The Audi R10 is a racing car prepared for sports car racing in 24 Hours of Le Mans and other endurance races. The car was unveiled Tuesday, December 13, 2005 at 12:00 CET, and went on to win both its maiden race at the 2006 12 Hours of Sebring and the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was the first diesel powered car to win either of those events. This is the most ambitious and the most expensive project ever undertaken by Audi Motorsport; the Audi R10 project costs Audi $15 Million a year.
Achievements:On 18 March 2006, the #2 Audi R10 won the 54th annual 12 Hours of Sebring after earning pole position by setting a qualifying record. The #1 car did not finish due to an overheating problem. On the day after the Sebring victory an R10 flipped over during testing while running through Turn One.
On 18 June 2006, the #8 Audi R10 placed first at the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans, completing 380 laps, more than the R8 did, but less than the record set in 1971. The #7 Audi R10, which set fastest lap times in practice and race, came in third after suffering injector pump damage, completing 367 laps. At one point, the Joest team changed the #8 car's gearbox in under ten minutes, compared to the hour and a half the fifth-place Pescarolo-Judd spent in the garage for similar repairs, prompting the ACO to change rules for the next season.
On 30 September 2006, the #2 Audi R10 won the 9th annual Petit Le Mans endurance race in Road Atlanta, Georgia. The win was seventh in a row for Audi in Petit Le Mans, but first for the R10 model. The #1 car was not running at the finish due to late race collision with another car resulting in damaged front suspension. #1 car was still classified in seventh place overall.
On 17 March 2007, the #2 Audi R10 won the 55th annual 12 Hours of Sebring. The #1 car finished 2nd in its class (LMP1) and 4th overall.[11] The R10 remained undefeated in American Le Mans Series competition until April 14, 2007 at the Long Beach Grand Prix; where it finished seventh overall to the Porsche RS Spyders of Penske and Dyson Racing. The car still won the LMP1 class.
