Audi R15 TDI plus - 2010

Following technical issues caused by the complex aerodynamics of the R15 TDI, which led to Audi's first defeat at Le Mans after five consecutive victories, the German manufacturer revised and simplified the car's bodywork in 2010. This resulted in the Audi R15 TDI plus, the car that would bring them back to victory.

With Peugeot's victory in 2009, Audi's potential string of eleven consecutive wins at Le Mans came to an end. It was the only edition of the 24 Hours that the German brand failed to win between 2004 and 2014. This string of victories could have been even longer had it not withdrawn from the 2003 edition, which was won by Bentley after three consecutive victories by Audi. The choice was a strategic one by the Volkswagen Group, owner of both brands, to withdraw the official Audi team and handing over its best drivers to the British team. The latter, facing its French rivals, suffered a defeat that seemed difficult to swallow when, shortly after the race, the ACO, which had rejected Peugeot's complaints about some aerodynamic solutions adopted on the R15 TDI, changed its regulations, forcing Audi to review its controversial designs.

But the redesign was not entirely successful because Audi, due to financial problems, had failed to develop the 2009 car and, after encouraging success at the 12 Hours of Sebring and third place at Le Mans, was unable to do so during what was not a particularly brilliant year. The change in regulations forced the German brand to revise the R15 TDI by producing the ‘plus’ version, which, despite its name, actually had far fewer sophisticated solutions and a simpler design compared to the 2009 car, thereby increasing its competitiveness on the track. The new Audi made its debut in April, winning at Le Castellet with Allan McNish and Rinaldo ‘Dindo’ Capello, the same drivers who, a month later, partnered with Tom Kristensen to finish third in the 1000 km of Spa. For the following 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Joest team (Audi's official team) entered three cars (including one under the Audi Sport North America banner) which, although fast, were not among the favourites. During qualifying, Peugeot confirmed its supremacy, placing its 908 HDi FAP cars (three from the official team sponsored by Total and one from the junior Oreca team) in the first four places, leaving Audi with the next three.

During the race, fate turned against the French manufacturer, which lost all four of its cars due to suspension and engine failures, allowing Audi to take the lead. Victory went to car no. 9, driven by Germans Mike Rockenfeller , Timo Bernhard and Frenchman Romain Dumas, who each scored three wins (two for Rockenfeller) on the Sarthe circuit. Next came the No. 8 car with André Lotterer, Marcel Fässler and Benoît Tréluyer, and in third place the No. 7 car with Kristensen, McNish and Capello. For 2011, changes to the regulations and new engine capacity restrictions prompted Audi to develop a brand new car, the R18 TDI. However, two R15 TDI Plus cars continued to compete in the 12 Hours of Sebring, where they finished fourth and fifth.