- Equal balance between three R18 TDI cars on test day
- Audi Sport Team Joest has completed comprehensive program
- Considerable spectator turnout on Easter Sunday
Ingolstadt/Le Mans, April 24, 2011 – The Audi R18 TDI had a successful first public appearance at Le Mans. 24,987 enthusiastic fans witnessed how Audi Sport Team Joest prepared for the 24 Hour race (on June 11/12) on Easter Sunday with all three cars and drivers. The innovative sports car with its ultra lightweight technology set the two fastest times at the end of the test day which is back now.
Whilst it’s traditionally not about lap times on test day, much more significant findings matter for Audi after eight hours. The innovative diesel-powered sportscar was prepared very well for the demanding Le Mans track, all scheduled programs have been completed and the ten drivers adapted perfectly to the demanding circuit. Apart from the nine race drivers, test and reserve driver Marco Bonanomi was also behind the wheel and drove at Le Mans for the first time.
Continue reading ‘Gallery: Successful dress rehearsal for Audi R18 TDI at Le Mans’
Audi factory driver Tom Kristensen put the #3 Audi R18 TDI at the top of the time sheets at the end of the much anticipated return of Le Mans test day. All three R18s were in the top four and all 5 top cars were separated by an astonishingly low .617 seconds! The Le Mans test day is a tradition that goes back many years, however during the last few years it has been missing from the schedule. It was announced last year that the Le Mans test day would return to La Sarthe. This is especially important for Audi who has a brand new race car to prepare for the 24 hours of Le Mans which will be run once again in June.
1 3 AUDI SPORT NORTH AMERICA R. CAPELLO / T. KRISTENSEN / A. McNISH /M. BONANOMI (R) AUDI R18 TDI LM P1 3:27.687
2 1 AUDI SPORT TEAM JOEST T. BERNHARD / R. DUMAS / M. ROCKENFELLER / M. BONANOMI (R) AUDI R18 TDI LM P1 3:27.815 +0.128
3 8 PEUGEOT SPORT TOTAL S. SARRAZIN / A. DAVIDSON / F. MONTAGNY PEUGEOT 908 LM P1 3:27.876 +0.189
4 2 AUDI SPORT TEAM JOEST M. FÄSSLER / A. LOTTERER / B. TRELUYER / M. BONANOMI (R) AUDI R18 TDI LM P1 3:27.878 +0.191
5 9 TEAM PEUGEOT TOTAL A. WURZ / S. BOURDAIS / J. VERNAY (R) / PEUGEOT 908 LM P1 3:28.304 +0.617
One thing is for sure, with test results this close each team will have a lot of work to do to try and find some more speed if they want to distance themselves from the pack. It will be an epic race come June, and QuattroWorld.com will be there on site to bring you the best coverage possible!
Note: We will post an update to this with more pictures later today so stay tuned!
Image source: LeMans.org
- Only seven weeks before the 24 Hours of Le Mans
- Company’s lightweight technology expertise is visible
- Audi R18 TDI with innovative detail design solutions
Ingolstadt, April 21, 2011 – Lightweight design expertise expressed visually: This is the principle under which Audi enters the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans this year. The three Audi R18 TDI cars, which join the grid for the French endurance classic on June 11/12 and which make their first public appearance over the Easter weekend at the Le Mans test day, perfectly embodies – also visually – Audi’s core expertise in lightweight technology.
Continue reading ‘Gallery: Audi Ultra lightweight technology for Le Mans’
