Audi has revealed its 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours car - the R18.
The most powerful and efficient race car Audi has ever built has been 'fundamentally re-designed' by Audi Sport. Featuring 'innovative aerodynamics' representing the next stage in lightweight design and a modified hybrid system with lithium-ion batteries for energy storage, there is also an efficiency-optimised TDI engine.
"With our new Audi R18, we're setting a clear signal: Audi continues to put the pedal to the metal in motorsport, deliberately relying on TDI - the world's most successful automotive efficiency technology - at Le Mans," says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich.
In the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) that will start at Silverstone (Great Britain) on April 17, Audi Sport Team Joest will be fielding two new Audi R18 cars. In the interest of maximum cost efficiency, Audi and its Group sister brand Porsche, have both agreed to each compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours, the WEC season's pinnacle event, with only two instead of the most recent three cars.
"We're proud about being able to again represent the Audi brand in 2016 with such an extensive commitment in motorsport," says Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "The new Audi R18 marks a major step that we're expecting a lot of at Le Mans and in the WEC. In the DTM, we already had the strongest car in 2015. That's what we'd like to build upon. Plus, the high demand for the new Audi R8 LMS is equally gratifying as the many young talents that are interested in the Audi Sport TT Cup."
