<< Prev Page 3 of 3 With a major rule change set to come into effect at the start of the 2014 season, Audi not surprisingly opted to continue with the R18 e-tron quattro for another year. As a response to Toyota's rise in form at the end of 2012, some development work was nevertheless needed to continue Audi's stronghold on the FIA World Endurance Championship and also to clinch the manufacturer's 12th victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Among the most fundamental changes was the re-routing of the single exhaust, which had been one of the R18's most recognisable features. In the new-for-2013 layout the exhaust was split and exited inside the rear wheel well, which resulted in a lot of speculation about a possible blown diffuser as also used in Formula 1. The aerodynamics were also revised and like the TS030 in the second half of 2013, faux wing endplates were added to record. For Le Mans, a special long-tail, low downforce aero package was also created.
The 2013-specification R18 e-tron quattro was raced alongside an earlier example at the Sebring 12 Hours. It finished second at its debut behind the 2012 car. For the opening round of the World Endurance Championship two new cars were available. Although the substantially revised Toyota TS030 was quicker in qualifying, the pair of R18s scored a convincing one-two victory. It was more of the same at Spa where three R18s were entered and finished first, second and third.
At Le Mans, round three of the championship, Audi's dominance continued, although the Toyotas did put up more of a fight. The race was nevertheless won by the R18 e-tron quattro piloted by Le Mans veterans Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen and the talented Frenchman Loic Duval. When racing resumed early in September, there was more of the same and the R18 scored three more wins. McNish, Kristensen and Duval ended the year as World Champions.
As a result of the aforementioned the rule changes, the original R18 e-tron quattro will no longer be eligible in 2014. It will be replaced by a substantially different machine, even though it does carry the same name. With ten victories in two seasons, the R18 e-tron quattro is more than a fitting member of Audi's growing family of successful endurance racers. With its victory at Le Mans in 2012, it has also gone into history as the very first hybrid to win a major long distance race. << Prev Page 3 of 3
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With a major rule change set to come into effect at the start of the 2014 season, Audi not surprisingly opted to continue with the R18 e-tron quattro for another year. As a response to Toyota's rise in form at the end of 2012, some development work was nevertheless needed to continue Audi's stronghold on the FIA World Endurance Championship and also to clinch the manufacturer's 12th victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.