Audi R15 TDi - the thread

[Aslak Vind]

New diesel sports car for Le Mans

Audi aims to demonstrate "Vorsprung durch Technik"; specifically in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Audi is just one victory behind Ferrari in the French endurance classic’s all time winners’ list following its eighth victory last June. Only Porsche has more wins at Le Mans.

Audi targets the ninth victory in probably the world’s toughest car race, in which the development of alternative and fuel-saving power concepts are the focus of attention, in June 2009 with a newly developed LMP1 sports car.

The Audi R15 TDI differs significantly from its predecessor, the R10 TDI, at first glance and features many technically innovative details with which Audi aims to maintain its supremacy in Le Mans.

The new Le Mans prototype is equipped with a smaller, lighter and even more efficient TDI engine. During the chassis and aerodynamic development Audi Sport engineers followed similar routes to those exhibited on the current Audi A4 DTM.

"It was clear to us that we must develop a new car if we wanted to continue to be successful in Le Mans," explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich.

"The Audi R15 TDI is the result. The step from R10 to R15 is significantly larger than it was from the R8 to the R10."

" Only the basic concept was carried over from the predecessor model: The R15 TDI is also powered by a TDI engine and is an open-topped roadster. Audi does not wish to release any further details at this time."

The first private tests with the new Le Mans sports car are scheduled for later this year. The R15 TDI will only be presented to the public immediately before its race debut in the 12-hour race in Sebring (USA) on 21 March 2009.

Audi Sport Team Joest will field three new R15 TDI prototypes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Courtesy of Audi Motorsport

[deggis]

"no further details at this time" - boo!

And LMS and ALMS participations (and with what car)...?

[gwyllion]

The new Le Mans prototype is equipped with a smaller, lighter and even more efficient TDI engine.

So V8 or V10 TDI.

[Aslak Vind]

The R10 will be pensioned off in 2008, they confirmed that at Le Mans.

[Aslak Vind]

Tom Kristensen explains, that the new open car will be more agressive designed, lighter due to the fact that its an open car. The closed 908´s were so much faster at Le Mans, so the new R15 will be designed for agility and ligther weight. Those were the points, were the 908 had its supremacy, beides the better aero.

As to the LMS and the ALMS, it seems doubtful that Audi will be able to compete in both championships. But nothing has been decided. It can alos be mantioned, that Audi will cut 1 DTNM car in its field, so only 9 cars in 2009.

Tom hopes to be able to do the testwork with the R15, but nothing has been decided.

[The359]

Keeping it secret until just before Sebring? I wonder if they feel threatened by Acura's progress?

[gwyllion]

If the R15 is light and agile, it makes more sense to participate in ALMS and challenge the normally aspired Acura.

[Marcel ten Caat]

no le mans series in 2009 for Audi, american le mans series is not fully confirmed...only Sebring.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by Aslak Vind

It can alos be mantioned, that Audi will cut 1 DTNM car in its field, so only 9 cars in 2009.

Finally they get rid of Futurecom.

[mattcat]

I wonder what could be so groundbreaking about the R15 that they won't let anyone see it until just before Sebring.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by Stranger

no le mans series in 2009 for Audi, american le mans series is not fully confirmed...only Sebring.

It is expected that the R10 will compete in most of the ALMS this coming year, and their entry for the year has been confirmed.

[gwyllion]

I can imagine Audi wants to hide its new aerodynamics, especially their solution for the reduced rear wing.

[Aslak Vind]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

Finally they get rid of Futurecom.

Well, they still need a team for the last car..

And VW had Kolles TME test their new F309 F3 racer for them, so not exactly out in the cold yet

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by Stranger

no le mans series in 2009 for Audi, american le mans series is not fully confirmed...only Sebring.

I guess the marketing people prefer ALMS. Better TV coverage and more market potential in USA (especially for TDI technology).

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by Aslak Vind

Well, they still need a team for the last car..

They can go for Mercedes solution where one team (Phoenix or Rosberg) runs 3 cars. And the press release talks about "up to five 2008 cars".

Originally Posted by Aslak Vind

And VW had Kolles TME test their new F309 F3 racer for them, so not exactly out in the cold yet

VW already confirmed that the newly formed "Kolles & Heinz Union" team will run VW powered car in F3 Euro Serie

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by Stranger

no le mans series in 2009 for Audi, american le mans series is not fully confirmed...only Sebring.

No Le Mans Series??? That's terrible news for the series, they just got going. I wonder if that'll mean that Peugeot pulls out as well??

EDIT: Could this be Charouz Racing's big surprise: running 2 privateer R10 in LMS??

[gwyllion]

According to http://www.racing1.de/web/le_mans/ar...?newsID=14929& Audi might provide one customer team in LMS with their V8 TFSI engine

And according to http://www.racing1.de/web/alms/artik...?newsID=14930& Audi might run the R10 in ALMS (presumably to reduce costs).

[Bramzel]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

EDIT: Could this be Charouz Racing's big surprise: running 2 privateer R10 in LMS??

Nope, there have been parties who've tried to acquire R10's and they were told they were too complex to sell to privateers. I guess with their 3 programmes the support for those privateer cars would be too much to handle.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

I guess the marketing people prefer ALMS. Better TV coverage and more market potential in USA (especially for TDI technology).

Don't forget Audi is already spending a lot of money on DTM in Europe. The question is do they drop LMS because of the current financial crisis or because they are not satisfied about the return of investment of LMS.

[LeMans.pt]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

No Le Mans Series??? That's terrible news for the series, they just got going. I wonder if that'll mean that Peugeot pulls out as well??

You can bet on it... with no Audi, Peugeot wont be at the LMS season.

[gwyllion]

Financial crisis is the main reason:

"Wir wären weiter gerne in der LMS angetreten, zumal wir 2008 in der Serie auch Aufbauarbeit geleistet haben", erklärte Michael Dick, Vorstand für Technische Entwicklung bei der AUDI AG, auf einer Pressekonferenz anlässlich der Essen Motor Show. "Doch schweren Herzens mussten wir das LMS-Engagement streichen."

source: http://www.racing1.de/web/le_mans/ar...?newsID=14929&

They are still looking for funding for the ALMS participation:

Der Budget-Kürzung im Motorsport-Programm von Audi fiel bereits das Engagement der Ingolstädter in der europäischen Le-Mans-Serie zum Opfer. "Zur ALMS können wir zu diesem Zeitpunkt noch keine Aussage machen", erklärte Audi-Motorsportchef Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich auf der Essen Motor Show. "Wir arbeiten an der Finanzierung."

source: http://www.racing1.de/web/alms/artik...?newsID=14930&

[FIRE]

Without Peugeot and Audi in LMS it will probably be more an open battle in LMP1.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by LeMans.pt

You can bet on it... with no Audi, Peugeot wont be at the LMS season.

Why? In 2007 they raced without Audi. It is a good opportunity to test the 908 HY in competition.

[LeMans.pt]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

Why? In 2007 they raced without Audi. It is a good opportunity to test the 908 HY in competition.

But in 2008 they made it clear that without Audi in the LMS, there wasn't many reasons to do a full season.

My friend... i hope your right, but... i'm a bit pessimistic about this if it gets confirmed

[Speed-King]

Thinking about it, I'm not as worried for LMS as I am for ALMS. LMS still has a strong privateer-base, but if the founding for ALMS doesn't work out for Audi, the impact on American prototype racing will be brutal... No battle in LMP1, a very slim 3-4 car LMP2 field and 17 or 18 cars overall, if the Bear is right with his predictions.