2012 Audi LMP - Test car
- 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
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.
[Source : AUDI]
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