Posts Tagged ‘Audi R15’

Audi plans test run at Le Castellet

Racing debut of latest specification Audi R15 TDI brought forward
Participation in 8-hour race at Le Castellet (France)
Total of three starts in 2010 Le Mans Series
Ingolstadt, February 2, 2010 – To further prepare for the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans, Audi Sport is planning an additional racing commitment with the Audi R15 TDI that has undergone additional development. For April 11, the participation in the 8-hour race at Le Castellet in southern France is planned for testing purposes.

Originally, the diesel racing sports car that is internally designated as “R15 plus” was to make its racing debut at the 1000-kilometer race at Spa-Francorchamps. The Belgian endurance classic continues to be on Audi Sport Team Joest’s race schedule as the final dress rehearsal for Le Mans. However, to complement these plans, Audi Sport also wants to use the season opener of the 2010 Le Mans Series (LMS) on the high-speed circuit at Le Castellet to test the “R15 plus” in racing conditions.

“We’re on schedule with the additional developments we’re making on the R15 TDI and so this race should be possible,” says Head of Audi-Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “Le Castellet is a race track that lends itself pretty well to testing for Le Mans, and we’ve frequently used this circuit for our Le Mans preparation. The 8-hour race distance makes the race of further interest to us.”

Purely for logistical reasons, Audi Sport Team Joest has registered for the 2010 Le Mans Series. “But this should not at all be interpreted to mean that we will be contesting all five LMS races,” said Dr. Ullrich. “At the moment, we are only planning to race at Le Castellet, Spa-Francorchamps and Silverstone.”

The 1000-kilometer race at Silverstone (Great Britain) on September 12 will mark the finale of the 2010 Le Mans Series and simultaneously kicks off the Le Mans Intercontinental Cup, which Audi Sport Team Joest will tackle with two R15 TDI cars.

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Posted in Diesel News, Diesel Tuning, TDI Owners, VAG Topics

New driver trio for the Audi R15 TDI

Audi extends driver line-up for the 24 Hours of Le Mans
Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Treluyer new to the team
Joint test run in the 1000-kilometer race at Spa
Ingolstadt, January 28, 2010 – Audi Sport leaves nothing to chance in its endeavour to bring the prestigious Le Mans trophy back to Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm. Not only the technology of the Audi R15 TDI is being subjected to further development. The drivers’ line-up for the 24 Hours of Le Mans (France) has been extended as well.

For the world’s most famous endurance race, Audi has signed three new drivers, the Swiss Marcel Fässler (33), German André Lotterer (28) and Frenchman Benoît Treluyer (33), who will be sharing the cockpit of one of three Audi R15 TDI cars on June 12/13, 2010.

“In view of our strong competitors, we want to – and have to – be perfectly positioned in terms of drivers too,” explained Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “Therefore, we decided to extend our driver line-up. Marcel, André and Benoît attracted our attention during the past two years in a particularly positive way. They are used to handling fast prototypes and know each other extremely well. The three of them, and we too, are convinced that they are a very good combination for Le Mans.”

The new Audi drivers already have experience at the wheel of diesel racing sports cars. Marcel Fässler successfully contested two races in the American Le Mans Series for Audi in 2008. André Lotterer impressed at Le Mans last year at the wheel of an Audi R10 TDI of the private Audi customer team Kolles. Benoît Treluyer competed in the 24-hour classic in a Peugeot in 2009.

Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Treluyer have already visited Audi Sport in Ingolstadt for seat-fittings and will soon be testing the Audi R15 TDI. The first racing commitment for the new Audi driver trio is planned for May 9, in the 1000-kilometer race at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), which will serve as a dress rehearsal for the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Audi Sport Team Joest.

“For the time being, plans for Marcel, André and Benoît are fully focused on Le Mans 2010,” says Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “But all three of them are still relatively young, and therefore, may also become part of our sports car project over the long term.”

Audi has been contesting the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 1999 and having made 11 starts, has won the race as many as eight times. In addition to speed, reliability and efficiency are the key factors of success in the world’s most famous endurance race.

Furthermore, the LMP1 class is unrivalled by any other motorsport category in terms of offering the opportunity to test technical innovations in racing conditions. Thanks to its technology leadership, Audi has repeatedly set milestones in this regard. The Audi R8, for instance, successfully introduced TFSI gasoline direct injection technology in 2001, while in 2006 the Audi R10 TDI was the first diesel-powered vehicle to clinch victory in the history of the race.

