New Audi R18 Sports Car Unveiled

Last Friday Audi unveiled the new R18, a closed carbon fiber monocoque coupe specifically developed for Le Mans with a 3.7-liter V6 TDI engine and another first for endurance racing – all-LED headlights.


Development of the new R18 started in mid 2009 and the V6 TDI engine has been running on the dynometers since the summer of 2010. The car itself completed its first test on a racetrack at the end of November with its racing debut planned for the Spa-Francorchamps 6 Hours in Belgium on May 8, 2011.

Prior to that, the new R18 prototype will do its first laps on the Le Mans track during the official test day on April 24, 2011, to gather data ahead of the race on June 11 and 12, where Audi is planning to field test three R18 cars, which will be entered by Audi Sport Team Joest.