Audi R10 Diesel Race Car Wins Lemans. New Era In Racing?

[rion]

.The entire distance of the whole Le Mans race is equivalent to an entire F1 season compressed into 24 hours. That's what makes the win all the more significant...

that means Diesel are best for long range race? genius Audi!

.the R10 v12 displaces 5.5 liters which are compliant to the Le Mans rules. it produced 650 hp and has a max torque of 1100 newton metres.

whoa, how did they make that engine with that power in a diesel?

this diesel car deserves a respect!

[Monseratto]

I stand corrected then...but how many races has BMW won? in recent history? also...what about with diesel?

The first Formula 1 Championship ever won by a turbocharged engine.

http://www.bmwworld.com/racing/histo...abham_bt54.htm

Also they won the 1999 Le Mans and Sebring 24 hours ALMR as a factory team. If you include their wins as a engine-supplier with Williams and their touring car wins...Currently running the BMW-Sauber F1 team and has a factory team with the FIA WTCC.

http://bmw-motorsport.com/ms/en/index.html?lity=hn_ms

Audi won the Le Mans 6 x in past seven years, but I think there were also not much car manufacturers factory team to compeit with.

[midinite]

Thanks Mr Pink and Rion,
Yes, for a long time no one thought all-wheel drive was possible for passenger cars but Audi didn't listen and invented quattro in the 80s...and won almost every Rally there was...Now it is a commonplace sight...That's why they did this with diesel. Honestly, who would consider it here for cars among the car glitterati...diba we associate it with jeepneys...but that is what their "vorsprung" philosophy is all about...to push the envelope. And to tell you honestly, that is why I am a fan of theirs...they put their money where there mouth is...BMW and Mercs for me are dying...they are merely badges...with no balls.

[ian_rex]

i second your opinion midnite. i've admired Audi than Benz or BMW.

[midinite]

i've admired Audi than Benz or BMW.

You are a brave man for that statement in a country dominated by wannabes driving benzes and BMWs

[midinite]

The first Formula 1 Championship ever won by a turbocharged engine.

Also they won the 1999 Le Mans and Sebring 24 hours ALMR as a factory team. If you include their wins as a engine-supplier with Williams and their touring car wins...Currently running the BMW-Sauber F1 team and has a factory team with the FIA WTCC.


Audi won the Le Mans 6 x in past seven years, but I think there were also not much car manufacturers factory team to compeit with.

Ahh that was 1999...and the Sebring is only 12 hours...Question is are BMWs followers or innovators...Did they think up a diesel engine to race? Would anyone here even have dreamt it possible?

[Monseratto]

Ahh that was 1999...and the Sebring is only 12 hours...Question is are BMWs followers or innovators...Did they think up a diesel engine to race? Would anyone here even have dreamt it possible?

Mmm...I couldn't tell if anyone else would race using a diesel since its not in the regulations of most racing classes to do so. Audi may have chosen to use the diesel in the R10 since it is allowed and for me, more publicity stunt since they already won it 6 out of 7 years, BMW pulled out of le mans to join the F1 circus. Also if I am not mistaken, Audi R10s are the only factory-backed team in the prototype category, I'm not sure but the rest are privateers teams. And Innovation-wise I think Mercs have many first than Audis (first diesel, first ABS, first airbag...).

[scarab]

...offshore powerboat racers uses turbocharged diesel engines for quite some time now. so subok na rin talaga diesel sa mga races.

[mazdamazda]

You are a brave man for that statement in a country dominated by wannabes driving benzes and BMWs

CAREFUL with that statement.

There are lots of Tsikoteers (here & stateside) here who drive a MB & BMW.

Ahh that was 1999...and the Sebring is only 12 hours...Question is are BMWs followers or innovators...Did they think up a diesel engine to race? Would anyone here even have dreamt it possible?

Does Audi have the balls to compete with the grandaddy of all motorsports? Formula 1?

diba we associate it with jeepneys...but that is what their "vorsprung" philosophy is all about...to push the envelope. And to tell you honestly, that is why I am a fan of theirs...they put their money where there mouth is...BMW and Mercs for me are dying...they are merely badges...with no balls.

FYI.

The first production diesel vehicle came from MB.

The first production turbodiesel vehicle came from MB.

The first production turbodiesel w/ direct injection vehicle came from Fiat.

The first diesel vehicle to win ANY kind of racing came from BMW (1998 24 Hours Nurburgring - BMW 320d).

Now tell me... who's pushing the diesel engine technology?

[niky]

Audi's strength isn't only in the diesel engine they use... it's in their chassis development and reliability. Audi R8s have been a dominating force in LMP-class racing for a long time, and as a successor to the R8, the R10 was expected to win or at least place.

Errh... what about the BMW X5's in the Paris Dakar? Last I looked, those were turbo-diesels, and they finish consistently at the front of the pack, along with those gas powered monster Pajeros. They don't win outright, but Mitsubishi's dominated the race so long, it'll be hard to unseat them. But the X5 program did start competing before the R10.

Follower or innovator? How can you put a value on that? Mercedes, Audi and BMW have each pioneered technologies in different fields at one time or another. Each one has had its share of successes in different forms of motorsports. BMWs are consistent winners or front-runners in touring classes, and they have their own formula series, much like Ford and Renault do. They've had their share of Le Mans glory in their time, and have been in Formula One for quite a while. Mercedes have also had their share of racing successes, with the terrific CLK-GTRs and various touring cars.

Audi participates in touring cars, too, and have been in Le Mans since the beginning. Sadly, they aren't in rally anymore, even though they helped define the modern rally class with the Quattro. What's sad, really, is that Audi no longer sees the need to participate in the sport that has helped define Audi to the motoring enthusiast.