Audi LMP1 Discussion

[MyNameIsNigel]

Originally Posted by gregtummer

Maybe 10-lap stints if Audi runs at the 2008-2010 Peugeot 908 pace.

10-lap stints vs. 12-lap stint would amount to much more than the 2 to 3 extra pit stops over the whole race distance that Dr. Ullrich is suggesting.

[ger80]

No, he is saying that the 3L enable Toyota to make another lap. To compensate for the 3L, Audi needs to speed up by 0.5 sec

[Dead-Eye]

Originally Posted by MyNameIsNigel

Interestingly, Dr. Ullrich claims in this article that the extra 3L of fuel offered to Toyota implies that the Audi's would have to do (only ?) 2 to 3 extra pit stops compared to Toyota and that the Audi's would have to run (at least) half a second quicker per lap than the Toyota's to compensate for these extra pit stops.

No, he says that Toyota will save 2 to 3 stops if they can run an additional lap with the extra fuel.

[MyNameIsNigel]

Originally Posted by ger80

No, he is saying that the 3L enable Toyota to make another lap. To compensate for the 3L, Audi needs to speed up by 0.5 sec

Originally Posted by Dead-Eye

No, he says that Toyota will save 2 to 3 stops if they can run an additional lap with the extra fuel.

Here are Dr. Ullrich words as reported by motorsport-total.com:

"Wenn die eine Runde mehr schaffen, dann sparen sie auf das gesamte Rennen betrachtet zwei bis drei Stopps. Das bedeutet, dass wir pro Runde eine halbe Sekunde schneller fahren müssen, um dies wieder auszugleichen."

The 3L should normally enable Toyota to make another lap. Over a whole race distance (let's assume a race distance of of 380 laps for the sake of illustration), the Toyota's would theoretically have to stop 32 times (assuming they are able to do 12-lap stints). If the Audi's are able to do 11-lap stints, that would amount in comparison to 35 stops (i.e. three extra pit stops). A shorter race distance of e.g. 350 laps would reduce the theoretical number of pit stops to 30 for Toyota and 32 for Audi (i.e. two extra pit stops).

Hence the 2 to 3 pit stops that Toyota would save (or the 2 to 3 extra pit stops that Audi would have to do, depending on how you look at it) that Dr. Ullrich is referring to in the article.

If Audi are only able to do 10-lap stints, the difference will be much worse than 2-3 pit stops.

[TF110]

We'll see how many laps really are achieved per stint at the test day, and even then things can change.

[MyNameIsNigel]

Originally Posted by TF110

We'll see how many laps really are achieved per stint at the test day, and even then things can change.

Indeed. It will be interesting to watch if Audi are capable of regularly doing 11-lap stints. If Audi are stuck with 10-lap stints, Toyota may be in a far better shape to challenge for victory.

[Tim240z]

Originally Posted by MyNameIsNigel

Indeed. It will be interesting to watch if Audi are capable of regularly doing 11-lap stints. If Audi are stuck with 10-lap stints, Toyota may be in a far better shape to challenge for victory.

I wouldn't expect either team to show their real hand...

This entire deal reminds me of a sophisticated version of that dumb show PINKs on speed years ago.

[TF110]

Well, besides not showing their hand it looks like weather may be a factor on the test day. So who knows what that will show.

[gregtummer]

In the article here:

http://trussers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/...re-litres.html

Paul Tresswell says "The diesel Audi, if it used all its fuel to do 12 laps last year, would be achieving 7.8mpg"


That seems pretty amazing to me for cars running at these speeds to get that kind of fuel mileage, especially with 6 chicanes/hairpins that requires going from roughly 200mph down to 50mph and back again.

[Mal]

I dont know how much he knows but Gordon Kirby states in this article that Audi will be withdrawing from LMP racing to make way for Porsche.

http://gordonkirby.com/categories/co..._is_no387.html

I know this has been round the block a few times but Gordon Kirby is on the inside although not really in sportscars

[gregtummer]

Originally Posted by Mal

I dont know how much he knows but Gordon Kirby states in this article that Audi will be withdrawing from LMP racing to make way for Porsche.

http://gordonkirby.com/categories/co..._is_no387.html

I know this has been round the block a few times but Gordon Kirby is on the inside although not really in sportscars

It would seem unlikely considering they are testing a 2014 car this weekend, but that didn't stop Peugeot from withdrawing.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by gregtummer

It would seem unlikely considering they are testing a 2014 car this weekend, but that didn't stop Peugeot from withdrawing.

