Audi LMP1 Discussion

[chunder]

I would have though Shell threw a few quid their way in the diesel days, and when you think what they were spending with Ferrari their motorsport outlay would have been astonishing.

Yet, what amazed me about that, was that you rarely saw any marketing in gas stations about Audi and their diesel winnings, it was always Ferrari merch.

Yet, all the reps and fleet guys would be using diesel cars, probably a fair few of them Audi's!

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by chunder

I would have though Shell threw a few quid their way in the diesel days, and when you think what they were spending with Ferrari their motorsport outlay would have been astonishing.

Yet, what amazed me about that, was that you rarely saw any marketing in gas stations about Audi and their diesel winnings, it was always Ferrari merch.

Yet, all the reps and fleet guys would be using diesel cars, probably a fair few of them Audi's!

To the average motorist, who doesn't know much about motosrport Ferrari is synonymous with it, hence the Ferrari merch. So from a marketing perspective, that makes perfect sense.

[Akrapovic]

It's been said that Ferrari make more money off of merchandise now than they do cars. Which means they sell cars to fund their ability to sell crap hats and silly watches.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

It's been said that Ferrari make more money off of merchandise now than they do cars. Which means they sell cars to fund their ability to sell crap hats and silly watches.

.

[bavila]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

.

Isn't that the truth. And IMO you have to be a vain vain guy to walk around in Ferrari stuff, while the average person is driving a Honda Civic.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by bavila

Isn't that the truth. And IMO you have to be a vain vain guy to walk around in Ferrari stuff, while the average person is driving a Honda Civic.

[chernaudi]

DSC's Audi film show:

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2016/1...udi-sport.html

[chernaudi]

Audi Sport (in an uncharacteristic move for this season) has released photos of their cars before FP begins tomorrow. Both cars will have decals celebrating the whole Audi LMP900/LMP1 program on the engine cover dorsal fin per Audi Media Center.

Also, SC365 reports that the 2017 R18 was only a few weeks away from testing when Audi Sport pulled the plug on the program. I do hope that Audi at least release some digital renders of what the car was supposed to look like, or just complete it for S&G's just to close the program.

BTW, a question that I've had since 2000, so whoever knows will have to dig way back to the early days of the program, but why was the #77 Audi R8 at Mosport in 2000 blow smoke out its exhaust on overrun? I know that the car had to be burning oil or something (though it didn't seem to worry the team; even back then, Audi had telemetry to let them know about problems on the car), but I've never heard a reason why it happened.

Mind you, this was the days before I had a computer, barely had internet, and had a hard time catching the races on TV, though we had DirecTV by then in the living room (this was between my grandma having control over the TV watching westerns and old cop shows like Dragnet and Kojak on TV Land and not having a TV Guide subscription).

[kaivo]

[ederss7]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

BTW, a question that I've had since 2000, so whoever knows will have to dig way back to the early days of the program, but why was the #77 Audi R8 at Mosport in 2000 blow smoke out its exhaust on overrun? I know that the car had to be burning oil or something (though it didn't seem to worry the team; even back then, Audi had telemetry to let them know about problems on the car), but I've never heard a reason why it happened.

Mind you, this was the days before I had a computer, barely had internet, and had a hard time catching the races on TV, though we had DirecTV by then in the living room (this was between my grandma having control over the TV watching westerns and old cop shows like Dragnet and Kojak on TV Land and not having a TV Guide subscription).

Unfortunately, there's no mention of it in the official press release: https://www.audi-motorsport.info/v2/.../single/id/902

[chernaudi]

I wonder if Racecar Engineering will do a piece on the stillborn 2017 R18 like they did for TMG's stillborn 2010 TF110 F1 car? I've also read a possible rumor (though it could also be a bad translation) that Audi Sport could finish building the 2017 car and maybe test it as a final farewell to the current LMP1 program.

[Artur]

Farewell Audi, what a lofty way to departure from sportscar racing !

[YorkshireLad]

Wow that was emotional.


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[J Jay]

The end of an era.

What a way to finish.