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Posted in Diesel News, Diesel Owners Club, Diesel Tuning, TDI Owners, VAG Topics

McNISH MORAL VICTOR OF PETIT LE MANS RACE AS AUDI JUST MISS OUT ON 10TH CONSECUTIVE RACE WIN

Diesel Audi R15 Le Mans

Britain’s Allan McNish (pictured) came tantalisingly close to achieving his fifth Petit Le Mans race victory at Road Atlanta on Saturday (26 Sep) and maintaining Audi’s 100% winning record in the annual American sportscar endurance race since the German manufacturer’s debut in 2000.

The Dumfries-born double Le Mans 24 Hour race winner and Italian co-driver Dindo Capello led for the opening 4hrs before the Scotsman suffered two spins and dropped to third place on the treacherously wet and slippery track in Georgia – moments before the race went in to a Safety Car period and was ultimately stopped with almost five hours run.

After a further delay of almost four hours and near constant heavy rain, organisers decided not to re-start the event which in any case was limited to 10 hours or 1,000-miles, leaving the McNish/Capello diesel-engined Audi R15 TDI classified third, a mere 3.465secs behind the winning Peugeot (Franck Montagny/Stephane Sarrazin).

“It was a disappointing way for the race to end, it was the correct decision due to the adverse track conditions but I feel robbed and frustrated,” reflected McNish who set the race’s fastest lap.

“I made a good start in the wet and the car adapted well to the drying conditions. I had been very close to putting the second-placed Peugeot a lap down but a Safety Car period nullified that opportunity for us.

“Dindo then led throughout his stint before I took over again. I was leading but spun down to third on a greasy track after light rain during another Safety Car period when my slick tyres became cold running at slow speed and lost their grip.

“I pitted soon afterwards for wet tyres as the rain intensified but then aquaplaned out of second place and down to third again. The rain was torrential and far too dangerous to continue. My Audi was floating on the track as opposed to driving on it which was all but flooded and the organisers made the correct decision, if not five laps late, as there would have been no cars left on the track in those conditions.”

The McNish/Capello Audi had started from third place on the 27-car grid but McNish swept in to the lead on the opening lap. The “sister” R15 TDI of Lucas Luhr/Marco Werner began from fourth place, a position the German duo were classified in, one lap down on the top-three, when the race was declared over. Meanwhile the McNish/Capello Audi won the efficiency award “Michelin GreenX Challenge” – a trophy awarded to the most environmentally friendly car.

Audi unexpectedly contested a third race of the year to collect further race information about its new sports-prototype in preparation for the Le Mans 24 Hours next June.

Allan concluded: “Despite the race being cut short, we’ve learned a lot and gathered valuable race data which we will be very helpful for next year – and that was our ultimate aim for coming here.”

Allan McNish “Petit Le Mans” Formguide (4 wins from 7 starts):
1998 (Porsche 911 GT1): Qualified – 1st (AM). Race – Retired
1999 (Porsche 911 GT1 EVO): Qualified – 15th. Race – 7th
2000 (Audi R8): Qualified – 1st (AM). Race – 1st + AM fastest lap (1:11.782, 127.386mph)
2006 (Audi R10 TDI): Qualified – 2nd (AM). Race – 1st
2007 (Audi R10 TDI): Qualified – 3rd. Race – 1st + AM fastest lap (1:09.195, 132.148mph)
2008 (Audi R10 TDI): Qualified – 2nd (AM). Race – 1st
2009 (Audi R15 TDI): Qualified – 3rd. Race – 3rd + AM fastest lap (1:08.063secs, 134.346mph)

Audi “Petit Le Mans” Formguide (9 wins from 10 starts):
2000 (Audi R8): 1st (Allan McNish/Dindo Capello/Michele Alboreto)
2001 (Audi R8): 1st (Frank Biela/Emanuele Pirro)
2002 (Audi R8): 1st (Dindo Capello/Tom Kristensen)
2003 (Audi R8): 1st (Johnny Herbert/JJ Lehto)
2004 (Audi R8): 1st (JJ Lehto/Marco Werner)
2005 (Audi R8): 1st (Frank Biela/Emanuele Pirro)
2006 (Audi R10 TDI): 1st (Allan McNish/Dindo Capello)
2007 (Audi R10 TDI): 1st (Allan McNish/Dindo Capello)
2008 (Audi R10 TDI): 1st (Allan McNish/Dindo Capello/Emanuele Pirro)

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Both Audi R15 TDI prototypes on row two

Accidents and night shifts for Audi Sport Team Joest
Focus on race set-up
Uncertain race day weather forecast
Ingolstadt/Atlanta – Audi Sport Team Joest’s two Audi R15 TDI prototypes will start the “Petit Le Mans” 1000-mile race at Road Atlanta (U.S. state of Georgia) from the second row of the grid. The U.S. endurance classic serves Audi as preparation for the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours.

