Search

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.

Audi claims double victory in LM P1 category Emanuele Pirro loses lead after accident R10 TDI remains unbeaten in the LM P1 category With a double victory in the LM P1 category, Audi extended the championship lead in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). The Audi R10 TDI achieved in Long Beach (US state of California) the eleventh consecutive LM P1 win. On the street circuit, Dindo Capello/Allan McNish (Italy/Scotland) recorded seventh place overall while their team-mates Emanuele Pirro/Marco Werner (Italy/Germany) achieved second in the LM P1 category and ninth overall. Finishing ahead of the two Audi R10 TDI sports-prototypes were the 150 kilograms lighter LM P2 cars. After 10 outright ALMS victories, the 650 hp Audi R10 TDI suffered its first overall defeat since making its debut 13 months ago. After 45 minutes of the 1:40 hour city race – the shortest race in ALMS history – pole-setter Dario Franchitti (Honda/Acura) lost the lead to Emanuele Pirro. At mid-distance, Pirro’s R10 TDI was hit up the back by another car at the hairpin and was turned around. As a result, Pirro had to pit with a punctured rear tyre. Co-driver Marco Werner took over the Audi with a one lap deficit but ended the race in second position in the LM P1 category. Dindo Capello in the Audi R10 TDI #1 pitted after 30 minutes because the brake cooling was blocked by a piece of debris. As there was only one yellow caution during the race, co-driver Allan McNish had to take diesel again before the end of the race. Nevertheless the Scotsman drove to victory in the LM P1 category. The next race for the Audi R10 TDI is 21 April with the fourth race of the American Le Mans Series in Houston (US state of Texas). Quotes after the race Dr Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “After what we had learned in St. Petersburg, we knew before the race that on a street circuit with these regulations it would be difficult for us to fight against the lighter LM P2 cars.

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’.”

American Le Mans Series season opener at Sebring (USA) Frank Biela and Tom Kristensen complete driver line-up Audi drivers facing difficult task The 2007 Audi R10 TDI, which was unveiled to the world’s public on Monday evening in Munich, contests its first race on Saturday (17 March) at Sebring (USA). The 12-hour race in “Sunshine State” Florida is the opening race and one of the highlights of the American Le Mans Series, and also dress rehearsal for the Le Mans 24 Hours for Audi Sport’s team. It is not only the new design that distinguishes the further developed Audi R10 TDI from its successful predecessor that started its winning streak exactly one year ago and remains unbeaten since then. To ensure that it remains the car to beat in 2007, innumerable details were optimised on the LM P1 Prototype. The Audi R10 TDI will certainly not have things all its own way its second year of competition. The 150 kilogram lighter LM P2 cars are allowed to race in the American Le Mans Series with more engine power than at Le Mans. At the same time, diesel powered cars must manage with a nine-litre smaller fuel tank in the future – as stipulated by the Automobile Club de l‘Ouest (ACO) regulations. Reducing the fuel-cell volume from 90 to 81 litres – realised by mounting a partition in the tank – was not the only modification made to the latest R10 TDI model by Audi Sport over the winter. The complex electronic system associated with the V12 TDI engine was optimised together with partner Bosch. The majority of the other modification targeted an improvement in efficiency, consumption, durability and drivability. The maximum power is unchanged at around 650 hp, but the power curve was noticeably improved. The R10 TDI carbon-fibre monocoque is identical to last year’s design. Minor aerodynamic modifications, which are only visible to the trained eye, were made to the exterior surfaces. The friction and weight levels of the entire powertrain were reduced.

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.

The diesel sportscar of Audi extends unbeaten sequence Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro charge from back to front Fifth start and fifth win for the Audi R10 TDI The Audi R10 TDI remains unbeaten: Frank Biela (Germany) and Emanuele Pirro (Italy) celebrated together with their team-mates Dindo Capello (Italy) and Allan McNish (Scotland) a double victory in the fifth race of Audi’s new diesel sportscar. In the seventh round of the American Le Mans Series at Road America (US state of Wisconsin) Biela and Pirro clinched their third victory of the season – including the Le Mans 24 Hours – by a margin of just 0.4 seconds. The long distance race over 2.45 hours did not start well for the German-Italian duo: Starting driver Frank Biela, who went into the race from second position on the grid, was touched at the first corner by a rival and pushed into the gravel trap. Biela rejoined the track but pitted for new tyres due to a vibration dropping to the back of the field. From the very last position, Biela started a charge which brought him and his team-mate Emanuele Pirro to second place behind the second Audi R10 TDI of Dindo Capello and Allan McNish before the final phase of the race. Allan McNish, who had clinched pole-position with a lap time of 1,49.181 minutes – breaking the ALMS track record on the 4.048 miles track north of Milwaukee – was also hit on the opening lap but did not lose time. After 32 laps, he handed over the leading Audi R10 TDI to his co-driver Dindo Capello. The Italian stayed in front until a pace par phase in the final half hour of the race. At the re-start team-mate Emanuele Pirro just eased ahead. After 76 laps the two Audi R10 TDI sports-prototypes celebrated a second successive 1-2 success following the Portland double victory in July. Round eight of the 10-race American Le Mans Series is staged in two weeks at Mosport (3 September) with Dindo Capello and Allan McNish heading for Canada as championship leaders.

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.

Dindo Capello on fourth row at Salt Lake City Sister car sets second fastest time in LM P1 class Lighter LM P2 cars dominate qualifying The Audi R10 TDI of Dindo Capello (Italy) and Allan McNish (Scotland) will start Saturday’s fifth round of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) at Salt Lake City (US state of Utah) as fastest LM P1 prototype from the fourth row. Emanuele Pirro (Italy) and Marco Werner (Germany) start one place behind in their "sister" Audi Sport North America R10 TDI after Friday's qualifying around the 4.486-mile track was dominated by the lighter LM P2 category cars which filled the top-seven positions. Defending ALMS LM P1 champions Dindo Capello and Allan McNish head team-mates Emanuele Pirro, the winner of the corresponding Salt Lake City race 10 months ago, and Marco Werner, competing here for the very first time, by eight-points – Audi having won its class in every race so far this season. The race at Miller Motorsports Park, situated about 30 miles from Salt Lake City, starts on Saturday at 5:05 p.m. local time (1:05 a.m. on Sunday morning in Germany) and lasts 2:45 hours. Quotes after qualifying Dindo Capello (Audi R10 TDI #1): “I put a lot of effort in to qualifying – I was trying that hard that I spun near the end. If I’d driven a perfect lap maybe I could have gone perhaps two-tenth’s faster but even that would not have moved me any higher up the grid. We must check the car thoroughly after my spin.” Allan McNish (Audi R10 TDI #1): “Dindo pushed very hard in qualifying and extracted the maximum out of our car. But unfortunately around this circuit, which admittedly has a long straight, was only good enough for eighth place on the grid because of the large number of slow corners here – significantly almost three seconds from pole-position. We came here expecting a large time gap after computer simulations. The race will be a big, big fight for us in terms of an outright podium position.”