Diesel wins at LeMans! (OT) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

coachgeo · #1 03-19-2006, 05:07 PM

http://www.americanlemans.com/news/Article.aspx?ID=1872

Sebring, Fla. - Audi Sport North America made history Saturday as the diesel-powered Audi R10 TDI of Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish and Rinaldo Capello won the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. The new prototype is the first diesel car in the world to win a major sports car race.

It was the type of debut Audi was hoping for in preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The German manufacturer used Sebring as a test for the most prestigious sports car race in the world, set for June 17-18.

The No. 2 Audi won the opening race of the 2006 American Le Mans Series by three laps over Intersport Racing's No. 37 Lola B05/40-AER. After winning the pole position, the No. 2 car had to have its heat exchanger switched before the race and had to start the race from pit lane and in 34th position. But by the two-hour mark, the pole-sitting car had moved back into the lead when the No. 1 sister car had to pit.

"We had our share of trouble today, but that's natural in development," said McNish, who won for the second time in three years at Sebring. "This was the first real endurance test. We encountered trouble but nothing we couldn't overcome. The engineers did a great job preparing for things that could go wrong. The car's rhythm was really good. It was fun to really blast the car around the track."

Kristensen gave the No. 2 car the lead for good when Marco Werner, driving with defending Series champions Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro in the No. 1 Audi R10 TDI, pulled the car into the garage just shy of the four-hour mark. Shortly thereafter, the car was retired due to overheating.

That left Kristensen, Capello and McNish to comfortably run out front. Kristensen added yet another record to his already impressive résumé. He now has four overall wins at Sebring, the most in the race's 54-year history. He also has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans a record seven times, including the last six in a row.

"Today you can say Audi brought out a car that isn't a test car, but close to it," Kristensen said. "This engine was only white paper a few months ago. I'm pleased to be part of the headlines today.

"This project has been a lot of motivation for Le Mans," he added. "There will be tests that will go on Monday. There's a lot to improve, mostly small details. But those will make us more confident. There are cars that will be at Le Mans that are not here today, but we'll be watching the tape very carefully."
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coachgeo · #2 03-19-2006, 05:10 PM

oops sorry. After closer look I do see now that this is a doublt post.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=148353

t walgamuth · #3 03-19-2006, 05:12 PM

anyway

tom w

Diesel Giant · #4 03-19-2006, 06:36 PM

I am glad the oil burner won!

Gurkha · #5 03-19-2006, 10:01 PM

Yes,finally the sweet low end torque of diesel engines redeems itself,I am sure diesel now will be taken seriously by other manufacturers,Mercedes for one and maybe Honda as now they too have a sweet diesel engine to play with.

t walgamuth · #6 03-19-2006, 10:09 PM

i read in one of my car mags that the red line on the audi lemans diesel is a leisurely 5000 rpm. it has a soot trap too.

dig it.

tom w

#7 03-19-2006, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

it has a soot trap too

From what I've seen/heard, Audi only added a soot trap to be politically correct with the european market.

BodhiBenz1987 · #8 03-19-2006, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

From what I've seen/heard, Audi only added a soot trap to be politically correct with the european market.

While performance is obviously the No. 1 concern here, Audi is probably also very aware of the car's image. They want to get away from the "slow smokey" reputation. They didn't want the car to smoke ...

tenknots · #9 03-20-2006, 01:41 PM

I'm curious if they used pump diesel or something that had been "doctored." Anybody know?

pmari · #10 03-20-2006, 03:25 PM

Supposedly, they used SHELL V-Power Diesel (GTL tecnology), not available in NA. (AFAIK).
Although I remember at the unvailing ceremonies in Paris, the Shell rep said they were modifing the fuel even further than the Shell v-power at the pump

http://www.pipelinedubai.com/feat/2005/futurefuels.htm

http://www.greencarcongress.com/gastoliquids_gtl/index.html

http://www.shell.com/static/shellgasandpower-en/downloads/what_is_gas_to_liquids/gtl4.pdf

http://dspace.library.cornell.edu/bitstream/1813/2626/17/EE+04+008+Munack+final+Oct2005.pdf

Quote:

Originally Posted by tenknots

I'm curious if they used pump diesel or something that had been "doctored." Anybody know?

BodhiBenz1987 · #11 03-20-2006, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voice

i thought they were going to use B5

I believe that's Taurus, which has been experimenting with biofuels in it's Lola. I don't think Audi had any plans to do so, although I wouldn't be surprised if it's in the cards down the road.

Diesel Giant · #12 03-20-2006, 05:54 PM

Well Shell better get off there rumps and get us some V Power at our pumps. I want some high cetane clean burning fuel, so the EPA will leave the diesels in this country alone.

83-240D · #13 03-20-2006, 09:05 PM

now the cars will be sorted for lemans. they won at sebring so a bit of a misleading title here. lm is in june and the audis will be back immediatly after for the rest of the sched.

BodhiBenz1987 · #14 03-20-2006, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 83-240D

now the cars will be sorted for lemans. they won at sebring so a bit of a misleading title here. lm is in june and the audis will be back immediatly after for the rest of the sched.

Yeah, Sebring is part of the American Le Mans Series, which is probably where the mislead in the title came from. I look foward to the 24 hours in June ... this first race in the states was intended as a warm up, work-out-the-kinks type thing, so by summertime these things really ought to be a smooth deal.

pmari · #15 03-20-2006, 09:44 PM

Still have 2 more over here before France.

May 12 Lone Star Grand Prix of Houston
Houston, Texas

May 21 American Le Mans Mid-Ohio
Lexington, Ohio

I take it back......
"The cars—campaigned by Audi Sport North America with support from Team Joest and Champion Racing—make their debut at Sebring March 18, followed by Le Mans in June. Audi will then enter R10s in the final six races on the ALMS schedule, beginning at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah July 15 and concluding at Laguna Seca Oct. 21.

Audi will rely on its old car, the bulletproof R8, to handle duty in the three ALMS races between Sebring and the Grand Prix of Utah. "