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Petersburg Tenth consecutive victory for the Audi R10 TDI The outstanding series of victories of the Audi R10 TDI continues: Dindo Capello/Allan McNish (Italy/Scotland) and Emanuele Pirro/Marco Werner (Italy/Germany) claimed an unexpected 1-2 victory for Audi in a turbulent and exciting race in St. Petersburg (Florida). This proved that the Le Mans sports car is capable of also winning on a “city” street course. In Friday’s qualifying, Audi had to settle for third position. And also in the race, the 150 kilograms lighter LM P2 cars recorded the fastest lap times. But the spectators in St. Petersburg were able to witness an impressive demonstration of Audi TDI Power: In duels, the Audi drivers were able to take advantage from the high torque of the V12 TDI engine, overtaking their competitors under acceleration. They remained faultless over the entire 2:45 hours and recorded consistent lap times. During all five caution periods, the Audi Sport North America team always kept cool heads making the right decisions. Even a stop-and-go-penalty imposed against Allan McNish immediately after the start did not prevent Audi from taking a 1-2 victory. It took the Scotsman just 15 laps to fight his way back from 8th position to the front of the field. In the battle with their “sister” car, Capello/McNish took advantage from a perfect tyre choice for the opening stages of the race run in gruelling heat. In the cooler final stages at dusk, Pirro/Werner had the better tyre choice giving the spectators a “photo finish” which made for a grandstand finish. At the chequered flag, the two Audi R10 TDI cars were separated by just 0.426 seconds. The victory in St. Petersburg was the tenth in a row for AUDI AG’s revolutionary Diesel-powered sports car. Since its début in March 2006 the Audi R10 TDI is undefeated.

Le Mans winning car versus Harrier “Jump Jet” Diesel sportscar came close to beating jet-fighter 5,000 spectators watch one-kilometre race Audi demonstrated once again the performance of modern diesel engines in an unique duel that took place prior the “Festival of Speed” meeting at Goodwood (England): In a one-kilometre acceleration race at RAF Wittering, the Le Mans winning Audi R10 TDI driven by Allan McNish was just narrowly beaten by a 15,000-bhp combat aircraft from the Royal Air Force (RAF). Despite the 650-hp Audi R10 TDI being designed to start races from a “rolling” as opposed a “standing start”, the revolutionary diesel sportscar was quicker off the line and in the lead for almost the whole one-kikometre distance before the Harrier GR7 “Jump Jet” just beat the Audi by literally a “nose” before it took off in front of a 5,000 crowd. “It was essentially a ‘fun’ race,” explained Audi factory driver Allan McNish. “But when a racing driver and a pilot get together it quickly becomes serious. To come so close beating a Harrier jet-fighter was a tremendous achievement once again for Audi TDI Power – especially if you consider that we didn’t modify the R10 TDI for this ‘race’.”

1-2 victory in American Le Mans Series’ finalé Low consumption of Audi’s TDI engine proves decisive Eighth victory in the eighth race for the R10 TDI With a 1-2 victory in the finalé of the American Le Mans Series at Laguna Seca (California), AUDI AG yet again has written a piece of motorsport history: The Audi R10 TDI is the first Le Mans Prototype to remain unbeaten in its début season. The revolutionary diesel sportscar competed in eight races since the début in March, crossing the finish line eight times as the outright winner. Decisive in the triumph at Laguna Seca was the consumption advantage of the modern V12 TDI engine. Starting from fourth and fifth positions on the grid, both Audi R10 TDI sportscars lost a lap in a turbulent first half of the race. Emanuele Pirro had to come into the pits after just three laps when part of the onboard camera worked lose and dropped between the pedals. Just before the end of the second hour, Allan McNish collided with a competitor while braking for the famous “Cork Screw”. Changing the Audi’s damaged front section and the following stop-and-go penalty also cost the second R10 TDI a lap. With a clever strategy, taking perfect advantage from various Safety Car periods, Audi Sport Team North America was able to bring both cars back onto the same lap as the leaders. In the final stage of the thrilling race, the team was able to take advantage from the low consumption of the diesel engine: While the competitors had to come into the pits once more during the final hour for refuelling, both R10 TDI cars went on until the finish without another pit-stop. Allan McNish was able to complete 64 of the 159 laps with a single tank of diesel with reduced revs and power – eight more than before. With the last drops of Shell Diesel V-Power in the fuel tank, McNish crossed the finish line as winner. For the Scot and his Italian team-mate Dindo Capello, it was their seventh outright victory of the season in ten races.

