The fallen hero: the Audi R18

the R18 was the first closed cockpit Audi to win Le Mans in 2011. Audi came a long way from their open cockpit prototypes to the legendary Audi R18. Then we saw it’s fall in 2015-2016 were Audi left the sport.

A little history lesson

The R18 wasn’t the first Audi to complete at Le Mans. That honor goes to the Audi R8R and R8C. The R8R was entered into the 1999 24 hours of Le Mans were it finished an incredible 3rd on it’s debut. In 2000 the Audi R8 (Le Mans prototype) debut. The R8 capitalized on teams like BMW, Toyota, and Mercedes leaving the sport. The R8 took five wins away from it’s competition (2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005) and then handed the torch to the R10 TDI. The R10 brought something different to the table, a diesel power car. While not the first ( that goes to a French powered car in 1949) it was new for Audi’s prototypes. The decision was based around the turbocharged direction injection (TDI) system, which found them success. The R10 won every Le Mans race (2006-2008) then it was replaced by the R15

The R15 took to the track hoping to continue audi’s success at Le Mans. But Peugeot had other plans, the 908 dethroned Audi in 2009 when they won the 2009 24 hours of Le Mans. In 2010 Audi struck back at Peugeot in the R15 TDI plus winning the 2010 24 hours of Le Mans which Leads is to the next generation of Audi prototype the R18

In the beginning: the R18

Audi entered the 2011 season with the Audi R18 TDI. This was their first closed cockpit Audi to race at Le Mans. The R18 got off to a rough start when it didn’t even start in the 12 hours of Sebring. At the 1000k at spa the cars finished 4-5-6 after a late pit call. At Le Mans the cars took pole position. The beginning of the race looked good with the Audis going 1-2-3, but then the unthinkable happened. The numbe 3 Audi tapped a Lapped GTE car sending it into the barriers. The car disintegrated on impact. Luckliy no one was seriously injured.

The numbers 1 and 2 Audis continued on. Audi chose to use a different strategy where each car goes all out adding an extra stop.The number 7-8-9 Peugeots battled the leaders throughout the race from sunrise to sunset. The number 1 suffered a huge shunt in the night where his car was obliterated on the impact. The number 2 Audi was the sole survivor. He had to fend off 3 Peugeots, including a shocking battle with a Peugeot 2 laps down. The R18 TDI ultra won Le Mans in front of the French Peugeots, but couldn’t bring home the endurance championship.

2012: the audi R18 ultra and E-tron Quattro

Audi introduced the R18 ultra and the R18 E-tron quattro. These where the first modern audis. The car changed to a sequential electrically activated 6-speed racing gearbox with gearbox housing made of new carbon-fiber composite with titanium inserts, carbon clutch, changes to the carbon-fiber composite aluminum honeycomb monocoque built by Dallara. 2012 was the first season of the World endurance championship (WEC) For the 2012 12 Hours of Sebring, they entered three 2011 R18s; the number 2 of McNish, Tom Kristensen, and Rinaldo Capello took the overall victory with 325 laps completed, marking Audi’s tenth victory at Sebring. In the 6 hours of Spa Audi introduced the R18 ultra and R18 E-Tron Quattro. The ultra lead a 1-2-3-4 finish ahead the of the E-Tron , which finished second. When Le Mans came around the E-Tron was first to the checkered flag. Audi won the 2012 WEC championship with the consistency of wins and 2nd and 3rd positions

2013 Audi R18 E-Tron: the rise of the E-tron

In 2013 Audi stuck with the E-tron bringing with it the hybrid. The hybrid adds an extra 100hp and was paired with AWD making it a force to be reckoned with. The Audi won all but 2 races in 2013, Fuji and Bahrain. Audi dominated the 12 hours of Sebring finishing a 1-2 and a 1-2 in the 6 hours of Silverstone. In 2013 they won Le Mans once again making the R18 undefeated at Le Mans ever since it’s introduction in 2011. Audi won yet another WEC championship.

2014 R18 E-tron

In 2014 Audi revealed the next R18 with a few changes. Changes included a revised V6 TDI engine with an electric turbocharger, upgrades to the flywheel accumulator system and an exhaust heat recovery system. The system captures the thermal energy from the exhaust and can add power to either the turbocharger or the flywheel accumulator system. The season started off with a dual retirement at sliverstone and could only manage second in Spa. Then they came back with a 1-2 in Le Mans and Circuit of the Americas. But the R18 couldn’t continue the show of form with 5ths anf 6ths at the reminder of the season giving the championship to Toyota.

2015 R18 E-Tron- the fall

The R18 got another face lift in 2015 with a new and improved aero package. The season looked good with wins in sliverstone and Spa. But the R18 was lacking something, straight line speed. Audi for the first time since 2009 lost Le Mans. The Porsche 919 took pole position away from the R18 in qualifying, and the race was no better for Audi. Audi took advantage of slower cars and took the lead of Le Mans early. Then the number 7 Audi suffered a puncture ending his lead. Then the number 8 hit the 51 Ferrari sending him into the barriers ripping off the front end of the R18. The number 9 lost the lead to the 919s and for the rest of the race Audi couldn’t come back. The number 19 Porsche won the race with the highest finishing Audi in 3rd. The Audis never won another race that season. Porsche won the 2015 WEC championship with Audi second

2016 R18 E-tron: the exit

The R18 got yet another facelift for 2017. The R18 rased the nose to where it looks like a closed cockpit Formula E car. Other changes where air scoops above the front fenders, integrated mirrors, and other body modifications. The KERS for the 2016 R18 has also been changed from a flywheel system to a lithium-ion battery, and has been upgraded to the 6MJ class from the 4MJ class. the R18 won in the 6 hours of sliverstone but failed post race inspection causing it to be disqualified. The r18 won again at Spa without hitch. But again finished behind both Porsche and Toyota at Le Mans. Audi announced they would be leaving the sport. In Bahrain Audi finishes it’s career with a 1-2.

Audi dominated Le Mans until the end. The R18 was definitely a stunning car to look at and was quick in it’s early years. But the R18 just was outdated compared to the rest of the field who foucased on hybrid PU. The car just didn’t have the straight line speed to stay competitive and could only manage second in their final years