Audi LMP1 Discussion

[MyNameIsNigel]

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

Confirmation at the very least that Nigel isn't due a trip to the opticians any time soon. Cracking spot from the first image.

[MyNameIsNigel]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Looks like DiGrassi's helmet from the photo.

Bonanomi is reported to be testing the car at Monza.

[Gingers4Justice]

Audi in race against time to be ready for Spa after crashes

Audi is facing a race against time to ready its fleet of R18 e-tron quattros for the next round of the World Endurance Championship at Spa on May 3.

The two R18s entered in last weekend's opening round of the WEC at Silverstone both sustained chassis damage in the accidents that put them out of the race.

Audi is also having to ready the additional car it will run in Belgium, to be driven by Oliver Jarvis, Marco Bonanomi and Filipe Albuquerque, in preparation for its three-car assault on the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.

Audi Sport boss Wolfgang Ullrich said: "Both tubs are damaged to the extent that they will have to be sent away to be repaired and it is unlikely that we will get them back in time.

"So we will have to find another solution. It will be a close cut."

The solution could involve using the chassis from its test cars, of which Audi is known to have at least two.

Front suspension pick-up points were damaged on both cars, which were crashed by Lucas di Grassi in the opening hour and by Benoit Treluyer just after the halfway mark at Silverstone on Sunday.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/113600

They'll get three cars on the grid at Spa somehow, but this is far from ideal and you'd have to say this does compromise their preparations for Le Mans.

Those two incidents, potentially from a tactical blunder, could put them on the back foot for the next two rounds, which together with Silverstone offer over half the available points in the championship.

[Simmi]

I knew all the talk about written off tubs was premature. Still doesn't help Audi with only a couple of weeks to pull things together.

They find themselves in a position like Toyota were where they really can't afford any shunts at Spa - all whilst piling around Monza.

[Bandicoot17]

It's really hard to make out but to me it looks like Audi are testing a rear wing package with end plates that run to the ground ala Toyota.

[MyNameIsNigel]

In retrospect, one may really wonder if the strategy to keep both cars on slicks at Silverstone was a prudent one. This was obviously a strategic mistake, but moreover unnecessarily put the whole preparation for LM at risk.

If a "waking call" was necessary, this was it.

[wewantourdarbyback]

It would have worked had the track dried fast after what was in reality a very short period of rain.

However, I imagine in part down to just how ******* cold it was out there the track too ages to dry, scuppering any chances of Audi's tactic working.

After that it just seemed to be sheer bloody mindedness on Leena's part to keep Andre out there for so long.

[deltawing]

Oh boy, look at that wing over deck! Game over, ha!

[hcl123]

Its so far away that there is nothing conclusive... and picture enlargement doesn't help. Any other pictures and or videos ?

[Simmi]

Check back a few posts for a much better picture.

[Aysedasi]

The second one at post #6168 and the video at #6174?

[MyNameIsNigel]

So this is the "long-tail" version (or LM package) that we are likely to see being first raced as early as Spa (like last year):


The cut-outs on the inner side of the front wheel fenders are interesting and may be key to achieving an efficient aero package at LM. At least Audi seem to consider that this is the best solution for LM. This is reminiscent of the Audi R8C (or some may say the Toyota GT-One )

That rear wing is... almost flat... It will be very interesting to see the top speed that this car will be able to achieve, especially compared to the Porsche 919.

[MyNameIsNigel]

Further pictures have been posted by Matteo Milani on his Facebook page.

Matteo also took the first pictures of what appears to be the new Audi R8 LMS.

[TF110]

It was only a matter of time! The consensus is theyll be running this car (chassis) at Spa along with their other test cars?

[MyNameIsNigel]

Originally Posted by TF110

It was only a matter of time! The consensus is theyll be running this car (chassis) at Spa along with their other test cars?

That's most likely, as long as they can make two chassis ready for the #1 and #2 cars. I would expect that cars #1 and #2 will run with the sprint package at Spa.

[The Badger]

All you can hear is the whistle from the tranny . Im not too cheesed of with the diesel now , as there will only be 3 so a nice balance .

As some said above , it would be fantastic if they ran the 3rd car in black . Oh boy , I cant wait for this scrap at Le Mans this year ..... hopefully feathers flyin in all directions .

[TF110]

Originally Posted by The Badger

All you can hear is the whistle from the tranny . Im not too cheesed of with the diesel now , as there will only be 3 so a nice balance .

As some said above , it would be fantastic if they ran the 3rd car in black . Oh boy , I cant wait for this scrap at Le Mans this year ..... hopefully feathers flyin in all directions .

As long as its not body panels!

[MihokS5]

Anyone else notice that the front nose looks wider?

[hcl123]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Check back a few posts for a much better picture.

I must had been distracted missed a whole page of posts lol

Yes "long tail" almost flat rear wing.. perhaps a little less front wing ground effect.

If this doesn't cure top speeds nothing will .

Originally Posted by MyNameIsNigel

So this is the "long-tail" version (or LM package) that we are likely to see being first raced as early as Spa (like last year):


The cut-outs on the inner side of the front wheel fenders are interesting and may be key to achieving an efficient aero package at LM. At least Audi seem to consider that this is the best solution for LM. This is reminiscent of the Audi R8C (or some may say the Toyota GT-One )

That rear wing is... almost flat... It will be very interesting to see the top speed that this car will be able to achieve, especially compared to the Porsche 919.

also the front fender seems a little more extended for front and have a rounder curve.. this or the front axle went a little back.. perhaps a different suspension config with it, with a different balance between axles.

[chernaudi]

The sponsor and car number decals got swapped when Audi ran the new color scheme (number is above sponsor decals). That's what's producing the illusion.

LM and sprint bodywork mates up the same tub, so it doesn't make sense for Audi to make a new nose. That'd also likely mean re-homolgation of the crash structure as well.

Also, Mulsanne Mike reports that he's got shots of the R18's and TS040's front diffusers to answer our questions about them.

[CyberMotor]

I like seeing the smoother and swoopier lines of the nose and lights. The blunt noses are an interesting concept but my eyes seem to be having a tough time fully accepting them.

[chernaudi]

R18 front diffuser analysis:

http://www.mulsannescorner.com/newsmarch14.html

[MyNameIsNigel]

Originally Posted by MihokS5

Anyone else notice that the front nose looks wider?

The whole nose section indeed looks different:
Monza test (source: Matteo Milani)

Launch spec (source: Audi media)


It "looks" wider at the base (compare the positions of the attachment points indicated by the red arrows), but that would mean a different tub. Interesting.

[TF110]

Looks a lot like last year's car.

[nobster]

Does that car look way better in black!