Best Audi driver in Friday’s 25-minute qualifying session was Dindo Capello (Italy) who set the third fastest time with the #2 Audi R15 TDI in 1m 08.200s. Teammate Lucas Luhr (Germany) was just 28 thousands of a second behind with the #1 “sister” car.

During the three practice days, the Audi team focused entirely on the race set-up of the technically innovative Audi R15 TDI which competes only in its third ever race at Road Atlanta. The effort was complicated by the external conditions: After torrential rain falls, the challenging track had little grip on the first day on Wednesday. High temperatures of almost 85 degrees Fahrenheit and extremely high humidity added to this.

Principally harmless minor off-road excursions from Lucas Luhr on Wednesday and Marco Werner on Thursday gave the mechanics two night shifts. The two Germans each slid slightly off the race track. The rain of the previous days, however, had washed out the grass and the deep holes were responsible for significant damage to their R15 TDI. As a consequence the team had to change the monocoque of the number “1″ car during the night from Wednesday to Thursday. At 4:30 a.m., the rebuilt car was ready and back on its wheels.

Heavy rain showers are predicted for Saturdays race at Road Atlanta (starting at 11:20 a.m. local time) which should make this challenging race even more difficult.

Audi competes in the “Petit Le Mans” event since 2000 and is undefeated in this 1000-mile race. In the last three years, Dindo Capello and Allan McNish took the victory with the R15-predecessor the Audi R10 TDI. Capello and McNish are teamed up again. Lucas Luhr shares the “sister” car with Marco Werner.

Quotes after qualifying

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “It was a difficult start for us with the accidents on the first two days. This caused a lot of work. Today we were at least able to find a good race set-up for both cars. Our main problem right now is the traction, which means we are fighting with spinning rear wheels. This cost us a lot of time out of the slower corners during qualifying with the higher track temperatures.”

Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest): “It took us quite some time to set-up the car for this track. You just see that we are lacking race experience with the R15 TDI. The positive thing is that we have contented drivers in both cars now. We did not unpack our sharpest weapon for qualifying which was not our target, but I believe we are well prepared for the race. I’m expecting a fierce battle with many caution periods. The big question mark in the background is the weather. There are forecasts with torrential rain. I’m curious as to what to expect. I would like to thank the whole crew who have worked so hard after the accidents.”

Dindo Capello (Audi R15 TDI #2): “Qualifying was a little disappointing in terms of the time difference to pole-position. The track temperature was high during qualifying which caused understeer and loss of traction which cost me time. Allan and I really liked the car this morning in the final practice. The weather forecast for the race isn’t good but fortunately we had a run here in wet conditions last Sunday.”

Allan McNish (Audi R15 TDI #2): “It’s going to be a big fight tomorrow. The weather forecast is for rain during the race which will be another aspect and to some extent cancel out what has been learnt over the past few days. Peugeot have an advantage in one-lap qualifying trim but we [Audi] showed earlier today in practice that we can match their pace in race set-up. It’s going to be an interesting race.”

Lucas Luhr (Audi R15 TDI #1): “Unfortunately the practice days have been quite turbulent for us. We have to analyze why our competitor is quicker. Dindo (Capello) and I pressed everything out of the car in qualifying which is possible at the moment. But I believe we have a very good racecar right now. We’ll drive to keep up with them in the race. In the past it has been often the case that Peugeot was much quicker in qualifying than in the race. I hope this will be also the case tomorrow.”

Marco Werner (Audi R15 TDI #1): “We are here to learn – and we’ve already learned a lot over the past few days. It’s something different to drive under race conditions instead of testing. I think this week gave a big push to the whole team. I expected the times to be like they are. The gap to Peugeot is a little bit too big. We have to see how things will develop during the race. It was always a big strength of Audi to be very good in the race while our competitors normally made a step backwards compared to qualifying.”

The starting grid

1 Minassian/Lamy (Peugeot) 1m 06.937s
2 Sarrazin/Montagny (Peugeot) 1m 07.160s
3 Capello/McNish (Audi R15 TDI) 1m 08.200s
4 Luhr/Werner (Audi R15 TDI) 1m 08.228s
5 de Ferran/Pagenaud/Dixon (Acura/Honda) 1m 08.348s
6 Panis/Lapierre/Dumas (Oreca-AIM) 1m 09.566s
7 Field/Field (Lola-AER) 1m 09.685s
8 Leitzinger/Franchitti/Devlin (Lola-Mazda) 1m 10.152s
9 Drayson/Cocker/Bell (Lola-Judd) 1m 10.552s
10 Pickett/Graf/Maassen (Porsche) 1m 11.405s

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Posted in Diesel News, Diesel Owners Club