Diesel Powered Car of the Week: Audi R15 TDI

Right out of the gate the Audi R15 TDI proved itself a champion. In its first race, the 2009 12 Hours of Sebring,  the the sleek bodied R15 captured the checkered flag and thereby generating a lot of buzz while garnering a significant amount of media play. 

The R15 TDI was a followup to the R10, tested in December 2008 so as to be ready for the 2009 racing season. R15 was powered by a compact Turbocharged Direct Injection engine pushed to the middle of the car for better handling. The 330 cu.in. V10 turbodiesel engine produced 590 horsepower and 774 lb.ft. of torque.  

In March 2009, shortly before the Sebring outing, Audi released dozens of photos of the new car. (Check out the Jalopnik link at the end of this post.) They knew they had something special and the outcome at Sebring confirmed it. 

When it came to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, expectations ran high, but Audi's Le Mans Prototype (LMP) took it on the chin when Peugeot captured first and second place that year. 

The loss to Peugeot didn't end their enthusiasm for the R15, though. With some adjustments the R15-Plus returned to garner the 1-2-3 spots at Le Mans in a comeback that saw the first place car win with a five lap lead.

The Audi R15 was followed by an R15+ and in 2o11 the R15++ before yielding to the R18 in 2012. Within a couple years Volkswagen got caught in the Dieselgate scandal, which changed everything. The Audi R15 TDI was still a glorious car.

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Related Links

Audi R15 Uncovered (Racecar Engineering)

The Audi R15 TDI: Now In Glorious Detail! (Jalopnik 2009) 

Audi R15 TDI (Wikipedia)

Has Dieselgate Killed Audi's Highly Successful Le Mans Program? (CarBuzz, 2016) 

Diesel Motorsports Is Rockin' Our Blues Away

Great story by Jeff Zurschmeide on the PRI website. Diesel motorsports is far from dead, and is even growing. The article, titled Shake, Rattle & Roll, describes how diesel motorsports have become a powerful niche market that is drawing in more people every year.

(Sidenote: The song Shake, Rattle & Roll was originally recorded by Big Joe Turner, then made famous by Bill Haley & the Comets.)

https://www.performanceracing.com/magazine/featured/08-01-2020/shake-rattle-roll

Zurschmeide begins with a little background about how historically diesels-powered vehicles were used to tow their gas powered race cares to the track. JZ says, however, that times have changed. "Diesel motorsports now represents a large and enthusiastic market, with a wide variety of engine builders, aftermarket providers, and sanctioning bodies providing products to racers and a great show for fans.

The majority of diesel racing happens at drag strips, with a strong second presence at pulling competitions. Diesel has also found some surprising success in sports car racing, when Audi proved that a diesel-powered prototype could compete at the highest levels. In fact, Audi’s R10 TDI prototypes won the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans three years straight, from 2006–2008."

That last bit about Le Mans is no laughing matter. Audi and other automakers have developed some powerful diesel power plants, as I noted Tuesday regarding Daimler's powerful new diesel engine for their Mercedes Benz.

That said, the mass market for diesel motorsports in America remains almost entirely limited to straight-line power contests. For now.

Trucks are King in the diesel motorsports scene, which is a grassroots movement driven by an appreciation for power. This need for power is what drives engine builders to satisfy the hunger. Cummins, Duramax and Power Stroke are the main foundations, but innovative builders augment these engines to maximize their capabilities. 

The full article goes much deeper. Check it out by following the first link below.

KEY LINKS

Shake, Rattle & Roll

70-Year-Old Diesel Is A Thoroughbred at Pike's Peak Hill Climb

Daimler Claims This Is the Most Powerful Diesel Car in Mercedes-Benz History

Looking For Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil?