From the racetrack Audi motorsport news

Aug 10, 2008

The Audi R10 TDI has won the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans three times in succession. For the first time the ground breaking diesel sportscar competes in the 1000-kilometre race at the Nürburgring on 17 August in the country where it was designed: Germany.

AUDI AG demonstrated entrepreneurial prowess yet again with the R10 TDI, particularly as many experts considered Ferdinand Piëch’s vision to win Le Mans with a diesel engine for utopian. "When we informed our suppliers about the diesel project they asked us whether we really wanted to take the step," remembers Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. "It was a big risk. We knew this, but if Audi couldn’t have managed this pioneering achievement who could have?"

The inventor of the TDI reached its goal. Three victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 14 overall race victories in the American Le Mans Series in the USA are an impressive record and proof of the leading role that Audi plays in the development of the TDI Technology, which is accelerated by the R10 TDI project.

This is also valid for technical components like the innovative diesel particulate filters (DPF) with which the Le Mans sportscar is equipped. The filters supplied by Dow Automotive have been reduced in both size and weight by approximately 40% since their debut in March 2006. The efficiency of the filter was increased simultaneously.

The diesel particulate filters used in the R10 TDI excel as a result of their light weight and compact design. They drastically reduce particle emissions and generate only limited back-pressure – a particularly important factor for diesel engines which directly affects the engine power and fuel consumption.

Audi comes to the 1000-kilometre race at the Nürburgring as leader in the Manufacturers’ Championship in the European based Le Mans Series. In the Drivers’ Championship the Audi drivers Alexandre Prémat and Mike Rockenfeller are equal on points with leaders Marc Gené and Nicolas Minassian (both Peugeot). Le Mans winners Dindo Capello and Allan McNish follow in third place.

The maximum six-hour long 1000-kilometre race starts on Sunday (17 August) at 12:05 p.m. Eurosport 2 broadcasts live from the Eifel region from 12:00 midday to 2.00 p.m. and between 5:00 and 6.00 p.m.