Yeah, but Peugeot were (and still are) in really deep financial trouble, the VAG group is financially in the other extreme (21.88 billion Euro profit last year).

[Pandamasque]

What a bizarre paragraph!

In that spirit of competition a small group of people from Audi visited this year's Indy 500. The German auto manufacturer is looking at the possibility of building engines for the IndyCar series. Over the past fourteen years Audi has focused its motorsports effort on Le Mans and international sports car racing but next year Audi will withdraw from that arena as Porsche returns to Le Mans with a new LMP1 car. Audi and Porsche are part of the VW Group of course, and the brands won't compete against each other so Audi is moving on to race elsewhere.

Either he lives under a rock and never heard Audi representatives assuring of the opposite. Or he knows for sure it's all BS and can't care less about explaining that to the readers. Either way it looks completely stupid. You just can't make such a controversial statement and move on like it's common knowledge.

[ger80]

Agree

[gregtummer]

John Dagys said Audi will run 2014 WEC. Nothing confirmed beyond that.

[silente]

I would really be curious to know more about the condition in which the Audi "test Car" was used.

I mean, we know that they were using 2014 spec tires, but about weight/width/aero configuration?

Laptimes were not too far from the other Audi cars..above all if you think that Bonanomi is probably the less experienced driver in Le Mans and that, most probably, he was not pushing for a quali lap as Duval maybe did...

[MyNameIsNigel]

Originally Posted by gregtummer

John Dagys said Audi will run 2014 WEC. Nothing confirmed beyond that.

If Audi start a new endurance programme, it's likely not for a single season; more likely to be for at least 2-3 years. Beyond that nobody can tell. The same applies for Toyota and Porsche BTW.

For the time being there isn't any valid alternative for Audi other than endurance racing.

[Creep89]

Originally Posted by silente

I would really be curious to know more about the condition in which the Audi "test Car" was used.

I mean, we know that they were using 2014 spec tires, but about weight/width/aero configuration?

I think it's nearly the same car like the other 2013 R18. Maybe more sensors and computers in it, and of course, with smaller tyres.

[silente]

I think it's nearly the same car like the other 2013 R18. Maybe more sensors and computers in it, and of course, with smaller tyres.

I remember somebody from audi said that some bits were different to reproduce loads more similar to the expected 2014 ones (for example a different front splitter).

Anyway, the tires are significantly smaller, but still they track width didn´t seem so small...and again i would expected a significant grip reduction from such smaller tires.

[chernaudi]

A couple of quick CAD sketches were released by Mike on MulsannesCorner.com. They bascially explain why Audi went with the long tail, namely to angle down the rear diffuser angle to reduce drag for a very small (negligible) downforce penalty.

Also of note, is that Audi extended the 2013 R18's wheelbase by as much as nearly 2 inches (50mm) to extend the rear bodywork.

[aneesh99]

Sir Truswell pulls through again, some great data and analysis for those less inclined to crunch numbers!

[TF110]

I think Audi will be doing 11 lap stints but slowing their pace. They can change that and go faster but do 10 lap stints. Thats my guesstimate. I think Toyota will definitely do 12 laps and I suspect they might even achieve 13 with the extra fuel. It would be a stretch though, but we don't know if they were running conservative at Spa.

[urdragon]

Interview to Marc Gené in spanish, those who know spanish or trust the gogle translate:

http://www.motorpasionf1.com/24-hora...son-muy-buenas

Interesting the last paragraph where he talks about his drivin style compared to other Audi mates.

[MyNameIsNigel]

Looking at pictures of the #4 car taken during the Le Mans Test Day, it would seem that Audi were not exclusively testing Michelin tires. If you look closely there is an additional NACA duct on the engine cover as well as a further outlet downstream of this new NACA duct. None of those are on the "conventional" R18's:



Testing with the air hybrid system ?

[vincegail]