Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Audi R15 "plus" TDI shows off new, more aerodynamic nose]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/15/audi-r15-plus-tdi-shows-off-new-more-aerodynamic-nose/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/15/audi-r15-plus-tdi-shows-off-new-more-aerodynamic-nose/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/15/audi-r15-plus-tdi-shows-off-new-more-aerodynamic-nose/#commentsFiled under: , ,


2010 Audi R15 plus - click above to enlarge

Testing for the 24 Hours of Le Mans doesn't begin until mid-June, but that doesn't mean that Audi isn't already hard at work bettering the chances of their diesel-powered R15 TDI racer.

Thanks to a belated rule change for the LMP1 class designed to hamper the dominance of diesel-powered vehicles, Le Mans rulemakers have mandated smaller-diameter air restrictors and curbed supercharger pressure in an effort to level the playing field. According to Audi, those alterations have made the German automaker prioritize aerodynamics and downforce even more than normal.

The result? Audi boffins have completely re-engineered the front-end of the car, so much so that the new split nose racer has been designated "R15 plus." The updated LMP1 entrant has already begun testing its new aerodynamics, revised cooling and fuel tank systems in the United States, and further testing in Europe will follow before the legendary French enduro. Audi says that the 5.5-liter engine continues to crank out upwards of 590 horsepower. Can't remember what last year's R15 look like? Compare and contrast by clicking here. Official press release after the jump.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi R15 "plus" TDI shows off new, more aerodynamic nose

Audi R15 "plus" TDI shows off new, more aerodynamic nose originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above to enlarge

It really is a shame that Audi has pulled out of the American and European Le Mans Series, choosing only to run its new R15 TDI Le Mans Prototype racer at this year's 12 Hours of Sebring in March and 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. All that money, effort and time to develop a replacement for one of the winningest cars in all of motorsports seems like a waste on just two races, even if they are the sport's biggest.

This image released by Audi shows the design of the new R15 TDI ahead of its track debut in March. The new diesel-powered prototype car is much more radical compared to the R10 that it replaces than that car was to the R8. The most noteworthy difference is a new front end with an elevated nose that features two supports extending down to the pavement-scraping front chin spoiler. There's clearly some F1 influence up front, though Audi opted not to switch to a closed cockpit design like Peugeot uses for its 908 HDi.

The new R15 TDI will makes its race debut on March 21 at the 12 Hours of Sebring where its predecessors, the R10 and R8, have won eight times. Two cars will be campaigned using the same driver teams as last year: defending Le Mans winners Dindo Capello (Italy), Tom Kristensen (Denmark) and Allan McNish (Scotland) in one car and Lucas Luhr, Mike Rockenfeller and Marco Werner in the second. With Acura now competing against Audi in the LMP1 class and Aston Martin joining the fray in June at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, we reiterate our sentiment that it's a damn shame the R15 TDI will only be campaigned twice.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi R15 TDI arrives early ahead of race debut

Audi R15 TDI arrives early ahead of race debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12 hours of sebring12HoursOfSebring24 hours of le mans24HoursOfLeMansaudiaudi r15 tdiAudiR15Tdir15r15 tdiR15TdiTue, 17 Feb 2009 18:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1463356/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/02/17/audi-r15-tdi-arrives-early-ahead-of-race-debut/1463356/article-detail.xml 1463356 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/02/audi_motorsport-090213-0085_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/02/audi_motorsport-090213-0085_opt.jpg <![CDATA[Spy Shots: Audi R15 TDI spied ahead of Sebring debut]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/11/audi-r15-tdi-spied-ahead-of-sebring-debut/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/11/audi-r15-tdi-spied-ahead-of-sebring-debut/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/11/audi-r15-tdi-spied-ahead-of-sebring-debut/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Following up on the immense success of the R10 TDI race car, Audi has been hard at work on its successor. A pair of new R15 TDI race cars will make their race debut at the Sebring 12-hour race next month, but the highly anticipated Le Mans Prototype has already been seen running development laps.

In developing the R15 TDI, Audi's motorsport engineers had to cope with new LMP1 regulations that place restrictions on downforce, while also trying to gain ground against the newer 908 HDi campaigned by rival Peugeot. The new R15 features a wider, higher front nose derived from the latest Formula One designs, radiators moved forward and a sleeker rear end with tail-lights integrated into the redesigned rear wing. Audi has also apparently chosen to stick with an open-cockpit design instead of the new school of closed cockpits embraced by Peugeot and Aston Martin's new LMP1 racer. We'll have to wait until Sebring on March 21 to see the R15 TDI in full race livery, but Italian magazine Sport Auto and British racing resource Autosport have already gotten a hold of shots of the car testing at Spain's Vallelunga circuit, so follow the links below to catch a glimpse.

[Source: Audi via Autosport and Sport Auto]

Continue reading Spy Shots: Audi R15 TDI spied ahead of Sebring debut

Spy Shots: Audi R15 TDI spied ahead of Sebring debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Audi R10 TDI is among the most successful cars in all of racing history. After dominating Le Mans racing in 2006 and 2007, Audi faced a new challenger in the LMP1 class from Peugeot. The closed cockpit French car was faster than the Audi, consistently completing quicker laps at the 24 hours of Le Mans race and elsewhere. And although the R10 won last year's 2008 24 hours of Le Mans due to a great team strategy and the car's superior reliability, the new challenge from Peugeot meant Audi had to field a new car in 2009. The new R15 is bound to be better in almost every way, but that doesn't mean the R10 is ready for the scrap heap.

Great performance and reliability means that the R10 is still a viable race car, and Dr. Colin Kolles is buying two cars from Audi and racing them in the European Le Mans series. Dr. Kolles has been working with Audi since 2006 leading a team of A4 LMS racers. Now the good doctor is on his own for 2009, and he'll have what is bound to still be a very competitive car. The R10 won't even have to go head to head with its future successor often, as the R15 will only race in the 12 hours and 24 hours of Le Mans in 2009. Hit the jump to view the official press release from Audi.

Gallery: 2007 Audi R10 TDi


[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi R10 TDI will race again in 2009... under private ownership

Audi R10 TDI will race again in 2009... under private ownership originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above for a hi-res gallery of the Audi R10 TDI

The Audi R10 TDI is dead. Long live the R15. That's the moniker given to the next-generation Le Mans prototype set to wear the interlocking rings. The car will make its race debut in March at the 12 Hours of Sebring, and by the time the 24 Hours of Le Mans rolls around in June, Audi will have three of the cars ready to defend the trophy won by the R10 earlier this year. Details on the new car are very limited at the moment. All that's known is that it'll have a smaller, lighter, more efficient TDI motor, will once again be a roadster, and is a more significant change than Audi undertook when it went from the R8 to the R10.

The car will be publicly revealed closer to the Sebring race. According to the ALMS website, Audi Motorsport honcho Wolfgang Ullrich was quoted as saying, "It was clear to us that we must develop a new car if we wanted to continue to be successful in Le Mans." We read that as code for, "Those Peugeots were f**king fast this year. Here's our answer." By the time the cars hit the grid at Circuit de la Sarthe, the hype's going to be at a fever pitch. Bring it. Thanks to Ashutosh for the tip!

Gallery: Audi R10 TDI at Sebring


[Source: ALMS]

Audi R15 TDI to debut at Sebring in March, attack Le Mans in June originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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