APR’s Engineering Teams have finished final testing of a new ECU Calibration for the Stage I and Stage II+ ECU Upgrades. The results are an additional 20-30 Horsepower and ft-lbs of torque depending on operating conditions, and the addition of APR Motorsport features designed to enhance your driving experience.

Accompanying these updates, all ECU’s flashed with APR’s v2.0 software will be subject to subsequent updates via OBD-II port reflashes through APR’s world wide distribution network.

For several years, APR’s tested the 3.0 TFSI through brutal professional motorsport racing in the Grand-AM and World Challenge Road Racing Series. Automotive Engineering firms have continuously turned to endurance racing as proving grounds for new technologies and to measure the durability and viability of these new technologies in a rigorous total system accelerated life-testing environment found in very few alternatives. Through this testing and research APR’s Engineering Team is able to deliver a more powerful application of the Stage I and Stage II+ ECU Upgrade and do so knowing little to no loss of life will be suffered in the comparison to the Original Calibration and engine performance levels.

APR’s dynamic calibration changes allow the TVS1320 supercharger unit to operate to its full potential under many different ambient conditions. The resulting increase in intake mass airflow delivers more power though the entire rev range, no matter what APR Stage or APR Performance program you choose. Accordingly, adjustments were made to other areas of the ECU calibration to ensure proper operation as intended by the OEM.

APR’s Motorsport Left Foot Braking feature is now available allowing customers more control over their vehicle’s throttle. Under normal operation, throttle input is disabled while pressing the accelerator and brake at the same time, however this may be undesirable for those looking to get the most out of their vehicles performance on the track. Enabling the left foot braking feature, the driver will have complete control over the vehicle’s throttle and braking system, which may give the edge he or she needs at the track.

APR’s Motorsport Rev Limiter is also now available allowing 6MT customers to reach max RPM without the ECU slowing down acceleration nearly 400 RPM’s earlier. The result is more power to redline and a definable redline feeling as seen on Audi Quattro GMBH vehicles such as the B7 RS4 and R8 V8 & V10.

Version 2.0 software is now available and is a FREE upgrade for all existing APR Stage I and Stage II+ customers.

[Via: APR]

It is fairly difficult to describe Le Mans to someone who hasn’t been fortunate enough to be there in person. It is such an emotional event that encapsulates all that is good about motorsport enthusiasm. It is a test of man’s mental and physical abilities as well as pushing machinery and technology to their very limits. We certainly are excited for this year’s running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and watching this video give us goosebumps. We hope that you find it equally exciting! This is going to be an amazing year, and if you have ever thought about trying to make the journey I would encourage you to do everything you can to make it this year!

In an announcement this morning at the ACO Press Conference, the details regarding the entries for the 80th running of the 24 hours of Le mans were released. Despite the lack of any competition from Peugeot, who pulled out of the race last month, Audi should have a good amount of competition as there are a total of 15 cars listed in LMP1.

The crew from Audi Sport will be bringing a total of 4 cars to the race 2 hybrids led by Allan McNish and Andre Lotterer. Timo Bernhard and new driver Oliver Jarvis will lead the TDI powered R18s. The rest of the driver line ups have not been confirmed yet. Official Audi Sport Press Release is below.

LMP1 Classification:
Audi Sport Team Joest (Audi R18 TDI) : Lotterer
Audi Sport Team North America (Audi R18 TDI) : McNish
Audi Sport Team Joest (Audi R18 TDI) : Bernhard
Audi Sport Team North America (Audi R18 TDI) : Jarvis
Toyota Racing (Toyota TS030 Hybrid) : Wurz
Toyota Racing (Toyota TS030 Hybrid) : Ishiura
OAK Racing (OAK-Pescarolo) : Moreau
Rebellion Racing (Lola-Toyota) : Prost
Rebellion Racing (Lola-Toyota) :Belicchi
JRM (HPD ARX-03a) : Brabham
Strakka Racing (HPD ARX-03a) : Leventis
Pescarolo Team (Pescarolo-Judd) : Collard
Pescarolo Team (Dome-Judd) : Minassian
Dyson Racing (Lola-Mazda) : Smith
Dyson Racing (Lola-Mazda) : Dyson

Audi Sport Press Release:

• ACO and FIA accept AUDI AG entries
• Four Audi LMP1 sports cars at the 80th running of the 24 hours
• Conventional drive is further developed

Audi competes in the 80th running of the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 16–17, 2012 with a total of four LMP1 sports cars. Two of the four cars in action will be equipped with hybrid drive for the first time. Audi Sport Team Joest also follows a two-pronged approach in the newly created FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) during the 2012 season. 
 
