Audi's diesel racer off to a good start ...

[BTB 500]

Audi's new R10 TDI race car took pole position for the 12 hour endurance race at Sebring this weekend, then won by 3 laps. Not bad for a first time out, Le Mans could be interesting ...

Coming to a white van near you soon?!

 

[jeremytaylor]

Impressive stuff!

Maybe the Yanks will take their blinkers off and realise what they've been missing out on by giving diesels the cold shoulder, ... or maybe not.

Regardless, it's great to see new developments, such as this, in motor sport

 

[blassberg]

apprently Massa's interested to eliminate pitstops altogether

 

[BTB 500]

apprently Massa's interested to eliminate pitstops altogether

 

[stats007]

Will it run on chip fat though?

 

[glojo]

Will it run on chip fat though?

I'm sure if you drink it, you will get the 'runs'

John

 

[BTB 500]

Will it run on chip fat though?

Probably, but I think they prefer Shell V-Power fuel!

http://www.shell.com/home/Framework...lemans/shell_audi/shell_audi_partnership.html

 

[PJH]

Coming to a white van near you soon?!

Heaven forbid.

 

[wallingd]

Love it. Very inspiring. Waiting for diesel F1 (I hate the idea of them "using up fuel" during the 20 min sessions for eco reasons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.............)

 

[BTB 500]

Wonder what the Americans thought about a diesel beating all the gasoline cars in their own backyard?

 

[stats007]

From what I hear they are doubling the displacement for petrol engines

 

[Piff]

I wonder if it beats my A6 1.9tdi for mpg?!!!

 

[wallingd]

Yes what sort of eco did it get?

 

[BTB 500]

Yes what sort of eco did it get?

Dunno, but I guess the Le Mans series races qualify as "extra urban" driving?!

There's a writeup on the Sebring race on the site I posted a link to above. The economy of the diesel (relatively speaking, it's still a V12 twin turbo!) meant the Audi car didn't have to pit until 60 minutes into the race compared to 33 mins for the gasoline-fuelled cars.

It's not a "hare versus tortoise" scenario though, remember they took pole position in qualifying too!

 

[BTB 500]

Well the Audi diesel team won every single race in this year's American Le Mans Series (as well as the Le Mans 24 Hours) - not a bad debut!

http://www.americanlemans.com/News/Article.aspx?ID=2691