Audi R10 TDI – 2008

When the ACO announced in 2003 that it intended to allow the use of diesel engines in LMP1 prototypes, Audi decided not to officially participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in order to help the Volkswagen Group, of which it was a part, secure victory for Bentley. The super-powerful R8s were taken over by private teams, which in the following two years continued the series of successes that had come to an end in 2003. In addition to diesel engines, in 2006 the ACO introduced new technical regulations that excluded the R8. For this reason, Audi decided to return to direct participation and developed the new R10 TDI, which was deployed in the La Sarthe marathon and in the American Le Mans Championship, an ideal scenario for promoting the modern diesel engines fitted to its street models.

The R10 TDI (or R10 for short), developed in the utmost secrecy, was presented in December 2005 to everyone's surprise, catching Peugeot off guard, which had announced the arrival of its LMP1 Diesel at Le Mans for 2007. The German prototype first won the 12 Hours of Sebring, the first race of the American Le Mans series and ideal preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the R10 triumphed, becoming the first diesel car to win in France. The new Audi replaced the R8 in the other races of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), where it again achieved significant successes. The main threat to the German LMP1 in 2007 seemed to come from the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, which, however, was no match for the RD10 TDI and ultimately finished ten laps behind the winner. Audi decided to also win the European Endurance Championship, also known as LMS or ELMS, in 2008, which it did as expected, as well as the American Le Mans Series (which it had already won in the previous two years).

During a triumphant year, the R10 made its mark at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which proved more difficult than expected. Peugeot took the top three places on the starting grid with a flawless qualifying performance, while Audi took fourth, fifth and seventh place. The R10's problems were confirmed in the race, in which the French prototypes led for the first 12 hours. But the rain benefited the German cars. Peugeot reacted by adjusting the aerodynamic settings, though their cars lost ground until Allan McNish, Rinaldo Capello and Tom Kristensen took the lead in the R10 No. 2. Then towards the end, the 908 HDi FAP No. 7 of former leaders Nicolas Minassian, Marc Gené and Jacques Villeneuve became a threat again. But although it was faster, it failed to overtake the leading Audi again and eventually finished second, just behind the front-runner. Behind them, the two other Peugeots finished third and fifth, while the remaining Audis came fourth and sixth.