After winning last weekend for the first time at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring 2012 with the R9 LMS ultra, Audi will launch into the Le Mans 24 hours on the 16th and 17th June with a new challenge: to win with a hybrid system that has temporary four-wheel drive, installed in the R18 e-tron quattro prototype.

From 1981 to 1997, the "Quattro" enabled Audi to win four titles including the World Rally Championship, three wins in the American Pikes Peak Hillclimb, and two DTM titles. The R18 e-tron quattro, Audi incorporates a compact system installed on the front, which converts kinetic energy into electricity while braking. Out of corners, the energy is directed to the electric motors acting on the front wheels and get a temporary power boost up to 150 kW (204 hp). According to the FIA rules, hybrid cars have a fuel tank of 58 litres, two less than a conventional car, while the maximum energy recovered between two braking zones is limited to 500 kJ.

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): "Soon after the TDI phase had begun we started to think about the hybridization of a Le Mans sports prototype, when it was foreseeable that the regulations would open up this option. After exploring the concepts we quickly saw the opportunity of bringing a new technological specification of all-wheel drive back into motorsport. The fact that in Audi’s Technical Development division ideas of driving the internal combustion engine and an axle via the electric motor have been in existence gave us strong motivation to steer the concept for the R18 e-tron quattro in this direction. We’re convinced that by splitting the electric drive and the combustion drive between two axles we’re achieving a positive weight distribution in the vehicle while making use of at least some of the advantages of a quattro drive system. After presenting our concept to the ACO and the FIA for the first time we received a relatively quick response. The FIA wanted to keep this within the limits of a reduced scope because its chief aim is hybridization, not the return of all-wheel drive. Therefore, a clause in the regulations was agreed that limits the advantage of a standard quattro drive when accelerating out of tight corners. The electrified axle may only be additionally used for acceleration above a speed of 120 km/h. I’m really happy that we managed to bring quattro back into motorsport. It was the system I started my first hours in the Super Touring Car project at Audi Sport with. Audi proved back then that all-wheel drive offers an advantage on any track in any weather even with low engine output, just like our customers can experience it on the road every day as well. It’s nice that we’re bringing a form of quattro back into motorsport even though we’re only allowed to compete with ‘part-time’ quattro at the moment."

Two Audi R18 ultra diesel, and two R18 e-tron quattro diesel hybrids are entered for the Le Mans 24 hours. The latter driven by Marcel Fässler-André Lotterer-Benoît Tréluyer (#1), winners in 2011, and Dindo Capello-Tom Kristensen-Allan McNish (#2), who have accumulated 13 victories between them in La Sarthe.

Jean-Philippe Doret
(Source: Audi Motorsport press information)

Photo : FRANCORCHAMPS (LIEGE, BELGIUM), SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS CIRCUIT, 6 HOURS OF SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS WEC, QUALIFYING, 4 MAY 2012. For its first race, Allan McNish put the Audi R18 e-tron quattro in pole position.