Audi R10 TDI Wins Two in a Row at Sebring

Audi diesel did it again at Sebring this weekend. The redesigned 2007 Audi R10 TDI scored a win over tough competition in the 12 Hours at LeMans — the second win in a row for the R10 TDI and the eighth in a row for Audi.

A record crowd of 235,000 saw Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro, and Marco Werner roar into first place. Audi drivers Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen, and Allan McNish finished third overall.

The win came despite changes in American Le Mans series rules designed to reduce diesel's fuel economy advantage over gasoline engines. Less frequent pit stops mean better overall times. By shrinking diesel fuel tanks to require more frequent refueling, race regulators hoped to level the field between gasoline- and diesel-powered cars — a hope that Audi engineers have apparently left in the dust. Before the race, Audi estimated the ten-percent-smaller tanks would force the R10 TDI to come into the pits about three laps earlier than in 2006. In practice, that number worked out to be even higher, making the Audi team's victory that much more impressive.

Audi Motorsport head Wolfgang Ulrich also insisted that overall results showed that regulations still put the LMP1 and LMP2 classes too close in pace. LM P2 (Le Mans Prototype Category 2) cars weigh 150 kg less and are allowed to race in the American Le Mans Series with more engine power than at Le Mans.

"We are happy winning Sebring another time and are unbeaten at Sebring since 2000," he said. "But we've also seen today how close it is now between the LM P1 and LM P2 cars. My fears that the two categories have been put together too closely have been proved by today's race."

Nevertheless, Audi exulted over its Sebring triumph:

The fans at the race track and a worldwide audience of millions of TV viewers saw an impressive demonstration of Audi TDI Power and the performance of modern diesel engines. The brace of Audi R10 TDI cars, powered by a 650 hp V12 TDI engine, were by far the fastest and most economical cars. One of the new diesel sportscars from Ingolstadt was at the head of the field during the entire race.

The 12 Hours at Sebring is one of the toughest endurance races in the U.S., with punishing heat and an an extremely rough road surface that put a car's reliability to the test, and is considered the ideal preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In fact, last year's Sebring win by the Audi R10 TDI was the precursor to a victory at Le Mans. All eyes are on Audi to pull off the same trick two years in a row.

Audi TDI Diesel Wins Again at Sebring [Audi, The AutoChannel]