Audi R18: Le Mans in sight

Audi had decided not to enter its new R18 at the 12 Hours of Sebring last weekend. Certainly, the decision did not pay off from a sporting point of view, but it could be more favorable to the firm with the rings in 24 Hours of Le Mans from a strategic point of view. If the competition knows nothing about the new Audi model, the competition no longer has any secrets for the Ingolstadt firm?

According to the time set yesterday during testing at Sebring, the German firm intends to maintain the mystery, even if it means calling the bluff. The R18 completed a lap in 1:45??7, much faster than Stéphane Sarrazin's pole (1:46??6). Would the R18 be a cut above? “According to some simulations, we have a slight advantage, explains Dr. Ullrich, head of Audi Sport, to our colleagues from the Team. And we now have a small idea of ​​the competition's potential. On what she has shown so far? » At Audi, there are rumors of a gain of 1??5 per lap compared to the R15. When we know that Audi was not ridiculous in the face of the new 908 at Sebring, this estimate makes one shudder. But what will happen at Le Mans?

While awaiting the verdict of the double clock tower in Sarthe, Audi is refining its settings and storing valuable data on its new closed prototype. The choice of Sebring is not the result of chance. “We also wanted to avoid reliving the episode of 2009, where we found it rained too often during our winter tests in Spain. Did we see the consequences during the 24 Hours afterwards? » indicates engine manager Ulrich Baretzky to the daily l?Equipe.

The R18 will make its first official race at the 1000 kilometers of Spa on May 7.

Discover in your AUTO magazinehebdo complete analysis of the 12 Hours of Sebring from our two special correspondents in Florida, with exclusive interviews on Oreca?s victory.