Audi sets benchmark for innovation with first diesel hybrid for Le Mans
12 Jun 2012|1,668 views
Audi is all set to set the benchmark for endurance racing, yet again. One of the most important endurance racing event around the globe is indisputably the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The flag is set to wave off on the 16th and 17th of June for the 80th time since its debut. This important anniversary is met with another milestone, with the fielding of the first diesel hybrid racer from Audi. Dubbed the R18 e-tron quattro, the Audi racer also marks the return of quattro all-wheel drive technology to the racing field. Besides the twin quattro racers, Audi is also entering two R18 e-tron ultra - the lightest Le Mans racing prototype ever built by the German carmaker.
Sharing his enthusiasm for the event is Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport), "At Le Mans, we’re competing with a totally new line-up compared with previous years. For the first time, we’re fielding four vehicles and two different concepts, the R18 e-tron quattro and the R18 ultra, under our factory commitment. We used the race at Spa as a ‘dress rehearsal’ for Le Mans and managed to finish it with a good result. We started adapting our vehicles to the track on the test day. This time, we’re also in the situation of meeting with Toyota, whom we expect to be our strongest rival, for the first time in a racing situation. We don’t know yet where exactly our opponent will stand. In any event, Le Mans is a completely different challenge every year that has to be mastered first."
With strong competition from carmakers such as Toyota and Nissan this year, as well as a number of privateers, it is anyone's guess who will emerge victory at the end of the gruesome race.
Audi is all set to set the benchmark for endurance racing, yet again. One of the most important endurance racing event around the globe is indisputably the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The flag is set to wave off on the 16th and 17th of June for the 80th time since its debut.
This important anniversary is met with another milestone, with the fielding of the first diesel hybrid racer from Audi. Dubbed the R18 e-tron quattro, the Audi racer also marks the return of quattro all-wheel drive technology to the racing field. Besides the twin quattro racers, Audi is also entering two R18 e-tron ultra - the lightest Le Mans racing prototype ever built by the German carmaker.
Sharing his enthusiasm for the event is Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport), "At Le Mans, we’re competing with a totally new line-up compared with previous years. For the first time, we’re fielding four vehicles and two different concepts, the R18 e-tron quattro and the R18 ultra, under our factory commitment. We used the race at Spa as a ‘dress rehearsal’ for Le Mans and managed to finish it with a good result. We started adapting our vehicles to the track on the test day. This time, we’re also in the situation of meeting with Toyota, whom we expect to be our strongest rival, for the first time in a racing situation. We don’t know yet where exactly our opponent will stand. In any event, Le Mans is a completely different challenge every year that has to be mastered first."
With strong competition from carmakers such as Toyota and Nissan this year, as well as a number of privateers, it is anyone's guess who will emerge victory at the end of the gruesome race.
This important anniversary is met with another milestone, with the fielding of the first diesel hybrid racer from Audi. Dubbed the R18 e-tron quattro, the Audi racer also marks the return of quattro all-wheel drive technology to the racing field. Besides the twin quattro racers, Audi is also entering two R18 e-tron ultra - the lightest Le Mans racing prototype ever built by the German carmaker.
Sharing his enthusiasm for the event is Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport), "At Le Mans, we’re competing with a totally new line-up compared with previous years. For the first time, we’re fielding four vehicles and two different concepts, the R18 e-tron quattro and the R18 ultra, under our factory commitment. We used the race at Spa as a ‘dress rehearsal’ for Le Mans and managed to finish it with a good result. We started adapting our vehicles to the track on the test day. This time, we’re also in the situation of meeting with Toyota, whom we expect to be our strongest rival, for the first time in a racing situation. We don’t know yet where exactly our opponent will stand. In any event, Le Mans is a completely different challenge every year that has to be mastered first."
With strong competition from carmakers such as Toyota and Nissan this year, as well as a number of privateers, it is anyone's guess who will emerge victory at the end of the gruesome race.
Latest COE Prices
April 2025 | 2nd BIDDING
NEXT TENDER: 07 May 2025
CAT A$99,500
CAT B$117,003
CAT C$65,001
CAT E$118,001
View Full Results 
Thank You For Your Subscription.
