It was only a few years ago that diesel-engined racing cars were unfathomable, but both Audi and Peugeot set out to prove that it can be done. While Peugeot’s success rate was average, Audi’s racing diesels kept getting smaller, more fuel efficient and more powerful than ever.
It comes as no surprise, really, that they took the first 4 positions on the grid both in qualifying and then in the race-proper of the Spa 2012 6-hour race. Of the four cars, two were R18 Ultras - powered by 3.7-liter V6 turbodiesels and the other two were R18 e-trons which are hybrids with the same engine powering the rear wheels and electric motors driving the front axle.
The first car to finish was an R18 Ultra, driven by Romain Dumas, Loïc Duval and Marc Gené which was followed 46 seconds behind by a hybrid R18, with the other two cars finishing one lap behind the leader. The first gasoline-powered car, a Lola-Toyota, took 5th place but it was another 3 laps behind the leader, so it’s very clear how advanced Audi technology is and just how far ahead it is when compared to the competition. This is good news for their Le Mans effort this year, due to take place in six weeks’ time.
The first car to finish was an R18 Ultra, driven by Romain Dumas, Loïc Duval and Marc Gené which was followed 46 seconds behind by a hybrid R18, with the other two cars finishing one lap behind the leader. The first gasoline-powered car, a Lola-Toyota, took 5th place but it was another 3 laps behind the leader, so it’s very clear how advanced Audi technology is and just how far ahead it is when compared to the competition. This is good news for their Le Mans effort this year, due to take place in six weeks’ time.