Audi Le Mans racer revealed

After continued domination at the Le Mans 24 Hours (nine wins since its 1999 debut), Audi Motorsports have launched its all new racer the LMP1 race car.

For the first time since 1999, the Audi contender is a closed coupe. As Audi's head of motorsport, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, puts it: "In the future, aerodynamic efficiency will be even more important at Le Mans than it was in the past. A closed car has clear advantages in this respect. Our computer simulations have been confirmed in the wind tunnel and during initial track tests."

2011 also marks a significant, if perhaps less exciting, milestone for Le Mans as the organisers have prescribed the use of much smaller engines in an attempt to reduce engine power and enhance efficiency.

Audi's answer to that is a 3.7-litre V6 TDI engine in the R18, mated to a new six-speed transmission.

As for the chassis, unlike those of the closed Le Mans prototypes, the carbon fibre monocoque of the R18 does not consist of two halves but instead features a stiffer and lighter single-component design. When developing this closed car, Audi drew off both its own experience gained with the 1999 car and with sister-marque Bentley's LMP1 car of 2003.

According to Audi, the chassis and aerodynamics package contains a lot of know-how from the R8, the R10 TDI and the R15 TDI whereas the fitting of identically sized front and rear wheels is new to an Audi Le Mans sports car. This configuration allows a more balanced weight distribution.

Another technical highlight are the R18's headlights, which are the first to completely consist of LEDs with optimized amount of light. This lighting technology will eventually find its way one Audi's passenger cars.

Audi is planning to field three Audi R18 cars at Le Mans, which will be entered by Audi Sport Team Joest, the most successful Le Mans team of all time. In addition, Joest will contest the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (seven endurance races on three continents, including the Le Mans 24 Hours) with two cars.

However, the team will still use two 'R15 plus plus' cars at the opening race at Sebring on 19 March, as they're worried the R18 won't be quite ready enough by this stage.