Audi R15 TDI: New diesel-racing car to win Le Mans

As the first automotive manufacturer in the world, developed a diesel Audi racing cars of the second generation. With the new Audi R15 TDI Audi wants its supremacy in the legendary 24-hour race at Le Mans and strengthen its technical expertise to re-emphasize the racetrack. The 24 Hours of Le Mans are suitable for this project particularly well to the ninth overall victory anzupeilen. Since 2004, Audi is unbeaten at Le Mans and owns a real there supremacy.

At long French classics are efficient and fuel-efficient vehicles in great demand. Lightweight, environmentally friendly propulsion concepts and sophisticated aerodynamics are the same at Le Mans as the focus for development of new production vehicles. This leaves the engineers aware of the regulations much room for technical innovation.

Audi used the creative freedom and consistently represented a new LMP1 race car on the wheels, which is significantly different from all previous Le Mans sports car is different. "The R15 TDI has numerous technical details which make it at a sports-prototypes were still did not give," says Audi Motorsport boss Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. "We are part of entirely new ways."

Highly-efficient TDI engine

The heart of the R15 TDI is a newly developed V10 TDI engine, with 600 hp and a maximum torque of over 1,050 Newton meters generated. Also the engine is more compact and lighter than the twelve-cylinder engine in the predecessor model R10 TDI was used. The specific fuel consumption and associated CO2 emissions, Audi could also reduce. Innovations in the area of turbocharging and fuel injection at the same time provide for an improved response of the engine, while a new generation of lighter diesel particulate filter in the R15 TDI goes

Extremely sophisticated, the aerodynamics of the new sports car, the Le Mans in a very big role. Similar to the 2008 DTM in the victorious Audi A4, the makers optimized the flow and the flow of the vehicle by means of CFD calculations (Computational Fluid Dynamics). Among other innovative detailed solutions to the viewer immediately visible, are suspended above a rear wing and a high vehicle nose.


Innovative Wiring Concept

Completely new is the wiring of the Le Mans sports car: the first is a lithium-ion battery for use as part-in hybrid vehicles. It is lighter than the conventional battery and delivers a higher power - from the higher performance will benefit, inter alia, the headlights of the R15 TDI. At Le Mans Audi starts first time with a completely made of light-emitting diodes existing dipped-beam, which is already the next generation of Audi LED technology for series production represents.

Innovative approaches

Innovative approaches also stuck in the chassis and the chassis of the diesel-racing car. The suspension at the front and rear axle lifted the makers according to the aerodynamic concept. With a longer wheelbase and the optimized vehicle weight of the R15 TDI is now much more agile than its predecessor.

His racing debut celebrates the Audi R15 TDI on 21 March 2009 when 12-hour race in Sebring, Florida. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 13 and 14 June 2009 plans to the Audi Sport Team Joest the use of a total of three vehicles.