ˆ Audi drops a whole collection of new images of the R15 TDI

tags : alms , american le mans , american le mans ser... , american le mans series , american lemans series , americanlemans , americanlemansser... , americanlemansseries , audi r15 , audi r15 tdi , audir15 , audir15tdi , sebring

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The Audi R15 TDI should be hitting the track competitively for the first time next week at the 12 Hours of Sebring. The new diesel-powered racer will be running against the Peugeot 908 HDi and Acura's new ARX-02a next Saturday. The oil-burning Audi and Peugeot will be competing under modified LMP1 rules that have cut their wing widths by 40 mm (for all P1 cars) and reduced the size of their air restrictors and amount of turbo boost pressure for the diesels. The new R15, which replaces the very successful R10, has been optimized with a reduction in weight, radically new aerodynamics and an all-new powertrain to work with the new rules while still trying to outrun the Peugeots.

The R10's old 5.5L V12 has been replaced in the R15 by a smaller V10 of unknown displacement for greater efficiency and improved packaging. The car's electrical system now uses a lithium-ion battery, again for reduced mass compared to a lead battery. As far as we know, Audi is not planning to use a hybrid KERS system on the R15. Contrary to some information released by an unnamed Audi official at the Geneva Motor Show last week, the R15 will only run at Sebring next week and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in July. The last two ALMS races at Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca are not part of Audi's game plan at this time.

posted : 6/1/2009 @10:18:37 AM