Audi/ALMS tire strategy.

[chernaudi]

At Mid Ohio, Audi double stinted tires at an ALMS sprint for the first time since possibly Laguna Seca '06. Audi has been singing prases for Michelin's tires all year.

However, I do wonder if Audi double stinting Luhr at Mid Ohio on the same tires is to test to see if they can use it the rest of the season, as the 85 liter fuel tank has resulted in Audi lowing their refueling storage tank from 250cm back to 200cm. Audi estimated that Lucas was able to save 12 seconds on his final stop by double stinting-a significant advantage, when you add 12 seconds to his 7 second margin of victory.

Also, the LMP2 cars have rarely double stinted since last year, even in sprint races. Is the weight increase and downforce on those cars wearing out their narrower and smaller diameter tire faster than Audi's tires are wearing out?

[broadrun96]

It was prob a good test for double stinting at PLM, although they prob have a natural advantage there, and Mosport, much closer to the P2s. have to agree Audi thinks the P2 rubber can't handle the double stint and maintain a race leading pace and they might need that advantage. And Michelin seems to have made a beautiful tire, is it the close relationship between the two and optimized for a diesel or just a great tire? Anybody know if Pug and Audi used the same compounds at LM this year, and if the petrol P1s did too?

[joeb]

Maybe Audi is testing things for next year when the rules might only include 1 air gun on stops, so taking tires for 2 stints will for sure be an advantage next season, but then again are they going to be using the R10 next year?

[Aslak Vind]

No they are not, the R10 will be retired by the end of this year.

[Hugewally]

Maybe Mid-Ohio's somewhat 'new' paving is still fairly smooth might have something to do with it?

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Aslak Vind

No they are not, the R10 will be retired by the end of this year.

Any concrete proof of this statement or just gut feeling?

[cmk]

Several personnel within Audi Sport have discussed this in some way or another in the public record. As always, however, we are going to have to wait til the fall (traditionally Essen) for the concrete proof.

[gwyllion]

Remember that the Audi R8 did some ALMS races after the Sebring debut of the R10. That was after it officially retired

[Aslak Vind]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Any concrete proof of this statement or just gut feeling?

Look through the press releases from Audi up to Le Mans 2008, all stating that it will be the last Le Mans it will run. Furthermore, I know that Audi is quite busy with their new baby at the moment.

[Aslak Vind]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

Remember that the Audi R8 did some ALMS races after the Sebring debut of the R10. That was after it officially retired

I know..

That was partly due to the lack of sufficient R10 chassis outside Europe, partly due to Audi not wanting to wiz cars over the pond and back, and mainly to keep the all new dieselcar close to the factory in the introduction phase.

One should not underestimate the pressure on Audi to make the new diesel run flawlessly when introduced, while not putting a strain on the supplychain.

Obviously this could happen again, when the new project is introduced. But I doubt it..

[gwyllion]

That will depend on the drivetrain of the new car. If it has KERS, they could be in the same situation.

[AU N EGL]

Audi does have MORE then three R10s.

Each car sees a race about every OTHER race, while the other one that was just raced is rebuilt.

They just all look the same

[cmk]

Aslak was talking about the first year of the R10 program. In fact, at that point, I believe there were only 3 R10 chassis (101-103), contrary to your statement. That is precisely why they ran the R8 at that juncture, pre-Le Mans.

Now I believe 10 active R10 chassis have been produced (101-103, 201-205, 301-302) though Aslak or some other chassis guru can correct me if I'm wrong. That being said, the assertion that the cars are replaced nearly every race is a little bit hyperbolic. Audi has certainly swapped chassis in and out, particularly for the enduros, but 101 and 103, for instance, ran the entirety of the ALMS from St Pete on until they were replaced at Mosport in 2007.

Aslak, thanks for the confirmation on the goings-on at Audi re the replacement. Allan and Wolfgang were being pretty coy in interviews at LM about how far along they were with it.