If the R8 broke the mould then the R10 TDI smashed it to pieces, the combination of Audi Sport’s peerless preparation and the mad professor-like genius of Ulrich Baretsky combined to create a race car like no other before.
Until now diesels were regarded as sluggish, albeit very economical workhorses, Audi though had seen the potential and saw opportunities to further exploit the advantages offered by sportscar racing’s famously free ranging rule books to innovate both in technical, and perhaps just as importantly, in marketing terms too for this new diesel race car would not only race in Europe, but in North America too, where ‘diesel’ meant Mack, Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks, not expensive performance saloons. Our American cousins were about to be schooled!
The R10 TDI had looks which were clearly an evolution of its R8 forebear with aero by Vincent Bichon. The car had though the twin roll hoop body demanded of the regulations.
At its heart lay the monstrously powerful (650 bhp +, 810+ ft lb of torque) 5.5 litre V12 twin turbo diesel engine fuelled by rather un-DERV like Shell GTL diesel fuel.
The new car was immediately successful and was only reeled in as the rulemakers acted to assist improved performance from the competition. That gave US audiences in particular the fabulous rivalry between the LMP1 Audis and the LMP2 cars from Porsche and Acura. Despite an unfavourable rulebook the big Audis often triumphed.
The R10 TDI was unbeaten as a factory entered car at Le Mans taking three wins between 2006 – 8.
It was also the last Audi LMP car to be raced by a privateer, Kolles Racing bringing two ex factory cars to the Le Mans Series and Le Mans in 2009 and 2010 though with only rather modest results.
Overall Stats – Audi R10 TDI
Races Contested 38
Races Won 22
Pole Positions 12
Championships/ Major race wins 3 x Le Mans, 2 x Sebring, 3 x PLM, 3 x ALMS *, 1 x LMES
Fastest Race Laps 16
*2006 shared with R8
