LMP1
June 13th, 2011 by NZ Classic Car
When it comes to the top echelons of endurance racing Audi rules the roost, so long as its cars can stay on the track. At last weekend’s Le Mans 24 hour endurance race the Audi LMP cars were firm favourites – but it all didn’t go to plan.
After dominating qualifying to put two Audi R18 TDIs in pole and second spot on the grid, Audi was looking flash. But just one hour into the race, two-time winning driver Allan McNish found himself in all sorts of strife and completely smashed his pretty prototype racer. McNish was trying to work his way round his teammate when he encountered traffic and got connected with a GTE Class Ferrari 458 Italia. McNish and his Audi crossed rapidly through the sand trap and hit the barrier at a high speed, the R18 disintegrated sending carbonfibre, metal and tyres everywhere. Photographers and marshals scattered to get out of the way of the debris and amazingly no one was hurt – not even McNish who walked away.
McNish’s racing day was over, but Audi did still go on to take Le Mans victory through Andre Lotterer in the #2 R18 TDI.
Check out a clip of McNish’s high-speed crash below. Read the rest of this entry »
December 22nd, 2010 by NZ Classic Car
Aston Martin is preparing for a comeback to the cut-throat world of Le Mans racing, entering next year’s 24-hour endurance race with a new LMP1 race car. With a rich racing pedigree to protect it’s sure to be a competitive entry but the only problem is that Aston Martin is in need of a new, emotive name for its latest race car. So what? Well Aston is asking its fans to come up with a suitable moniker.
Aston Martin is giving its enthusiasts an opportunity to be part of the company’s history, and be in with a chance to win a range of Aston Martin and Aston Martin Racing merchandise by suggesting a name for this race car through the official Aston Martin website.
The tough part is that those who offer a suggestion need to give a reason behind their chosen name. The winner will be selected by a panel of judges and entries need to be received by January 3, so now is the time to strike.
With new regulations coming into play in 2011 Aston believes its car will stack up well against the diesels of Peugeot and Audi. Official details on the new Aston Martin LMP1 race car have not been released at this point – all that’s known is that it will burn gasoline. Development of the race car has been in progress for several months at Aston Martin’s race headquarters in Banbury, UK. Six cars are to be built, and the first will begin testing early next year. Read the rest of this entry »
December 13th, 2010 by NZ Classic Car
Audi has just pulled the covers off its latest LMP1 Le Mans prototype racer, the R18. The new machine looks suitably hardcore and has abandoned the open-top design of its predecessors — the R8, R10 and R15 Plus — for a closed roof to improve aerodynamics and reduce driver fatigue. Audi has been very successful at the Le Mans 24 Hours race in recent years winning it nine times since 1999 with the R8, R10 TDI and R15 TDI. The R18 looks set to continue the legacy.
Unlike the earlier R15, which used a 5.5-litre V10 diesel engine, the new model generates power from a much smaller, 3.7-litre TDI V6 engine, mated to a modified six-speed transmission.
The R18 uses a single-piece carbon fibre monocoque, which keeps weight down and increases stiffness.
In terms of exterior design the headlights are the most eye-catching parts of the R18. The headlights make use of “optimised” LED technology, they incorporate Audi light designers’ personal touch: daytime running lights shaped like a “1″.
The Audi R18 was first approved in mid 2009, while engine testing began in summer 2010. The first track test took place at the end of November and Audi is now planning to enter three cars into next years Le Mans 24 hour endurance race.
Check out more images of the Audi R18 in the gallery below. Read the rest of this entry »
February 2nd, 2010 by NZ Classic Car
Aston Martin announced recently its 2010 racing plans include two Aston Martin Works LMP1 race cars which will run in the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours.
Both Aston Martin Works LMP1 will race in the Gulf Oil iconic blue and orange livery and will be driven by Chris Buncombe, Stefan Mucke, Harold Primat and Darren Turner and Adrian Fernandez.
On 11 April the Aston Martin Works LMP1 race cars will compete in the opening round of the European Le Mans Series at Paul Ricard in France.
“Having won the Le Mans Series Team and Driver titles in 2009 it will be a hard act to follow,” said Aston Martin Racing Team Principal, George Howard-Chappell. “However, we are looking forward to a great season of racing and we hope to have another strong showing at Le Mans.”
