Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Audi reveals its 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours LMP1 contender

Audi has released the first image of its 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours challenger ahead of a test starting at Sebring on Sunday

The image shows that the car built to the new LMP1 rulebook retains a close resemblance to its predecessor, whose R18 e-tron quattro moniker it retains, despite regulation changes that mean it is five per cent narrower.

The release of the image 10 days ahead of the official launch of the car reflects the semi-public nature of the Sebring test.

The 2014 Audi, which will contest next year's World Endurance Championship, has previously tested in secret.

It has undertaken a series of runs since hitting the track at the end of September.

Audi Sport boss Wolfgang Ullrich said: "We've reached a crucial stage in this project. After building the first prototype, testing on various racetracks is now taking centre-stage.

"The tests are mainly focused on achieving high mileage, co-ordinating the highly complex hybrid drive systems and working out an efficiency-optimised total package that has never before been as complex as this one."

Analysis: Rules tweaks prevent pre-Le Mans sandbagging

Audi is continuing the tradition of testing its prototypes at Sebring, even though it will not be racing at the Florida venue in 2014.

A statement described the venue as "the track where all new Le Mans prototypes of the Audi brand have had to prove their worth".

The launch of the car will take place in Ingolstadt on December 18.

DID YOU KNOW...

... Audi tested at Sebring even in the year it did not contest the 12 Hours at the Florida venue?

It ran its R15+ TDI (pictured above) at the circuit the week after 2010 running of the race as part of its preparations for the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Analysis: LMP1 equivalence rules set in stone before Le Mans
Next article ORECA gives green light to 2015 LMP2 project

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe