Audi R15 TDI

[LeonOfTheDead]

The one that topgear(yellow with black stipe) tested I think uses the same gearbox as their FIA racer.....which is actually a racing gearbox...

Small manufacturers like that is a lot easier to buy gearboxes in much smaller quantity, without worry about tooling cost....

that's should be the A10, a track day version of the KZ1.
should be an actual sequential so.

[Chernaudi]

Well, since were taking Audi here, compare a NASCAR Jerico 4speed manual H-pattern gearbox to this: Mulsanne's Corner: Audi Ricardo gearbox

Machanically, the only difference is the the R8's gearbox had six speeds instead of four and used a electro-pnumatic paddle shifter system rather than a H-gate stick-again, striaght cut gears and dog clutches instead of syncromesh.

Speaking of which, does one think that Audi will run a 6 speed gearbox in the R15 or stick with the 5 speed given the engine capapcity will be the same so power and torque will be roughly the same even with the air restrictor changes? After all, Peugeot used a 6 speed in the 908, but it didn't help them against Audi, especially at Petit Le Mans where having more options/closer spaced gears would be an advantage.

[pearlyellow]

so sexy

[RacingManiac]

If 5 speed can do the job, I don't see why they would change, less parts/complexity/weight is always better.....

[Chernaudi]

An Audi R15 is supposed to be delivered to Sebring by Saturday March 14th, and the other one will be there by Monday.

[MPME]

AUTO-RACING - ALMS: Audi Unveils the R15 - SPEEDtv.com

[RacingManiac]

nice pics....some pics confirmed how I thought they did what they did......should be a very interesting car once more details come up...

[RacingManiac]

AutoblogGreen

A few more pics, not as high res

[LTSmash]

Sexy-ness to the extreme.

[RacingManiac]

I am surprised they lengthen the wheelbase....a sign maybe to the new car designed even more optimized for Le Mans, while less "distracted" by the need of the twistier US circuits....IMO at Sebring(and if Audi is doing it, Petit), that the Acura might not be such a unlikely dominant car, certainly the philosophy of the design seems to place a premium over the need of US tracks. The question is if High Croft or De Ferran Racing are up to the standard of Audi. It'll be interesting to see too if Peugeot managed to get more speed(or have saved some potential)out of now the 3 years old platform...

Amidst of all the crisis in the real world its good to know we potentially could have 2, perhaps 3 classic sportscar races this year....

[MPME]

[Reason]

What is the reasoning for the connection points on top of the rear spoiler instead of underneath?

[Dino Scuderia]

What is the reasoning for the connection points on top of the rear spoiler instead of underneath?

I don't know technically...but seems to me the uprights are further from danger of rear collisions...and the downforce is transferred closer to axle center line.

The Acura's looks identical so it might also be a standard per rule book.

[RacingManiac]

Not rule book, Mike Fuller's(of Mulsanne's Corner) conjecture was that because of the narrower wing, in order to maximize the efficiency of the limited wing span the underside of the wing had to be kept clear since it is more sensitive to disturbance. And that having a shaped pilon leading the wing as opposed to a regular style underneath it gives it a better condition for the flow to stay attached over the entire span on the wing...

[Dino Scuderia]

So...Acura and Audi both independently figured this out?

I find that peculiar.