SEBRING, FL (March 19, 2006) - It was known for some time that Audi had been working on a diesel-powered sports racecar for international competition. This new model would replace its all-conquering R8 gasoline-powered vehicle that dominated these last five years of road race competition. The new racecar was unveiled late last year as the R10, a V-12 DOHC diesel headed for the March Sebring 12-hour race as a shakedown and then to this summer's 24 Hours of Endurance at Le Mans.
The Audi R10 at the 2006 24 Hours at Sebring Race.
(Photo: Audi)
Well, the R10 blew its way through the field of gasoline-fueled prototype sports racecars at Sebring and took first place in the 12-hour endurance race. Two R10 racecars started, but one of them suffered from early overheating problems and had to retire. But the remaining R10 ran like a clock to take the checkered flag.
The marketing connection You may think, "What does this have to do with Audi's product line? They do not have a diesel in the market, either here or in Europe. So what's the big deal?"(Photo: Audi)
The "big deal" is that as Audi puts the finishing touches to the all-new 2007 sports car TT line, it has announced that a diesel engine for the TT is in development. No doubt stimulated by the fact that the United States will, by 2008, have clean, low-sulfur diesel fuel available across the nation.
So, it can be surmised that Audi is using its R10 international sports racing program as a marketing tool to support the launch of not only a diesel TT model, but also to see the diesel engine come to America as an optional power plant in some of its future models based on the new A3 platform.
The Audi V12 diesel engine is all-aluminum construction. No smoke, no odor, no noise and very, very fast.
(Photo: Audi)R10 engine details The R10 engine is a totally new design. It is a 90-degree, V12, 5.5-liter, DOHC four-valve engine with twin turbos and Turbo Direct Injection (TDI). Power is 650 horsepower and more than 800 lb.-ft. of torque. The usable power band is available between 3,000 and 5,000 rpm.
As a racecar, the R10 is very quiet, utters no smoke whatsoever and runs on a new Shell V-Power diesel fuel created for the Audi program. The new engine features an all-aluminum design, mated to a new gearbox design via a ZF-Sachs clutch system capable of handling all that torque.
Doubters are convinced The R10's performance at Sebring was a surprise to many who had thought the diesel engine in racing was a fringe experiment of not much importance. Audi proved them wrong, and the speed and running performance of the new car eliminated any doubts that the diesel has a racing future. As far as racing at Le Mans is concerned, the only other automaker that fielded diesel power a few years ago is Peugeot, which has confirmed it will contest the 2007 Le Mans 24 Hour with a diesel-powered prototype racer next year.Audi has not adopted the diesel engine for the pure public relations impact it may create from racing. Insiders look at this effort from Audi as a learning experience for its new passenger car diesel-engine line which will show up in the TT model first, and other models later.
Next stop, the 2006 Le Mans - and next year, head-to-head oil-burner on-track competition between Audi and Peugeot.