Following the first win for a TFSI engine (2001) and the historical first triumph for a diesel powered car (2006) the brand with the four rings targets yet another technical milestone at the world’s most famous and most important endurance race. “To develop the hybrid technology for Le Mans is at least as ambitious and challenging as our diesel project was in its early stages,” explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “The first test results are very encouraging and we are intrigued to see just how this technology performs in combination with our ultra lightweight technology on the race track at Le Mans. As before, we still, however, see potential with the conventional drive – just as our colleagues do in production development. This is why we are absolutely delighted that the ACO and FIA selection committee has accepted our entries and that we can join the grid with four cars at the commemorative running of the Le Mans race.” 
 
Audi Sport Team Joest has entered two cars for the new FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Audi plans to field additional cars at selected races such as the 12-hour race at Sebring (USA) and in the 6-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) which doubles as a dress rehearsal for Le Mans for the Audi squad. 
 
At the 80th running of the French endurance classic, Audi competes with the start numbers ‘1’ and ‘2’ (hybrid drive) as well as ‘3’ and ‘4’. As stipulated by the regulations one driver per car is now nominated. Those drivers are André Lotterer, Allan McNish, Timo Bernhard and Oliver Jarvis. 
 
The new Audi sports prototype with hybrid drive will be presented at the end of February. The first competitive outing follows in the 6-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps on May 5. For the World Championship opener at Sebring on March 17 Audi Sport Team Joest relies once again on the Audi R18 TDI that proved victorious at Le Mans last year. Audi has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans a total of ten times since the year 2000 and is, as a result, the most successful brand by far in race’s recent history.

 

• Vehicle sales up 19.7% vs. January 2011, the previous U.S. record
• Sales propelled by demand for C- and D-segment vehicles, representing more than 30% of the sales mix, and strong TDI® clean diesel sales
• Certified Pre-Owned sales of 2,570 vehicles marks an increase of 15% over the same period in 2011

We are extremely excited to share the details of this new engine with you. It is a new Biturbo TDI powerplant with 308 BHP and 487.5 FT LBS! and Audi UK just released details about it on their Facebook page. We have word from our sources at Audi that the USA will definitely see this engine, as soon as next year in the 2013 Q7.

The new Audi 3.0 BiTDI engine is the most powerful six-cylinder diesel engine we have ever made, and it’s now available for the A6 Saloon, A6 Avant and A7 Sportback, and will be available in the A6 allroad later this year. You can hear its sweet, sporty sound here..

• Audi on the grid in Australia with designs from the animal kingdom
• Formula 1 know-how at Audi Sport Team Rosberg
• Exhibition and conference appearances for Audi factory drivers

The two Phoenix Racing Audi R8 LMS will be two visually striking highlights in the field at the Bathurst 12 hours at the end of February. 

Black and white: The two Audi R8 LMS which compete in the 12 hours Bathurst between February 24 and 26 are unique with their visual references to the animal kingdom.Christer Jöns/Christopher Mies/Darryl O’Young share a black R8 LMS. An oversized version of the world-famous yellow traffic sign symbolizing the kangaroo is reproduced on the bodywork. A spider’s web covers the entire surface of the white sister car driven by Mark Eddy/Craig Lowndes/Warren Luff. A typical Australian Redback spider sits in the web. 
 
Top-class new team member: Formula 1 know-how moves to Audi Sport Team Rosberg. New team member Ossi Oikarinen spent 14 years in Grand Prix racing. The 41-year old engineer is new Technical Director of the DTM team from March 1 and successor to Andreas Roos. After starting at Arrows in 1997, Oikarinen moved to Toyota in 2000 where he also worked together with Dieter Gass, the new Head of Racing Commitments at Audi Sport. Oikarinen who hails from Lahti in Finland managed the BMW Sauber teat team from 2007. From 2009 he was the leading test engineer at Ferrari. “We expect many new impulses for our team in 2012 season from this high-class new team member,” explains Team Director Arno Zensen.
 
Great enthusiasm in Erfurt: Rahel Frey was a popular guest at the ADAC Motorsport Show at the exhibition center in Thuringia. The Swiss lady representing Audi was a popular interviewee and signed many autographs. Among the biggest attractions in Hall 1 was also the Schaeffler Audi A4 DTM.
 
Crowds of fans at Lake Constance: Audi factory driver Timo Scheider was kept busy signing countless autographs all day, every day from Friday to Sunday on the Motorradwelt stand at the exhibition center in Friedrichshafen. The two-time DTM Champion is an enthusiastic motorbike rider. 
 
Presentation in Paris: At a press conference on February 2 the ACO and FIA will present the new World Endurance Championship (WEC). Audi will be represented by factory driver Benoît Tréluyer and also displays the Audi R18 TDI with which the Frenchman and his team mates won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2011. 
 
Trade fair exhibit in Qatar: Visitors attending the Motor Show in Doha between January 25 and 28 were not only able to admire the latest production cars. An Audi R18 TDI joined the many eye-catchers on the Audi stand. 
 

