Audi R10 TDI Ends Début Season Undefeated
Oct 22, 2006

• 1-2 victory in American Le Mans Series’ finalé
• Low consumption of Audi’s TDI engine proves decisive
• Eighth victory in the eighth race for the R10 TDI

With a 1-2 victory in the finalé of the American Le Mans Series at Laguna Seca (California), AUDI AG yet again has written a piece of motorsport history: The Audi R10 TDI is the first Le Mans Prototype to remain unbeaten in its début season. The revolutionary diesel sportscar competed in eight races since the début in March, crossing the finish line eight times as the outright winner.

Decisive in the triumph at Laguna Seca was the consumption advantage of the modern V12 TDI engine. Starting from fourth and fifth positions on the grid, both Audi R10 TDI sportscars lost a lap in a turbulent first half of the race. Emanuele Pirro had to come into the pits after just three laps when part of the onboard camera worked lose and dropped between the pedals. Just before the end of the second hour, Allan McNish collided with a competitor while braking for the famous "Cork Screw”. Changing the Audi’s damaged front section and the following stop-and-go penalty also cost the second R10 TDI a lap.

With a clever strategy, taking perfect advantage from various Safety Car periods, Audi Sport Team North America was able to bring both cars back onto the same lap as the leaders. In the final stage of the thrilling race, the team was able to take advantage from the low consumption of the diesel engine: While the competitors had to come into the pits once more during the final hour for refuelling, both R10 TDI cars went on until the finish without another pit-stop. Allan McNish was able to complete 64 of the 159 laps with a single tank of diesel with reduced revs and power – eight more than before.

With the last drops of Shell Diesel V-Power in the fuel tank, McNish crossed the finish line as winner. For the Scot and his Italian team-mate Dindo Capello, it was their seventh outright victory of the season in ten races. With 23 overall victories, Dindo Capello has become the most successful driver of the American Le Mans Series. On top of that, Audi have become the first manufacturer to win all races in a season in the LM P1 class of the American Le Mans Series. Dindo Capello and Allan McNish, who had already clinched the Drivers’ title, won eight times, Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro two races. The German and the Italian completed the Audi success at Laguna Seca with their second place finish giving the Audi R10 TDI its third 1-2 victory.

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I got to see this car run at Mosport in Sept.

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