Did Audi diesel win Le Mans?
On June 18, 2006, Audi won at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a diesel engine for the very first time in the history of the legendary race. Though a diesel engine car took the start at the 24 Hours of Le Mans as early as 1950 (a Delettrez forced to retire), it would take more than 50 years for another to win the race. HOURS CENTENARY – PERPETUAL INNOVATION ⎮ Diesel engine technology really began making its mark at the 24 Hours of Le Mans during the second half of the early 2000s (with a first win in 2006), but it had first appeared when the race resumed in 1949 on the heels of a nine-year hiatus due to World War II.
Did BMW ever win Le Mans?
The BMW V12 LMR is a Le Mans Prototype built for sports car racing from 1999 to 2000. The car was built through an alliance between BMW Motorsport and Williams Racing, and was the successor to the failed BMW V12 LM of 1998. It is famous for earning BMW its only overall victory to date at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. High-revving V10 power-plants were incorporated into supercars from Lamborghini and Porsche. BMW and Audi developed V10s for high performance cars such as BMW M5, BMW M6, Audi S6, Audi RS6, Audi S8 and Audi R8, mostly based upon their executive cars. Volkswagen also developed a V10, but as a turbo-diesel.One concept car that never made it to series production was the R8 with a turbocharged V12 diesel engine; the R8 V12 TDI concept. Background: In the 2010s, Audi was successful at Le Mans with the R10 TDI and wanted to establish diesel technology for sports cars, which had not existed until then.On 18 June 2000, Audi won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time. Twenty-five years later, this win by the R8 bearing the number 8 and driven by Frank Biela, Tom Kristensen and Emanuele Pirro is considered the key moment that paved the way to establishing the Audi legend at Le Mans.With a 6. V12 boasting 500 horsepower and a staggering 738 lb-ft of torque, the diesel-powered R8 was designed to bring the torque-rich, fuel-efficient power of Audi’s Le Mans-winning race cars to the street.
Why did Audi use diesel in Le Mans?
For decades, petrol engines dominated endurance racing, offering high revs, compact designs, and a performance pedigree that engineers refined to near perfection. Yet, Audi believed that a diesel engine could deliver an advantage, not just in power, but in efficiency – a key factor in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The R10 TDI was the first Le Mans winning car with diesel power. Ever since then, only LMP race cars with diesel engines have been winning the classic race at La Sarthe – including eight Audi cars. The challenge was to develop a diesel engine with more than 650 hp for racing,” says Dr. Ullrich.From its debut, the R10 TDI redefined expectations. Where competitors managed 12–13 laps per tank, the R10 could do 16, achieving 5. Formula 1’s 3 mpg. Audi’s design also minimised fuel wastage on overrun, a common issue with petrol engines that eject unburnt fuel into the exhaust.
Has Audi ever won the Le Mans?
A total of four countries have produced just one winner. Porsche have won the most races as a manufacturer with 19 since their first in 1970. Audi are second with 13 wins and Ferrari are third with 12 victories. Porsche also achieved the most consecutive wins with seven victories in succession from 1981 to 1987. The record for the most race victories by a driver is nine, held by Denmark’s Tom Kristensen. His debut victory, in 1997, was in a TWR Porsche WSC-95 Le Mans Prototype racecar. Next, on six, is Jacky Ickx – five with Porsche – with Derek Bell one of three drivers on five race wins (four for Porsche).