TDi wins at Sebring

[gdelargy]

I know there have already been threads about Audi's new racecar (here and here), but I thought this deserved its own post:

"Audi Makes History As Diesel-Powered R10 TDI Wins Mobil 1 Twelve Hours Of Sebring"

I guess, in any race where endurance is a factor, diesels are going to become more competitive, although I suspect it'll be a while before we see oil-burning WRC or F1 cars, if ever. Also, given the development money Audi are pouring into sportscar racing relative to other manufacturers, is this a fair comparison of diesel v petrol race-engine development?


I also spotted that Liz Halliday, in an Intersport Lola, became the highest placed woman in Sebring's history, finishing fifth overall and first in (LMP2) class. Do these two precedents indicate the future for us car enthusiasts? Being beaten by a woman in a diesel (oink-oink)?


I suppose a female forum member will post a reply saying that Halliday would only have finished sixth, but the male driver ahead of her got lost and refused to stop to ask for directions...



Regards,
G

[Nick Mann]

http://www.clubvr4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14936

Beaten to it!

[gdelargy]

Darn it. Serves me right for only searching for "R10" before I posted.


Regards,
G

[Nick Mann]

Nah - in true PSB fasion, you can search for fast, diesel, Audi, R10, and you will never find his post. You have to search for slow, diesels, deisel or chugga chugga!!!!!!!!

[Kieran]

The R10 only won because none of the other drivers could see through the black smoke to get past it........


(Sorry, had to do some diesel-bashing.... )

[I-S]

Says the VAG diesel driver...

[stevec205gti]

It's worth pointing out that the drivers had to put a lot more effort in than other competitors as AUDI haven't sorted out any traction control yet - and with 800 ft/lb of torque that must be a fair amount of effort!!!!!

[psbarham]

Nah - in true PSB fasion, you can search for fast, diesel, Audi, R10, and you will never find his post. You have to search for slow, diesels, deisel or chugga chugga!!!!!!!!

come on you should know by now that i never make life easy for you lot

[WildCards]

What is the point of high performance diesel? Is it any more fuel efficient than petrol at these levels?

[psbarham]

shed loads of torque , which means you can run longer gears , meaning less revs for the road speed , etc etc , and at the end of the day torque is what moves you , bhp is how quick it is delivered , so the more torque the better , it will also go hand in hand with fuel economy and emmissions ,so all good then .

i also just thought that what would happen if this technology reached F1 , can you imagine that james alllen on ITV " and look the latest X/Y/Z engine is now reaching a dizzy 8000 rpm , how do they do it ?"

[I-S]

Yes, it is more fuel efficient, even at these levels. Whilst in F1 that might be by the by, in 12 and 24 hour racing, it means fewer pit stops. That means it doesn't have to be the fastest car to win (but in this case it is anyway).

Audi did the same with with the R8, which used the FSI direct-injection technology to have lower fuel consumption than the competitors. And so they won Le Mans in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005 with the R8 (and didn't enter in 2003, leaving Bentley to get VAG's win there)