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Audi R15 TDI Unveiled

As other series are remining stagnent in regards to chassis and engine development, the American LeMans Series continues to evolve. On Monday, Audi unveiled its second-generation diesel-powered prototype, the R15 TDI.

Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish will drive one R15 TDI at the 12 Hours with Mike Rockenfeller joining defending Series LMP1 champions Lucas Luhr and Marco Werner in the other. “With the R15 TDI we have created the base to be in a position to win also in 2009,” said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. Kristensen the all-time winner at LeMans with eight victories looks to increase his lead over Jackie Ickx who has six wins.

Audi, the only manufactuer to win at LeMans in a diesel-powered car has taken P1 victories at Sebring every year since its first race in 2000. It won every Sebring race overall from 2000-2007. In 2006, Audi unveiled its R10 TDI that won its first time out at Sebring International Raceway. Since that time, the R10 TDI is unbeaten at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Petit Le Mans.

“The R15 TDI has many detailed technical solutions never seen before on a sports prototype,” explained Ullrich. “To a certain extent we followed entirely new routes.”

Next week at Sebring, Audi will take on fellow manufacturers Acura, Mazda, Lola and Peugeot for overall victory.

The heart of the R15 TDI is a newly developed V10 TDI engine producing more than 600 hp, with a maximum torque output in excess of 1,050 Newton meters and which reflects the latest version of the TDI Technology invented by Audi. The power unit is more compact and lighter than the 12-cylinder engine used in the preceding R10 TDI model. The specific fuel consumption and associated CO2 emissions could also be reduced. Innovations in the turbo-charging and fuel injection areas simultaneously ensure improved engine response. The R15 TDI is also equipped with a new generation of even lighter diesel particle filters.

The new sports car’s aerodynamics, which play a particularly important role at Le Mans, are extremely refined. Like the DTM 2008 championship winning Audi A4, the airflow around and through the car was optimized with CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics). Included among the many innovative detail solutions which can be spotted at first glance are a rear wing suspended from the top and a high nose.

The new R15 has an innovative vehicle electrical system concept. The vehicle electrical system in the Le Mans sports car is entirely new: A lithium-ion battery, as found in some hybrid vehicles, is used for the first time. It is lighter than the conventional battery and supplies a higher voltage.

The headlights fitted to the R15 TDI also benefit from the higher power. At Le Mans, Audi competes for the first time with a low beam unit comprised entirely of light emitting diodes, which represents the next generation of Audi LED technology for road cars.

Numerous innovative approaches are also hidden in the chassis and suspension of the diesel sports car. Due to the aerodynamic concept the front and rear suspension have been raised. Thanks to a longer wheelbase and the optimized vehicle weight the R15 TDI is significantly more agile than its predecessor.

The American Le Mans Series will open its 11th season with the 57th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida on Saturday, March 21. SPEED will televise the race live from 10 a.m. to noon and 2-11 p.m. ET. American Le Mans Radio and Live Timing & Scoring will be available at americanlemans.com. Tickets are available at sebringraceway.com or by calling (800) 626-RACE.

American LeMans Series and Audi media contributed to this report.

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