Cars
Audi R10 TDI
LMP1
Europe
What do you do when you have, to use the popular internet jargon, “Pwned” everyone at Le Mans for 5 years? Audi’s R8 prototype was utterly dominant in endurance racing in the first 5 years of this decade, and continued to be so even after several rule changes should have rendered it uncompetitive, with privateer teams continuing to take the car to wins.
So, after a long behind-the-scenes development programme, the R10 was unveiled to the world in December 2005 – and the main talking point was, of course, its V12 Turbodiesel engine. That Audi would choose such a power plant had been suggested in racing circles for a considerable time, because of the advantages offered by the engine’s characteristics. Diesel engines produce a lot more power at low RPMs than petrol engines, which offers the driver an easier time and also helps prolong engine life. Diesel engines are also more efficient than petrol engines, meaning fewer fuel stops for a diesel car in an endurance race. The diesel’s main disadvantage, a heavier engine (Diesels use greater compression ratios than a Petrol engine, meaning the structure of a diesel engine has to be a lot stronger), is of less significance in a relatively heavy prototype (925kg) than in, for instance a 600kg F1 car. Other teams had run diesel engines at Le Mans prior to the R10, most recently in 2004, but the R10 was the first serious factory-backed effort.
Since making its debut at the Sebring 12 hours of 2006, the car has been undefeated at Le Mans – it currently stands as the benchmark that all other endurance cars are have to measure themselves against.
So, after a long behind-the-scenes development programme, the R10 was unveiled to the world in December 2005 – and the main talking point was, of course, its V12 Turbodiesel engine. That Audi would choose such a power plant had been suggested in racing circles for a considerable time, because of the advantages offered by the engine’s characteristics. Diesel engines produce a lot more power at low RPMs than petrol engines, which offers the driver an easier time and also helps prolong engine life. Diesel engines are also more efficient than petrol engines, meaning fewer fuel stops for a diesel car in an endurance race. The diesel’s main disadvantage, a heavier engine (Diesels use greater compression ratios than a Petrol engine, meaning the structure of a diesel engine has to be a lot stronger), is of less significance in a relatively heavy prototype (925kg) than in, for instance a 600kg F1 car. Other teams had run diesel engines at Le Mans prior to the R10, most recently in 2004, but the R10 was the first serious factory-backed effort.
Since making its debut at the Sebring 12 hours of 2006, the car has been undefeated at Le Mans – it currently stands as the benchmark that all other endurance cars are have to measure themselves against.
