ALMS
Audi unveils R18 prototype, plans DTM future car
Audi AG showed off their new sportscar prototype contender, the Audi R18 TDI, at the Audi Sportpark in Ingolstadt, Germany today. The new closed coupe will be the car they hope will allow them to score their tenth victory at the 24 Hours of Le ...
Edited: Jul 30, 2012, 3:33 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Audi AG showed off their new sportscar prototype contender, the Audi R18 TDI, at the Audi Sportpark in Ingolstadt, Germany today. The new closed coupe will be the car they hope will allow them to score their tenth victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The 2011 Audi R18 TDI with the Audi work drivers: Tom Kristensen, Rinaldo Capello, Allan McNish, André Lotterer, Marcel Fässler, Benoit Tréluyer, Mike Rockenfeller, Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas
Photo by: Audi Communications Motorsport
Prior to the world's most prestigious endurance race, Audi will test the LMP1 contender privately. Besides the first peek at the R18 diesel powered machine, it will not be seen again until the Le Mans open test scheduled this year in April. The first race for the German manufacturer will be in May for the Le Mans Series event, the second round of the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, at Spa in Belgium.
The R18 is a closed-cockpit design, one not raced by Audi since the marque's Le Mans debut in 1999, when the German works team entered two open R8R models and two closed R8C cars. In the marque's debut at the famed race, neither R8C finished the race but the R8R twins took the chequered flag in third and fourth places.
"In the future, aerodynamic efficiency will be even more important at Le Mans than it was in the past," commented Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi. "A closed car has clear advantages in this respect. Our computer simulations have been confirmed in the wind tunnel and during initial track tests."
The design draws on the experience of the 2003 race-winning Speed 8 of the Bentley sister brand, but also adds a features like the rules-dictated fin atop the engine cover.
The new car stunned many with its "wicked look" as the main comment said by many. "I tested the R18 for the first time at the end of last month which was essentially the Coupe's initial roll-out combined with its maiden test," said Audi factory driver Allan McNish.
"The car ran very well without any technical problems. We encountered wet and dry running enabling us to collect a lot of information in all types of track conditions," added the Scot.
The 2011 Audi R18 TDI in development in the wind tunnel
Photo by: Audi Communications Motorsport
The R18 will compete in six of the seven rounds of the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC), starting with the second event at Spa.
Audi has seen much success in motor racing, not only in the Le Mans-style sportscar endurance races but also in the DTM (German Touring Car Masters series). With the technology freeze still set for 2011, the DTM team's race engineers are focusing new tire development. Audi will again campaign nine cars with drives to be announced later.
"In 2010 the tires were a really crucial topic which caused us to fall a little behind our competitor," said Dr. Martin Muhlmeier, Head of Engineering for Audi Sport. "This mustn't happen again."
Audi's future in DTM is already in the works with the "R17" designation for the Audi A4 DTM which will run in 2012 with the series' all-new rules package, and competition from BMW in addition to Mercedes-Benz.
The new rules will also be used by a new US-based series supporting NASCAR and Grand Am, and eventually by the Japanese Super GT series, providing added opportunities for the "R17" outside DTM's core German-focused series.
Audi will start testing the new DTM car in the summer of 2011 in preparation for its 2012 debut.
Designation Name Series/class Introduced R1 quattro rallye WRC 1980 R2 Sport quattro rallye WRC 1984 R3 200 quattro rallye WRC 1987 R4 200 quattro Trans-Am Trans-Am 1988 R5 90 quattro IMSA IMSA GTO 1989 R6 V8 quattro DTM DTM 1990 R7 80 quattro Supertourismo BTCC, GTCC, ITCC 1989 R8 R8R LM P900 1999 R8 LM P900, LM P1 2000 R9 R8C LM GTP 1999 R10 R10 TDI LM P1 2005 R11 A4 DTM DTM 2004 R12 A4 DTM DTM 2005 R12+ A4 DTM DTM 2006 R13 A4 DTM DTM 2007 R14 A4 DTM DTM 2008 R14+ A4 DTM DTM 2009 R15 R15 TDI LM P1 2009 R15+ R15+ TDI LM P1 2010 R16 R8 LMS FIA GT3 2009 R17 A4 DTM DTM 2012 R18 R18 TDI LM P1 2011
For the Twelve Hours of Sebring fans, there is a bit of disappointment as the R18 will not make its debut at the event. However, the team's R15+ cars will contest the overall victory at the Florida circuit in March, 2011 which will also be the first round of the ILMC.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Flying Lizard Motorsports announces 2011 plans
Next article Audi debuts new R18 TDI, outlines 2011 plans
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Romain Dumas
Ford SuperVan claims Goodwood Festival of Speed Shootout glory
Goodwood Festival of Speed
Goodwood Festival of Speed
Ford SuperVan claims Goodwood Festival of Speed Shootout glory
Le Mans winner Dumas joins Proton Porsche for Daytona return
IMSA
IMSA
Le Mans winner Dumas joins Proton Porsche for Daytona return
Latest news
MotoGP riders say 850cc bikes will be less physical and more fun to ride
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Indonesian GP
29 min
MotoGP riders say 850cc bikes will be less physical and more fun to ride
Christian Horner calls for F1 budget cap rethink: "Teams are spending $500 or $600m"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
2 h
Christian Horner calls for F1 budget cap rethink: "Teams are spending $500 or $600m"
Phillip Island to remain in use despite MotoGP and WorldSBK departures
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
3 h
Phillip Island to remain in use despite MotoGP and WorldSBK departures
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe