Audi R18 Le Mans winner 2013 shows traces of the fight
Posted on 28-03-2014 at 14:31 by autoblogger – 7 Comments”
Audi exhibits at the Techno Classica in Essen, Europe’s largest klassiekerbeurs, a number of big winners from his autosporthistorie. The most recent of which is the R18 e-tron quattro last year, the 24 Hours of Le Mans won. On the stock exchange was the real winning car, with all the tracks that the race has failed.
Audi has the car after the race left as he crosses the finish line came on the Circuit de la Sarthe. Very beautiful to see up close how much the filthiness of rubber particles and oil, in 24 hours time the car will stick. Also has the car here and there small damage. With the overtaking of the slow participants is quite a little bit distributed and that it is good to see. The splitter at the front is what frayed, and here and there leave the foil loose so that the naked carbon comes. On the right, the car has a more robust beech had that with duct-tape repaired.
Audi puts in Essen youngest winner, driven by Loïc Duval, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish, in addition to the car, where the Le Mans ambitions started out, the Audi R8R from 1999. This copy, with chassis number 205, belongs to the first batch of cars that was used at the start of the season 1999. Rinaldo Capello, Michele Alboreto and Stefan Johansson were happy with this car, third in the 12 hours of Sebring.
Audi had in 1997 decided to under the leadership of sportchef dr. Wolfgang Ullrich to take part in the sportscars. At that time, did Porsche, Mercedes and BMW. Another reason was that Audi in the toerwagenklassen not more with the Audi A4 could participate, because the FIA four-wheel drive for that branch of sport regulatory uitbande. Then founded Audi the visor on Le Mans.
Audi hooked only when others have already created a furor in the long-distance races. But Audi kept it for the longest time vol. Until the day of today is Audi there. After the first successful years of built Audi the program a short time, something done by only the private teams on the track, but behind the scenes is the brand with the four rings always with the full support have been present.
In 2000, the second year that the Audi’s at Le Mans reason, and got them the first victory. Not only that, they occupy the whole stage and with the locations 1, 2 and 3. In total, Audi has including that of last year up to now 12 victories at Le Mans.
The R8R had a 3.6-litre V8 turbo with 610 hp. Audi held a couple of years to this V8-turboconcept. In 2006 unleashed the German revolution by a diesel engine to drive. This Audi R10 V12 TDI picked up in the hands of Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Marco Werner immediately the victory. And the year after that again. In 2008 came the hat-trick with a victory of Rinaldo Capello,Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish.
The development continued and in 2009 had the R15 V10 TDI the honour of Audi to defend. That year, however, remained the highest step of the podium out of reach. But in 2010, Audi again take on the places 1, 2 and 3. Reglementswijzigingen led to Audi a new car had started to develop with a closed cockpit. The R8, R10 and R15 were all open cars. Only one time there was experimented with a closed Audi R8, which later evolved to the Bentley Speed 8.
The R18 for the 2011 season was in all respects new. A new body and a smaller 3,7-litre V6 diesel engine with around 500 hp. After the huge crash by Allan McNish in the first hour of the race, and then Mike Rockenfeller in the night, knew Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Treluyer their car winning over the finish line. That was a nail-biting finish with 13 seconds of difference on the Peugeot that second was. The concept of the R18 was a year later expanded with hybrid powertrain on the front wheels. So could Audi quattro idea yet again to apply to the circuit.
This week launched Audi, the new R18 e-tron quattro for the season 2014. Negenvoudig Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen sent car through the streets of the French town as promotiestunt. About two and a half months, when he returned to the 24 Hours of Le Mans driving, the brand new R18 undoubtedly be just as drawn out as its predecessor on the show floor in Essen. Grand from Audi that the car preserve and to show the public as it now is. That is real racing.
With thanks to Robert van den Oever and Maarten van der Pas for this guest article!
Gallery: Audi R18 and R8R
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