[MaskedRacer]

Which Audi prototype will go down as your favorite? Mine is the R18 Ultra and EtronQuattro. Essentially the R18's from 2011-2013.

[Creep89]

The first R18 (2011) and the last R18. A lot of people say it's an ugly car but I love how radical it is.

[bobec]

Originally Posted by Creep89

The first R18 (2011) and the last R18. A lot of people say it's an ugly car but I love how radical it is.

I also saw it as more radical than ugly. The problem I had with that car was not the looks, but that I never saw how that high nose would work for LM and the other low downforce tracks. And sometimes aero and set-up was just too complex. And then add pick-up to the equation

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by MaskedRacer

Which Audi prototype will go down as your favorite? Mine is the R18 Ultra and EtronQuattro. Essentially the R18's from 2011-2013.

2011-2013 R18 for me too. If I had to narrow it down then the 2012-2013 R18 Quattro. First win for a hybrid at Le Mans and first win for a 4WD car at Le Mans. It was the first introduction to the current era.

My favourite memory was being trackside in 2008.

[GT6]

Goodbye Audii, thanks a million for the great racing over the last 18 years and especially for the pit visit and other access you gave ten-tenths members at le mans, i hope you return soon

[bobec]

I really like the 2000 R8 with the open rear wing. I also like the 2010 R15+ for some reason, and the 2011 R18. I liked the 2014 LM-spec, especially the rear, and also the 2015 LM spec. The 2013 LM spec would have been perfect for me, if it weren't for the big nose.

[Acid09]

Hindy's prediction that Audi will be back before Peugeot caused 20 seconds of very awkward silence on the WEC stream.

[seanyb505]

Hopefully someone from Peugeot heard it and decides to do something about it

[Acid09]

Originally Posted by seanyb505

Hopefully someone from Peugeot heard it and decides to do something about it

I honestly think Hindy underestimates the trouble VAG is in, I don't think they'll be restarting any large-scale motorsport activities anytime soon (and with that I mean at least 5-6 years).

[chernaudi]

Mostly because the US Government was like "Oh, you'll pay us $15 billion to shut us up? We'll gladly take it!" And yet, we have new Ford, Chevy, Dodge and GMC pick up trucks dumping tons more NOX and CO2 out their exhaust per vehicle than many (as in clustered) of the VW/Audi diesels that the EPA deemed questionable.

Say what you want about the EU regs (which apparently allowed defeat devices by not explicitly outlawing them, not as strict on NoX emissions), they do criminalize large pick up trucks and tractor trailer rigs more than the US does it seems. Believe me, if Ford or GM got caught doing the same thing, the US Government would go easier on them. After all, the Obama Administration bailed out GM and Chrysler. At least Ford trimmed the fat and avoided a Gov't bail out deal.

Also, I don't think that Hindy is underestimating anything as of yet. He knows a lot more than you or I, the common race fan, knows. And even though Peugeot is now profitable again, they're still b****ing about costs in such a way that it make's TMG's gripes seem like asking for a legitimate favor, which I wouldn't be surprised that asking for a favor (under the tech regs) is at least part of Peugeot's winge-fest in regards to cost. Not to mention that VAG and most of all several of it's divisions are still hugely profitable. Audi are still setting huge sales records and raking in profits.

But you do have to understand the cynical side of me on this, too. As soon as we see major contributors to the US Govenment's defense plans and endorsers of politicians' tax returns and those of the oil companies and such, then maybe I'll take seriously the US Gov't's objections.

Not to mention that Daimler AG are similarly getting hammered in the US and especially the EU and other countries for doing even worse on their trucks and large vehicles with emissions and fuel economy regs. But then again, Daimler only have three motorsports programs, one that they spend half a billion USD on annually (F1), one that they don't spend hardly any money on, though it's seemingly a matter of national pride (DTM), and one that's a customer program (GT3).

[CyberMotor]

Here are some of my impressions of "Awesome Audi" from the 2000 Petit Le Mans. Earlier, when all the talk was about Audi entering the American Le Mans Series, my response was, "So what?"

It didn't take very long for me to understand 'What and Why?'.

http://www.lasersol.com/CyberMotor/p...esome_audi.htm