First double victory for the new diesel sportscar of Audi Allan McNish/Dindo Capello earn fourth outright victory Fourth start and fourth win for the Audi R10 TDI After its fourth race, the Audi R10 TDI remains unbeaten: The prototype which became the first diesel-powered sportscar to win the Le Mans 24 Hour race, added another victory in the sixth round of the American Le Mans Series in Portland (US state Oregon). In the third race for the Audi R10 TDI in the US, Dindo Capello (Italy) and Allan McNish (Scotland) triumphed ahead of their team-mates Frank Biela (Germany) and Emanuele Pirro (Italy) to score the first double victory of the Audi R10 TDI. The two Audi sportscars started the race from the second and third rows. After a late change of regulations in which the organisers allowed the strongest competitor in the LM P1 class, the Dyson-Lola team, to reduce the weight of the car by 40kg to 860kg, the Audi drivers Dindo Capello and Emanuele Pirro had to be content in qualifying with positions three and five respectively. Because the weight reduction change had not been made giving the mandatory 14-day notification, organiser’s IMSA and the Dyson team agreed a compromise. The two Lola sportscars started the race with a minimum weight of 880kg. At the start of the race staged on the 12-turn, 1.944-mile track featuring few overtaking opportunities, Emanuele Pirro was second behind Guy Smith in the Dyson-Lola. Dindo Capello followed in fourth after a delay at the first corner behind the “pole-sitter” Butch Leitzinger (Dyson-Lola). When the leading teams pitted during a yellow after 45 minutes for “full service” including driver change, fuel and tyres, Frank Biela took over the #1 Audi R10 TDI and snatched the lead at the re-start on lap 54 with Allan McNish, now at the wheel of the #2 Audi, in second. Moments later Allan McNish took the lead from Biela. After 142-laps, the two R10 TDI sportscars claimed the first Audi diesel 1-2 victory.

Second win of the season for Emanuele Pirro/Marco Werner Audi R10 TDI 67 of 134 laps in the lead Longer stops for refuelling prevent overall victory The Audi R10 TDI remains undefeated in the American Le Mans Series. In the seventh round at Mid-Ohio, Team Audi Sport North America achieved a commanding 1-2 victory in the LM P1 class. Emanuele Pirro (Italy) and Marco Werner (Germany) finished third overall missing the outright victory by just 15.073 seconds. Their team-mates Dindo Capello (Italy) and Allan McNish (Scotland) came home in fifth position and second in the LM P1 class. The Audi R10 TDI made life difficult for the 150-kilograms lighter LM P2 sports cars at Mid-Ohio. On the opening lap, Emanuele Pirro cannoned himself from eighth on the grid to third position. It took the Audi driver just seven laps to also pass the two “factory” Porsches with great manouvres thus taking the overall lead. During the first hour, Pirro was able to open a lead of more than 10 seconds. Marco Werner showed a similar strong performance after taking over the #2 Audi R10 TDI from Pirro. The German also needed only a few laps to regain the lead which had been lost during the first pit-stop. Despite being longer in the lead than every other car (67 of 134 laps) and having the fastest car for much of the race Pirro/Werner, however, in the end had to settle for third overall because the refuelling stops of the LM P2 cars were much shorter than the ones of the R10 TDI – a consequence of the regulations which this year forces diesel sports cars to run with nine litre smaller fuel tanks. Dindo Capello and Allan McNish lost all chance for victory as early as on the opening lap when Capello was pushed off the track by a LM P2 car into a tyre wall. The #1 Audi R10 TDI dropped to the back of the field. On top of that the damaged front bodywork had to be changed during the first pit stop. Consistent fast lap times allowed Allan McNish to get back onto the lead lap.

Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro score first 2006 ALMS win Third success of the Audi diesel sportscar Tight finish on new racetrack at Salt Lake City Only four weeks after its historical victory as the first diesel sportscar at the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Audi R10 TDI celebrated another success: In the comeback in the American Le Mans Series on the new race track at Salt Lake City (US state Utah), Emanuele Pirro (Italy) and Frank Biela (Germany) triumphed in an exciting finish with a gap of only 0.318 seconds ahead of the Porsche drivers Lucas Luhr and Sascha Maassen. The two Audi R10 TDI sportscars of Audi Sport North America started the fifth race of the American Le Mans Series from the front row. After 61 minutes of the race, Allan McNish (Scotland) handed over the leading #2 R10 TDI to co-driver Dindo Capello (Italy). With a pit-stop on the 40th lap, the Audi R10 TDI took enough Shell V-Power Diesel for the remaining 25 laps of race distance. Shortly before the end of the race, a Safety Car period destroyed the advantage of the Italian. A slow puncture on the rear left forced the leading Audi to make an unscheduled pit-stop during the caution period and Capello/McNish had to be content with the fourth position. Emanuele Pirro in the #1 Audi R10 TDI overtook Lucas Luhr shortly before the Safety Car period and defended the lead after the restart for the remaining 15 minutes against the attacks of the Porsche. The comeback in the American Le Mans Series did not start perfectly for Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro. An off-track excursion on the first lap cost pole-sitter Frank Biela the early lead. A spin while lapping a GT car meant Biela dropped to sixth position. From there the German and team-mate Emanuele Pirro charged through the field and were rewarded with an exciting race win. With the fourth place overall and third place in the LM P1 class, Allan McNish and Dindo Capello defended their lead in the LM P1 Driver’s championship.

First victory of the Audi R10 TDI at Long Beach Second consecutive victory of Audi TDI power on street circuit Lucas Luhr/Marco Werner extend championship lead In the 25th race of the Audi R10 TDI, the car scored a historic 1-2 victory at the Long Beach (California) round of the American Le Mans Series. After the success at St Petersburg a fortnight ago, the diesel-powered sportscar won a street race for the second time in a row. With Lucas Luhr/Marco Werner taking their personal as well as Audi’s second win in three races in 2008, the German works drivers extended their lead in the championship standings. Having started from sixth position on the grid after a tight qualifying session, Lucas Luhr improved to fourth position at the wheel of the #2 Audi R10 TDI in the early laps of the 100-minute race. When the German driver was due to hand the car over to his team-mate, he held second position. Marco Werner returned on ninth overall position into the race after a full pit stop including the driver change. Meanwhile, Frank Biela who had started from seventh place improved to sixth position that he held throughout his stint. In lap 43, he was due for his pit stop including a driver change to Emanuele Pirro. Only two lap later, however, debris on the track caused a full course yellow period of four laps. With more than half the race gone, Audi didn’t seem to be the likely winner. However, both Marco Werner and Emanuele Pirro made best use of the Audi TDI power and grabbed back position after position. In lap 57, Marco Werner passed Porsche driver Romain Dumas and took the lead. After a third and final safety car phase between lap 58 to lap 60, Emanuele Pirro overtook Romain Dumas as well and completed the Audi 1-2 victory. In 25 races, the Audi R10 TDI has scored 15 victories so far, emphasizing its strenghts once again even on a type of circuit it has never been designed for.

Eighth Sebring victory in a row Audi R10 TDI remains unbeaten Successful dress rehearsal for Le Mans Despite new regulations, the Audi R10 TDI remains the sports car to beat. By achieving an impressive victory in the 12 Hours of Sebring (USA), AUDI AG made a perfect start into the 2007 motorsport season with its revolutionary diesel sports car and also a successful dress rehearsal for the Le Mans 24 Hours on 16/17 June. It was the eighth victory in a row in the classic American endurance race for the manufacturer from Ingolstadt. The Audi R10 TDI, which remains unbeaten in its ninth consecutive race, had to start for the first time with a 10 percent smaller fuel tank (81 instead of 90 litres). This meant the Audi had to come to the pits for refuelling up to five laps earlier than their competitors. Despite the R10 TDI being the fastest car on the 3.7-mile track, also setting a new track record, newcomer Acura/Honda was able to get into the lead on various occasions with its 150-kg lighter LM P2 cars. Only in the penultimate hour, Frank Biela (Germany), Emanuele Pirro (Italy) and Marco Werner (Germany) took the lead for good in an extremely exciting and competitive sports car race. Frank Biela equalled Tom Kristensen’s record of four overall Sebring victories. The 2007-spec R10 TDI ran without the slightest technical problem during the whole 12 hours on the extremely demanding track. The only unscheduled pit stop was caused by a puncture in the second hour costing the winning car two laps. Also two time penalties and a stop-and-go penalty were imposed against the winning Audi team. The updated engine, featuring among other things more compact diesel particle filters from Dow Automotive, further developed suspension, the latest generation of Michelin tyres and the weight-optimised transmission of the R10 TDI worked perfectly during the Le Mans dress rehearsal.