Audi R18 TDI

Audi R18 TDI

Audi R18 TDI at the 2011 1000km of Spa
Category	Le Mans Prototype (LMP1)
Constructor	Audi
Technical specifications
Chassis	Carbon fibre monocoque
Engine	Audi TDI 3.7 litre V6 turbodiesel, mid-engined, longitudinally mounted
Transmission	S-tronic 6-speed sequential manual
Weight	900 kilograms (2,000 lb)
Fuel	Diesel
Tyres	Michelin
Competition history
Notable entrants	Audi Sport Team Joest
Debut	2011 1000 km Spa
Races Wins Poles Fastest laps 6 2 3 2
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

Development

As per the new rules for Le Mans in 2011 the car features a stabilisation fin on the engine cover and also has a new 6-speed gearbox. The new gearbox is electrically controlled instead of pneumatically controlled, saving weight by eliminating the pneumatic system. Despite the capacity reduction, the 3.7L V6 is claimed to develop more than 397 kilowatts (532 bhp) of power. This is less than the outgoing R15, but the V6 engine's fuel consumption will more than likely be lower than that of the outgoing V10 engine on the R15. The new engine has a single Garrett TR30R VGT turbocharger, as opposed to the twin TR30R configuration of both the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP and the previous Audi R15 TDI.^[1] The R18's V6 engine exhausts inwards between the cylinder banks, where the turbocharger is placed. This is called a 'hot side inside' configuration and is opposed to the traditional configuration with each cylinder bank of a V engine exhausting outwards to their respective turbochargers.^[2]
The Audi R18 is the first ever LMP car to race with full LED headlights, in this case in the shape of the number "1." Unlike other coupé competitors in its class, the chassis on the R18 is not composed of two halves but rather a single-piece construction for improved rigidity. The R18 has an engine cooling duct above the cockpit roof as well as redesigned rear wheel arches to channel more air to the rear wing. Like the Acura ARX-02a, Audi has chosen to install bigger and wider tyres at the front for increased contact patch. Further changes include a lower rear wing, aluminium splitters and a small duct on the front of the car for improved driver comfort within the cockpit. The 2011 ACO regulations have limited the R18's fuel tank to 65 litres. The rule changes have been tabled over the past few years in an aim to introduce greater efficiency into motorsport.

2012

In 2012, Audi introduced two models for the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship season (WEC) (including the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans) that is based on the 2011 R18. Both models were officially unveiled at Munich Airport on 29 February of that year.^[3]
The R18 e-tron quattro is a hybrid version of the R18 TDI, utilising a hybrid system to the R18. It is named "e-tron quattro" because it utilises the Audi e-tron hybrid technology from its concept cars while also utilising four-wheel-drive (quattro): the electric motor is placed on the front axle. (Both the R18 e-tron quattro and the R18 ultra (described below) utilise the rear axle with the TDI engine; ACO regulations state that four-wheel-drive vehicles are allowed only in hybrid vehicles, if the electric motor is in the axle opposite of the axle being driven by the conventional engine).
The R18 e-tron quattro will compete with the Toyota TS030 Hybrid in the LMP1 hybrid competition. (ACO regulations state that hybrid vehicles carry a smaller fuel tank compared to non-hybrid vehicles.)
The R18 ultra uses the nearly same constructions as the e-tron quattro, but for a missing hybrid powertrain. Audi says the R18 ultra is the lightest LMP Audi Sport has ever built.
Both of the 2012 R18 models share various improvements over the 2011 R18 model, such as a new gearbox with a carbon-fiber composite housing.

Racing history

2011 season

The car, which was unveiled at a launch in Ingolstadt on 10 December 2010, has made its race debut at the 1000 km Spa round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup in May, finishing 3rd. It was scheduled to be raced at Le Mans 24-hour, the Imola 6 Hours, Silverstone 6 Hours, Petit Le Mans, and China 6 Hour races later in the year.^[4]
Due to developmental and logistic reasons the R18 did not enter the 2011 12 Hours of Sebring. Instead, Audi opted for two Audi R15 Plus models, which ran in the 2010 configuration (with "balance of performance" adjustments); the two cars finished 4th and 5th, behind an Oreca 2010-spec Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, a Highcroft Racing HPD ARX-01e and a factory Peugeot Sport 2011-spec 908. However, Two "Evolution 2" R18 vehicles (chassis numbers 101 and 102) were put to the test during the four days of testing in Sebring, together with an R15 TDI as a reference vehicle, after the 12-hour race in Sebring.^[5]
In the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans, Allan McNish (car #3) and Mike Rockenfeller's (#1) cars were involved in heavy high speed collisions with slower Ferraris. Both drivers could leave their car without serious injuries despite both cars being completely destroyed. However the remaining Audi R18 (#2 of Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer) went on to win the race by 13.854 seconds, continuing the domination of recent Le Mans by Audi. This was the 10th win in the past 13 years for Audi.

2012 season

Audi is planning to run in the FIA WEC. For the 2012 12 Hours of Sebring, they entered three 2011 R18s; the #2 of McNish, Tom Kristensen and Rinaldo Capello took the overall victory with 325 laps completed, marking Audi's tenth victory at Sebring. The victory also marked Kristensen's sixth Sebring win, and as a three-driver team, the third (2006 and 2009). The #3 of Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Loïc Duval finished 2nd four laps behind (321); the two ran much of the race in the same lap until the latter stages when the #3 car fell behind pace of the #2 and made contact with another car, causing a lengthy final pit stop for nose repair (besides the refuel). The #1 of the 2011 Le Mans-winning team finished 16th overall and 5th among WEC LMP1 competitors (310); the car was less reliable than the other two, marred by a gearbox issue midway in the race.^[6][7]
They are expected to run four 2012 R18s at Le Mans (and the preceding 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps), consisting of two R18 e-tron quattro hybrid drive and two R18 ultra conventional drive vehicles. Following Le Mans, Audi intends to run one of each model of the 2012 R18s for the remaining five races in the season.^[3]