Audi R15 TDI

The Audi R15 TDI is a racing car company Audi. He solved at the beginning of the racing season 2009 Audi R10 TDI from. Successor was the 2011 season, the Audi R18.

  • 3.1 2009 racing season 3.1.1 Sebring 2009
  • 3.1.2 Le Mans 2009
  • 3.2.1 Le Castellet 2010
  • 3.2.2 Spa Francorchamps 2010
  • 3.2.3 Le Mans 2010

Vehicle

2008/2009

In late 2007, it was clear in the ranks of Audi Motorsport that the R10 had only limited opportunities for development and thus increase the racing performance. It was then decided by Audi in autumn 2007 to develop a completely new vehicle. Particular emphasis was placed on aerodynamics. The high nose allows for better flow of the vehicle with air. This creates less drag and more downforce than its predecessor.

At the 24 - hour race at Le Mans 2008, the decision confirmed for the new project, as Audi vehicles had won their victory over the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP reliability and not by superior handling characteristics.

The new 90 ° V10 TDI engine with 5500 cc capacity is easier and more economical than its 12-cylinder predecessor. It has a maximum torque of 1050 Nm and a maximum effective power of about 445 kW ( 605 hp).

2010/Audi R15 Plus

For the 2010 racing season, the Audi R15 TDI came with a revised design under the internal code " R15 plus" to. The new body is characterized by a modified nose ( air inlets / headlights) and a modified air guide on the side cladding. The three cars are for new chassis numbers 202 through 204 The 2009 R15 had chassis numbers of the series 1xx. After the roll-out in early March on the Audi test track in Neustadt an der Donau, a prototype to test drive to Homestead (Florida ) was flown to perform there aerodynamics experiments. Subsequently, an endurance test followed at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring (Florida), in which 5500 kilometers were driven without any technical problems. After these tests, the race was in Le Castellet, the first serious test for the vehicle in the racing season 2010.

Specifications

Race

2009 racing season

Sebring 2009

The first use of two Audi R15 took place at the 12 Hours of Sebring on March 21, 2009. The driver Rinaldo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish won with a new lap record.

Le Mans 2009

At the 24 - hour race at Le Mans on June 13 and 14 2009, the Audi had to admit defeat, which occupied the first two places competing, and also equipped with a diesel engine Peugeot 908 HDi FAP. Winner was the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP with the number 9 (David Brabham, Marc Gené and Alexander Wurz ).

Since 2009, the second day of testing was canceled and therefore had only a ( rainy ) day of testing available, resulted in the following two sunny race days at 28 degrees to problems with the tuning of the R15. Audi says the high temperatures caused during the first third of the race a lot of understeer all three vehicles that could be resolved only through the assembly of new front wing. In addition, the high daytime temperatures led on Saturday and Sunday to increased tire wear on the track. This debris sat down firmly into the cooling vents, so that the temperature in the loader area of ​​turbos specifically increased sharply. Therefore, the cooling inlets had to be cleaned regularly with compressed air at fuel stops, which unexpectedly much time was lost.

The Audi with the # 2 dropped out after a mistake by Lucas Luhr, in the first of the Porsche Curves over the curbs drove, turned off the track backwards and crashed into the tire wall. The Audi with starting number 3 was pushed back by a two-hour exchange of high-pressure injection pump and finished the race in 17th place. Thus, only the Audi No. 1 with Rinaldo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish remained in the top field. A broken shock absorber on the right rear axle, just before the race, had the fourth-placed at the end of Lola - Aston Martin LMP1 catch up, however the podium for the last promising participating in the race, Audi could not threaten.

2010 racing season

Le Castellet 2010

After 2010, no Audi went to the start at Sebring, the new 8 -hour race, The by Allan McNish and Rinaldo Capello was in Le Castellet at the Circuit Paul Ricard the first serious race test for new Audi R15 (plus) the racing season 2010. Mileage R15 could win the race, before the Lola - Aston Martin LMP1 - piloted by Stefan Mücke, Harold Primat and Adrian Fernandez - in second place and the rebellion Racing Lola Jean-Christophe Boullion, Guy Smith and Andrea Belicchi in third place.

Spa Francorchamps 2010

In overshadowed by chaos races (including 40 minutes of complete power failure, within which the emergency generators empty running ), which was marked because of frequent rain showers of numerous tire changes, accidents and safety car phases, the Audi squad had with their new R15 with the squares 3, 5 and 12 be satisfied. Since the Audi drove past it at Le Mans spec ( as a test run for the 24- hour race, so only very shallow wing position, ie low downforce ) they could offer the Peugeots only in the dry race phases Paroli, and these had to, which is also in the choice of tires had more luck and let stand at the end.

Le Mans 2010

In dry weather, 12-13. June 2010 took the Audi factory team with three R15plus the first three places in the 24- hour race at Le Mans, while main rival Peugeot failed with all vehicles. The victory celebrated Mike Rockenfeller, Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas, second place occupied Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Treluyer. Place 3 reached Rinaldo Capello, Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen record winner.

Gallery

Audi R15, driven by Timo Bernhard during the 24- hour race at Le Mans 2009.

Audi R15, driven by Rinaldo Capello during the 24- hour race at Le Mans 2009.

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