Audi R18 e-tron Hybrid Quattro Racer Announced for Le Mans

Following its world premiere in Munich, Audi’s new R18 will make its racing debut on May 5 before fighting for overall victory at 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

Audi has just revealed their new R18 e-tron Quattro racer, a brand new Le Mans prototype that has been in the development stages up until very recently.Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich drove the new Audi R18 onto the stage at last night's world premiere in Munich, electrically and almost silent.The vehicle will be the first LMP1 car that incorporates a diesel hybrid powertrain, which runs in concert with Audi's e-tron Quattro AWD system.

A kinetic energy recovery braking system on the front axle sends electricity into a flywheel accumulator before it is sent back down to the electric motors on the front wheel. This energy can then be retrieved, but only under acceleration above 75mph. Meanwhile, a 503hp V6 TDI powerplant transmits power to the rear wheels.This flywheel hybrid system was developed and manufactured by Williams, who previously supplied similar systems to Porsche racing cars. In fact, its similar to Porsche's flywheel KERS system on the 911 GT3 R Hybrid although it cannot operate on electricity alone and a gasoline engine is used in the rear.

To compensate for the hybrid system's additional weight, a new gearbox with a carbon-fiber composite housing was developed for the R18, a first for endurance racing.Audi Sport also developed the Audi R18 ultra in parallel with the e-tron Quattro, an identical car but without hybrid drive and the lightest Le Mans prototype Audi has ever built.Both cars will be fielded in the Le Mans 24 Hours on 16/17 June, with a dress rehearsal to take place on 5 May at the World Championship round at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.

Audi R18 e-tron Hybrid Quattro Racer Announced for Le Mans

[Video] Aston Martin Returns to Endurance Racing with the New Vantage GTE

This year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans will see Aston Martin’s return to endurance racing.

Aston Martin has just officially announced their return to FIA World Endurance Championship racing and they are doing so with a new racecar. The Vantage GTE is a stunning and fitting replacement for their Vantage GT2, of which it is based.The new Vantage GTE marks the first time since 2008 that Aston Martin will field a racer in Le Mans racing. Decked out in Gulf Livery, the new Vantage model features upgrades and improvements in the areas of handling, drivetrain, engine and suspension.

Running on a 4.5-liter V8 engine, it features new cylinder heads, valves, camshafts, connecting rods and a racing-spec exhaust. The engine is paired to a six-speed sequential gearbox.

"It's great to be returning to our core motorsport activity; production-based GT racing. It formed the basis for Aston Martin's return to competition when the DBR9 GT1-racer was launched in 2004, and it was in GT racing that we achieved our famous victories at Le Mans in 2007 and 2008," said Aston Martin Lagonda Chairman David Richards.The new Aston Martin Vantage GTE will make its competitive debut in the 12 Hours of Sebring in March before tackling the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Three drivers have been named so far, being Stefan Mucke, Adrian Fernandez and Darren Turner.

[Video] Aston Martin Returns to Endurance Racing with the New Vantage GTE

The Experimental DeltaWing Gets Pit 56 at Le Mans

The unique racing car has yet to confirm its participation in this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours.

DeltaWing, the American racing car managed by the Project 56 group, was allocated pit box no. 56 for the forthcoming 24 hours of Le Mans race. The team has yet to confirm its participation in the race.Pit box no. 56 is traditionally reserved for technically advanced and unique racing cars, and there is no doubt that the DeltaWing meets these criteria.

The DeltaWing is a project that aims to improve car performance by reducing consumption of oil, fuel, tires and other expandable materials and components.

This 4m long and 2m wide machine is characterized by a long nose and a very narrow front. A 1.6-liter turbocharged engine developing 300hp at 8,000 rpm will propel the car through a 5-speed gearbox. Downforce is generated solely by the bottom of a car. The car's weight is just 1,047lbs and it has no wings.72.5% of the car's weight is carried by the rear wheels, an unusual phenomenon for a racing car. The fuel tank holds just 40 liters of fuel (though the car's frugality should compensate for that).The DeltaWing will race outside the Le Mans classification but must meet all the of safety regulations.The car's performance is required by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest to be accepted to run in qualifying.The car was supposed to be completed by the end of January. It was developed by CFD simulation instead of in a wind tunnel simulation (a method that hadn't succeeded in the Virgin F1 project). The team has to build every component from scratch and every component should be very light in order reduce wear and tear.Dan Gurney's AAR team is involved in the project and builds the car that will be run by Highcroft Racing, an American Le Mans series winning team.