The Audi R18 was victorious at the Le Mans 24 Hours 2011, but don't forget that the closed Diesel prototype did not race at the 12 Hours of Sebring last year. Instead, Audi raced the Audi R15 modified to meet the 2011 regulations because the R18 was not yet ready at that time. The R18 will undergo a baptism of fire in one of the most demanding races of the season, both for driver and machine.

The new Audi R18 e-tron quattro hybrid engine, and the ultra-R18, 2012 version of the R18 will debut at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps WEC, the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship. For the opening round, the German manufacturer has confidence in the R18 last year, modified in accordance with 2012 regulations 2012, which imposes such a smaller restrictor to decrease power by roughly 7% and a 60 litre fuel tank instead of 65. The R18 will also carry 15kg of ballast because its wings have not been modified.

For the first time the 12 Hours of Sebring, Audi will race three cars to try to win tenth success. The nine drivers have fifteen wins in Florida between them. The first two trios, Marcel Fässler / André Lotterer / Benoit Treluyer in #1 and Dindo Capello / Tom Kristensen / Allan McNish in the #2, were expected, but the crew of the #3 car is new, Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas, who won at Sebring in 2008 with the Porsche RS Spyder in LM P2 will be joined by Loic Duval, the French driver, winner of 12 Hours of Sebring last year, will debut for of Audi.

The German manufacturer hopes to clinch the Constructor title in the FIA World Endurance Championship 2012, the prevoius championship title dates back to 1984. That year, Audi captured a second title in the WRC (World Rally Championship) thanks to Swede Stig Blomqvist and the Finn Hannu Mikola.

The goal is clear for the 12 Hours of Sebring for Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest): "This is the first world championship round for all of us. For the first time, we’re running with three cars at Sebring, which will be a great challenge. Naturally, we’re happy that the season will open there and we’ll be competing with the modified 2011-spec model. Things are continuing the way we experienced them last year at Atlanta - with an incredibly full field of more than 60 cars. You’ve got to get through without any problems and mistakes. If you do, then you’ll have good chances of taking places at the front. Our tasks are clear. We need to get into a rhythm for the full season and score as many championship points as possible."

Cécile Bonardel

Photo : BRASELTON (GEORGIE, USA), CIRCUIT DE ROAD ATLANTA, PETIT LE MANS, SAMEDI 1ER OCTOBRE 2011, COURSE. The Audi R18 that raced for the first time in the USA at Petit Le Mans in 2011, will make its debut at the Sebring 12 Hours.