Audi R15 TDI

Audi
R 15 TDI
Production period:	2009-2010
Class :	race car
Body versions :	Roadster
Engines:	Diesel engine : 5.5 liters (455 kW)
Length:	4650 mm
Width:	2000 mm
Height:	1030 mm
Wheelbase :
Empty weight :	min. 900 kg
Previous model	Audi R10 TDI
successor	Audi R18

The Audi R15 TDI is a racing car from Audi AG , Ingolstadt . At the beginning of the 2009 motorsport season, it replaced the Audi R10 TDI . The successor to the 2011 season was the Audi R18 .

vehicle

2008/2009

At the end of 2007 it was already clear to Audi Motorsport that the R10 had only limited options for further development and increased racing performance. As a result, it was decided in autumn 2007 to develop a completely new vehicle. Particular emphasis was placed on aerodynamics . The high nose enables better air flow through the vehicle. This creates less air resistance and more contact pressure than with the predecessor.

When 24-hour race at Le Mans in 2008, the decision confirmed for the new project, as the Audi vehicles their victory over the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP had won its reliability and not by superior handling characteristics.

The new 90 ° V10 TDI engine with 5500 cm³ displacement is lighter and more economical than its 12-cylinder predecessor. It has a maximum torque of 1050  Nm and a maximum effective power of approx. 445 kW (605 PS).

2010 / Audi R15 Plus

The R15 TDI Plus at the Spa-Francorchamps 1000 km race in 2010

For the 2010 racing season, the Audi R15 TDI competed in a revised form. The new body is characterized by a modified nose (air intakes / headlights) and a modified air duct on the side panel. The three cars have the internal abbreviation "R15 Plus" and the new chassis numbers 202 to 204. The 2009 R15s had chassis numbers from the 1xx series. After the roll-out at the beginning of March on the Audi test track in Neustadt an der Donau , a prototype was flown to Homestead (Florida) for test drives in order to carry out aerodynamic tests. This was followed by an endurance test at the Sebring International Raceway in Sebring (Florida) , in which 5500 kilometers were driven without any technical problems. After these tests, the race at Le Castellet was the first serious test for the vehicle in the 2010 racing season.

Technical specifications

Audi R 15 TDI
Vehicle type	Le Mans Prototype (LMP1)
Engine type	V10 diesel engine with turbocharging
Displacement	5500 cc
power	approx. 445 kW (605 PS)
Torque	1050 Nm
V max	over 330 km / h
Drive type	Rear wheel drive
coupling	CFRP clutch
transmission	Sequential, pneumatically operated 5-speed sports transmission
Brakes	Hydraulic dual-circuit brake system, front and rear internally ventilated brake discs made of composite material reinforced with carbon fibers
length	4650 mm
width	2000 mm
height	1030 mm
Tank capacity	81 liters
Weight	min. 900 kg

run

2009 racing season

Sebring 2009

The first outing of two Audi R 15s took place on March 21, 2009 at the Sebring 12-hour race . The drivers Rinaldo Capello , Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish won with a new lap record.

Le Mans 2009

At the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 13th and 14th, 2009 , the Audi had to admit defeat to the competing Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, which was also equipped with a diesel engine and took the first two places. The winner was the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP with starting number 9 ( David Brabham , Marc Gené and Alexander Wurz ).

Since the second test day was canceled in 2009 and only one (rainy) test day was available, the two following sunny racing days at 28 degrees led to problems with the set-up of the R15. According to Audi, the high temperatures during the first third of the race caused severe understeer in all three vehicles, which could only be remedied by installing new front wings. In addition, the high daytime temperatures on Saturday and Sunday led to increased tire wear on the racetrack. These dirt particles settled in the cooling inlets, so that the temperature rose sharply, especially in the turbo charger area. As a result, the cooling inlets had to be cleaned regularly with compressed air when refueling, which resulted in an unplanned loss of time.

The Audi with starting number 2 retired after a driving error by Lucas Luhr , who drove over the curbs in the first of the Porsche corners , spun off the track and hit the tire wall backwards. The Audi with starting number 3 was thrown far behind by a two-hour change of the high-pressure injection pump and finished the race in 17th place. Thus only the Audi No. 1 with Rinaldo Capello , Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish remained in the top field. A broken shock absorber on the right rear axle shortly before the end of the race allowed the Lola-Aston Martin LMP1 , who ended up in fourth place, to unlock the podium for the last Audi that had a promising position in the race.

2010 racing season

Le Castellet 2010

After no Audi started at Sebring 2010, the new 8-hour race in Le Castellet on the Circuit Paul Ricard was the first serious race test for the new Audi R15 (Plus) of the 2010 racing season. That of Allan McNish and Rinaldo Capello The R15 driven won the race, ahead of the Lola-Aston Martin LMP1  - driven by Stefan Mücke , Harold Primat and Adrián Fernández  - in second place and the Rebellion Racing Lola by Jean-Christophe Boullion , Guy Smith and Andrea Belicchi in third place .

Spa Francorchamps 2010

In a race overshadowed by chaos (including 40 minutes of complete power failure, during which the emergency power generators ran empty), which was characterized by numerous tire changes, accidents and safety car phases due to frequent rain showers, the Audi squad had to compete with their new R15 + 3, 5 and 12 satisfied. Since the Audis were already driving in Le Mans trim (as a test run for the 24-hour race, therefore only a very flat wing position, ie little downforce ) they could only compete with the Peugeots in the dry racing phases, and they had to who were more lucky in choosing tires, let them go at the end.

Le Mans 2010

In dry weather on 12./13. June 2010 , the Audi works team with three R15plus took the first three places in the Le Mans 24-hour race, while the main competitor Peugeot was out with all vehicles. Mike Rockenfeller , Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas celebrated the victory , while Marcel Fässler , André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer took second place . 3rd place went to Rinaldo Capello, Allan McNish and record winner Tom Kristensen.

gallery

• 

  Audi R15 driven by Tom Kristensen during the 2009 Sebring 12 hour race .

• 

  Audi R15, driven by Timo Bernhard during the Le Mans 24-hour race in 2009 .

• 

  Audi R15 driven by Rinaldo Capello during the Le Mans 24 hour race in 2009 .

Web links

Commons : Audi R15 TDI  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Driving report June 2010

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Audi website: Chassis R15 TDI. Archived from the original on June 3, 2009 ; Retrieved December 7, 2012 . 
2. ↑ prova.de Audi R15 TDI
3. ↑ Motor1.com Team: Audi R15 TDI Victorious in 12 Hours of Sebring. In: motor1.com. March 22, 2009, accessed October 6, 2018 . 
4. ↑ Course of the race and results on the F1sa homepage ( Memento from March 5, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
5. ↑ Official Audi press release on the course of the race ( Memento from May 16, 2010 in the Internet Archive )