moe
Mar 13 2009, 02:24 AM
QUOTE
Following its annual meeting in Germany, Audi released photos and more details of its all-new R15 TDI race car. After some spy shots and one official pic of the R15 being tested in unpainted carbon fiber, we can now see the new LMP1 car in its standard Audi livery of silver and red. Audi is billing the R15 as the first second-generation diesel racing sports car and the company has focused on creating a vehicle that can consistently beat its French challenger, the Peugeot 908 HDi.
When the R10 debuted it was the first diesel-powered Le Mans Prototype and reliability was put ahead of outright speed. This time around, Audi has optimized the aerodynamics, reduced the weight and built an all-new smaller, more efficient powertrain. The 5.5-liter V12 has been supplanted by a new V10. and although Audi hasn't disclosed its displacement, the automaker admits it's more compact, has a lower mass and features new smaller and lighter particulate filters.
While the car doesn't use a hybrid KERS system, it does have a lithium ion battery for its electrical system. The advanced battery provides higher voltage with lower weight -- always a boon in a race car. The R15 will make its racing debut March 21 at the 12 Hours of Sebring.
source:
autobloghope this isn't a repost
clarkma5
Mar 13 2009, 02:26 AM
Nope it's not a repost.
Will be interesting to see how this follow's in the R8 and R10's footsteps.
tune
Mar 17 2009, 02:38 AM
At the first Sebring test it was 1.4 seconds quicker than the nearest Peugeot. Looks promising for them.
Bjorn
Mar 17 2009, 05:21 AM
It might be another symptom of my underdog rooting (see Cyprus rally thread for references), but I keep on hoping that the Peugeots are going to wipe the Audis off the grid.
I guess nine years of winning LeMans (I think thats how long its been) has taught Audi how to kick some ass.
moe
Mar 17 2009, 08:34 AM
i actually want to see the acuras kick some ass at sebring. i have no reason for really saying that, but i do.
moe
Mar 19 2009, 01:57 PM
acura takes pole
it's going to be a damn good race.
darinzon
Mar 19 2009, 02:24 PM
man i wish i was there
clarkma5
Mar 19 2009, 02:53 PM
Acura's had a competitive car practically from the start. Very impressive effort from them ever since 2007.
Where's Porsche in all this? Are they not here with their RS Spyders?
Bjorn
Mar 19 2009, 06:41 PM
Didn't Porsche pull the RS Spyders out of ALMS?
I think there was an article in the current Excellence about it. The head of Porsche's motorsport department said that they decided to not compete in ALMS this year because the P2 rule changes would have made it impossible for them to compete for first overall. He hinted that there might be a 2011 P1 effort...
tune
Mar 20 2009, 01:08 AM
Yeah I noticed that the Dyson cars are Mazda engines now.
tune
Mar 21 2009, 04:11 AM
moe
Mar 21 2009, 04:27 AM
Already posted that bud. I watched Speed's season preview as well, the Acura's are some truly wicked cars. I'm hoping they get the win.
Razor
Mar 21 2009, 06:23 AM
Noooo I don't have Speed TV here.
clarkma5
Mar 21 2009, 10:38 AM
Acura lost 1st place in the first turn, the diesels walked away from them and the Acura's currently 5th.
Razor:
http://www.radiolemans.com/ (listen live link in upper left hand corner)
Live timing and scoring:
http://www.americanlemans.com/index_press.php?xFile=live.php
Razor
Mar 21 2009, 11:03 AM
QUOTE(clarkma5 @ Mar 21 2009, 02:38 PM)
Thanks much.
EDIT: What the hell kind of format is that? Nothing I've got can connect to that radio feed... weird.
moe
Mar 21 2009, 11:31 AM
I'll do you one better Clark...Live Video stream
here.Joining the SpeedHunters group on FB, was definitely useful for something. Too bad I have to finish studying for an exam
clarkma5
Mar 21 2009, 11:37 AM
Razor, the radio just plays in a small popup window...
Moe, yeah I'm watching that but it's just on-boards so it's not like it's too interesting after awhile.
clarkma5
Mar 21 2009, 06:40 PM
Welp that's the end of it. The Audi R15 wins its racing debut at Sebring with Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen, and Dindo Capello, with less than a 30 second margin over the second place Peugeot 908. It was a very exciting race, it looked like Peugeot had the upper hand for the first 2/3rds of the race but it was ALWAYS close. In fact, for a solid hour in the middle, the margin between the 1st place Audi and the 2nd place Peugeot didn't get much bigger than 1 second. One second! In a twelve hour race!
The R15 didn't have everything in its own way, it was definitely true that the Peugeot was easier on its tires and had more straightline speed, but in the end a faultless drive from the Audi #2 drivers and from the car itself (it didn't have so much as a single mechanical sneeze) meant Audi won it. Very exciting.
moe
Mar 21 2009, 10:37 PM
I'm waiting for the highlights to come out. I can't be bothered to download each hour, and watch them.
clarkma5
Mar 21 2009, 10:41 PM
Ya know I've watched/listened to full coverage from a couple sebrings now and a full 24 hours of le mans...in my mind, endurance racing just doesn't distill very well to highlights. From what I've noticed, endurance racing is much less about key events that can be distilled down to quick highlights and more about broad themes that play out and evolve over the course of the entire race. My enjoyment of endurance racing increased substantially once I found sources of full, continuous (or near-continuous), live coverage.
Maybe that's just me...I like to get deeply engrossed in such things. But I'll tell you that the amazing 2007 Sebring GT class finish was at least ten times better after I had seen it build up for a couple hours beforehand.
moe
Mar 21 2009, 11:36 PM
If I could watch it live, I'd probably have the tv on, and pop in and out as I pleased. However, downloading all 12 hours, and sitting there watching just doesn't appeal to me, especially as I know who already won.
Oh btw, maybe we should have stickied threads for ALMS, F1, WRC? That way we don't have to make a new thread to discuss a race each time there is one...just a thought.
clarkma5
Mar 22 2009, 11:01 AM
Eh nobody talks about racing enough in the motorsport forum...as you can see there are only 9 threads that have even been posted in in the last 30 days. We could use the clutter.
moe
Mar 22 2009, 11:22 AM
Fair enough.
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