By Johan Laubscher
The two new Audi Le Mans prototypes have successfully debuted at Spa with a 1-2-3-4 finish. Both these cars are at the cutting edge of sports car racing. The new hybrid technology of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro is particularly interesting and clearly has a massive advantage in wet weather. Another talking point is the difference in sounds of the cars. Both have the same diesel engine and hence sound the same during the bulk of the lap. The e-tron has a few different sounds when the hybrid system is activated at over a 120km/h and under breaking when the regenerative cycle of the system comes into effect. The e-tron has a "whirling" whistle type sound during these instances. One could almost describe the hybrid system as sounding like a "spaceship".
Here are two onboard videos that have appeared on youtube after the Spa race event. In these videos we can clearly hear the differences in sound of the R18 e-tron quattro vs the R18 ultra. Enjoy:
Here are two onboard videos that have appeared on youtube after the Spa race event. In these videos we can clearly hear the differences in sound of the R18 e-tron quattro vs the R18 ultra. Enjoy:
Onboard Audi R18 e-tron quattro
Onboard Audi R18 ultra
