13 Jul 06 16:38
Audi R10
After the win by the Audi R10 at the Le Mans 24 Hours, the first win by a diesel-powered vehicle, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest is assessing whether to re-adjust the race's rules. The organiser of the race, the ACO is analysing the performance data of all the cars which took part to assess whether the diesel did in fact have an unfair advantage.
"It may be decided what measures are deemed necessary in order to equalise the performances in each category and for each technology", says a statement from the ACO today, which adds that "the first analyses show an advantage for the diesel engine." It concludes that the R10 was on average 3.2 seconds faster per lap than the quickest petrol-powered car, though it does take into account that this could also be down to the R10's chassis, suspension and aerodynamics, given the success of the all-conquering petrol-powered R8 Audi previously campaigned.
The most obvious solution the ACO could take would be to look at fuel economy - much of the R10's advantage was in that it did not need to stop so often to refuel. The ACO says that "the tank capacity will have to be adjusted in such a way that the cars receive the same quantity of energy at each refuelling stop. This will mean a smaller tank for those cars which are equipped with a diesel engine."
Such measures will be taken in a bid to ensure that all the cars in the 2007 Le Mans 24 Hours start on as equal a footing as possible. "All the other elements of the car are constructed according to the same specifications", says the ACO. "It is therefore up to the manufacturer to produce the best car."
Feature: Diesel Audis at Le Mans
