnt over the years and especially about lightweight design and construction during development of the R18 TDI will also be available for our customers in the future – either in the form of greater performance or in the shape of low fuel consumption and lower emissions,” explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, after the first test were carried out over Easter weekend in April.
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