Familiar faces: With the introduction of the GRAND-AM program two engineers from sport prototype programs return. The American Brad Kettler was an engineer for different Audi teams since the Audi R8 LMP era. He now provides technical and logistical support in the customer racing program. Ron Mathis, one of the race engineers from the former American Le Mans Series program, is new race engineer at Oryx Racing.
 
Big program: about 180 guests of Audi of America visibly enjoyed the debut of the R8 GRAND-AM at Daytona. A tour through the paddock, exclusive pit tours during the race and visits to meet the drivers in the Audi Lounge on the main grandstand ensured the weekend remained unforgettable. The guests enjoyed a unique view across the oval track from the Audi Lounge. 

A word from … Emanuele Pirro
 
Your start in the 24 hours Daytona 2012 has a special meaning to you. What connects you with this race? 

Oh yes, it’s my first race as a 50-year old racing driver! No, seriously though, I contested my first race outside Italy as 19-year old racing driver at Daytona in 1981. And now 31 years later I have the honor of being in the thick of the action as the R8 GRAND-AM makes its debut in Daytona. This is why this race with Audi is so special.

What has changed over the course of more than three decades? 

Earlier there were so few buildings that it was possible to recognize the banking from a long way away. This put so much fear in our hearts that two of my team mates – Michele Alboreto and Beppe Gabbiani – and I wanted to turn around on the spot! At that time there was no chicane in the oval. Today it’s great fun to drive on the demanding circuit with such a well developed car like the R8 GRAND-AM. By the way, despite being in motorsport for many decades, I attended the Rookie briefing at Daytona again this year.

What memories do you have of the famous Daytona weekend? 

After coming home after my first race in 1981 I didn’t realize what we had achieved. Thanks to our points our employer became World Champion. And now we’ve started a campaign which will hopefully also have a big effect. I’m sure that the Audi R8 GRAND-AM will have a big future in this series.

Coming up next week
 
02.02. Press conference WEC Paris (F)

[Source: Audi USA]

We are six hours into 24 hours of Daytona and it’s been a difficult race for Audi with the cars changing position after almost every lap and two major incidents have kept the cars out of the lead. 

The Oryx R8 Grand-AM was able to hold a several lap lead over the APR driven car. An instance at 4PM with the Oryx car caused them to flat spot multiple tires and nearly took out a Porsche.

Then at 5PM, the Oryx car stopped on the edge of pine lane. Their pit team was forced to sprint down the track to retrieve the car. The car was towed behind the wall because if a car is towed in from the pit lane, it must go behind the wall. Can’t have tow vehicles on pit lane. They took a splash of fuel to get to get out of the pits then missed the pits during a yellow so they were forced to run another lap and pit again. Shortly after at 5:30 the clutch in the Oryx R8 failed and the car was smoking badly. Then nine minutes later the clutch in the APR R8 failed. One hour later the APR R8 was back on the track, followed shortly by the Oryx R8.

Dr. Jim Norman is now in the car and will be followed by Ian Baas.

Audi works driver Allan McNish and former driver Lucas Luhr in the #8 Starworks Motorsport Ford / Riley are currently in 3rd in the Daytona Prototype class.

Mike Rockenfeller and the Flying Lizard Motorsports with Wright Motorsports Porsche GT3 are in 15th. 

Team QuattroWorld has now descended upon the Media center at Daytona and we are ready for an exciting weekend! Both Audi R8 Rolex Grand-am teams have qualified mid pack and are ready to make a strong push into the 24 hour race. The Audi R8 from Team Oryx qualified 15th in the GT class, and APR was not too far behind in 21st spot in class. The teams may be disappointed to have qualified mid pack, but remember this is a 24 hour race, and almost anything can happen. (Full qualifying results below).

Stay tuned all weekend and we hope to bring you lots of great updates throughout the weekend! 

 GALLERY

http://www.grand-am.com/schedule/results.cfm?series=r&eid=3428&sid=2394

We just posted a teaser of the upcoming Audi superbowl commercial merely an hour ago, and we just happened upon the actual full commercial! We can’t say with 100% certainty that Audi doesn’t have something else coming on gameday however, sometimes they will try and surprise us last minute.

Without further ado here is Audi’s 2012 Superbowl commercial! Please let us know what you think!

It is that time of the year again, and the net is abuzz with speculation over the upcoming Superbowl commercials. This being their 5th year participating in the extravaganza, Audi is giving us many hints as to the contents of their latest Superbowl advertisement. A few days ago via Facebook, they posted this teaser “In just under two weeks at the biggest sporting event of the year, our LEDs will lay waste to a trend that has long needed killing off. Any guesses what?”  And now, we have a video to go along with it. It is safe to assume that Audi will be campaigning their new 100% LED headlights as a tool to kill off the uber annoying vampire trend!