FIA WEC: Audi presents the new R18 in urban traffic at Le Mans

Audi Press Release 

•          Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen drives LMP1 sports car
•          Audi presents technology, innovations, design of R18 e-tron quattro
•          Chris Reinke: “The new regulations allow a large number of options”

Ingolstadt/Le Mans, March 21, 2014 – With a unique presentation Audi will be unveiling the technology, the innovations and the graphics of the new Audi R18 e-tron quattro at Le Mans on March 25, starting at 13.15 CET. Escorted by a police escort, Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen will be driving the diesel hybrid sports car from the city center to the race track.

“The new regulations that are centered on the efficiency of the sports prototypes mark the beginning of a new era for the Le Mans 24 Hours and endurance racing this year,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “That’s why we came up with a special plan for the presentation of the new Audi R18 e-tron quattro featuring its final graphics plus information on the technology. We’re pleased that the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and the city of Le Mans have supported our idea from the outset and are making this drive in public traffic possible.”

Pierre Fillon, President of the ACO: “We think it’s great that Audi selected Le Mans as the venue for the presentation of the new R18 e-tron quattro – not only for the media but also for the spectators who will be the first to see the new Le Mans sports car on the Place des Jacobins and on its drive to the race track. At the same time, Audi is bringing back memories of an all-but forgotten tradition of our race from the days when the drivers would travel to Le Mans in their own race cars.”

From 12.30 to 13.30, the six drivers who are contesting the entire FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) for Audi in 2014 will be signing autographs at the Audi Sport Team Joest race car transporter parked at the Place des Jacobins in the city center. At 13.30, Tom Kristensen will start the near 15-km long drive with new Audi R18 e-tron quattro via the Rue Wilbur Wright, the Avenue Pierre Mendès France, the Avenue du Général de Gaulle, the Avenue Bollée, the Boulevard Nicolas Cugnot, the Boulevard Clémenceau, the Boulevard Jean Moulin and the Avenue Félix Geneslay to the Welcome Center at the race track. Audi will present the design and the technology of the LMP1 sports car in detail to journalists and invited guests at this location.

“The new efficiency regulations deliberately allow the constructors to use a large number of options,” says Chris Reinke, Head of LMP at Audi Sport. “We’re convinced that, based on the simulations and track testing, we’ve made the right decisions to be successful again at Le Mans in 2014.”

Journalists and fans worldwide will be able to watch Tom Kristensen’s drive through Le Mans and the press conference at the Welcome Center of the race track live on the internet. The broadcast on audimedia.tv will start at 13.15.

From the ‘2014 Le Mans Warm-up’ Audi Sport Team Joest will travel directly to the ‘Prologue’ of the FIA World Endurance Championship at Le Castellet (F).

‘Le Mans Warm-up 2014’ schedule 

12.30 – 13.30 Autograph session with Lucas di Grassi, Loïc Duval,
Marcel Fässler, Tom Kristensen, André Lotterer
and Benoît Tréluyer on the Place des Jacobins

13.15 Beginning of the live broadcast on audimedia.tv

13.30 Beginning of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro’s drive

Photo credit: Audi Communication - Motorsport