Audi R18 E-Tron Quattro RP4

Audi
2 Audi R18 E-Tron Quattro RP4 at Le Mans
Audi R18 E-Tron Quattro RP4
Production period:	2014
Class :	race car
Body versions :	Coupe
Engines:	Diesel engine : 4.0 liters (395 kW) + electric motor : 170 kW
Length:	4650 mm
Width:	1900 mm
Height:	1050 mm
Wheelbase :
Empty weight :	870 kg
Previous model	Audi R18 E-Tron quattro RP3
successor	Audi R18 E-Tron quattro RP5

The Audi R18 E-Tron Quattro RP4 is a sports car prototype developed and built by Audi in accordance with LMP1 regulations. The car took part in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2014 .

development

Audi presented the newly built Audi R18 E-Tron Quattro RP4 to the public on December 12, 2013. In what Audi believes is the most complex racing car the brand has ever built, every component - in contrast to its predecessor - has been redeveloped.

technology

The original plan was to combine an e-turbocharger with the hybrid system. It generated electrical energy when the charge pressure limit was reached, which flowed into the rotating mass storage, which is also fed by a KERS on the front axle. Depending on the operating strategy, the stored energy could be returned to the front axle or the turbocharger when accelerating. The e-charger part of the hybrid system was discarded for reasons of reliability. The power of the electrical part of the hybrid system is over 170 kW.

The other changes include a body 10 cm narrower, narrower tires, a vehicle height that has increased to 1,050 mm, a front wing with a flap instead of a front diffuser, a rear wing that is 20 cm wider, a reduced gross weight of 870 kg (net weight: 760 kg) , Retaining ropes for the front wheels, a crash box behind the gearbox that absorbs the energy in the event of an accident, a reinforced monocoque and a modified exhaust system and a sequential seven-speed gearbox.

Races

Audi fielded 2 vehicles in the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship; the car made its racing debut on April 20, 2014 at the 6-hour race in Silverstone. An additional third Audi car was used at the Spa 6 Hours and the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours . The Audi with the number 2 with the driver line-up André Lotterer , Marcel Fässler and Benoît Tréluyer achieved a victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, ahead of the Audi with the number 1 with the driver line-up Tom Kristensen , Marc Gené and Lucas di Grassi .

At the 6-hour race in Austin, the three successful drivers at Le Mans won again.

Driver line-up

Start list
No.	team	vehicle	tires	driver	driver	driver
FIA WEC season 2014
1	Audi Sport Team Joest	Audi R18 e-tron quattro	M.	Lucas di Grassi	Loïc Duval / Marc Gené *	Tom Kristensen
2	Audi Sport Team Joest	Audi R18 e-tron quattro	M.	Marcel Fässler	André Lotterer	Benoît Tréluyer
3	Audi Sport Team Joest	Audi R18 e-tron quattro	M.	Filipe Albuquerque	Oliver Jarvis	Marco Bonanomi

^* - The Audi R18 e-tron quattro # 3 only competed in the WEC 6 Hours of Spa Francorchamps and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The substitute driver at Le Mans for Audi was the Spaniard Marc Gene, who was also used in training after Loïc Duval's accident. Gene was actually registered for the Zytek from Jota Sport.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Motorsport-Total - Internet site: Audi presents "most efficient racing car" so far. From: www.motorsport-total.com , December 12, 2013, accessed on January 15, 2019 . 
2. ^ FIA website: 2014 Technical Regulations for Prototype LMP1 - V08. From: www.fia.com , September 27, 2013, accessed January 15, 2019 . 
3. ^ Statesman - Internet site: Test of the Audi in America. From: www.statesman.com , March 18, 2014, accessed January 15, 2019 . 
4. ↑ Audi-Dialoge - website: http://audi-dialoge.de/magazin/technologie/02-2014/111-dampf-der-ideen ( Memento from July 21, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
5. ↑ Joest-Racing - Website: Die Autos: Museum: Audi R18 e-tron quattro 2014. On: www.joest-racing.de , accessed on January 15, 2019 .