[K_OS]

from Canadian Driver

Quote:Audi premieres diesel race-car for Le Mans


Paris, France – Audi's new R10 race-car will be the first diesel-powered race-car to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The R10 is powered by a completely new, all-aluminum 5.5-litre 12-cylinder bi-turbo TDI engine that makes over 650 horsepower.

Audi plans to use the car both for racing and research; the company's TFSI technology triumphed initially at Le Mans before being adopted for mass production. The R10's diesel presented numerous challenges, including high injection pressure, an unusually low rev range for a racing engine, and enormous torque that required a special transmission. The R10 successfully completed its first test at the end of November and an extensive program, including the 12-hour race at Sebring in March, is scheduled before the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June 2006.

Also a Bio-Diesel race car is being prepped for Le Mans

Quote:Biodiesel to be tested at Le Mans


London, England – D1 Oils, a global producer of biodiesel, will test the performance of "green" diesel fuel by sponsoring a biodiesel-powered car in the Le Mans global series of races. The D1 Lola B2K car will be powered by a high-performance diesel engine, modified to run on a mix of regular diesel and biodiesel produced from vegetable oil. The objective is to test the performance, fuel efficiency and emissions produced by various biodiesel blends.

Under the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation announced by the U.K. government in November, U.K. garages will be required to sell diesel blended with a minimum of five per cent biodiesel by 2010. D1 produces its fuel primarily from the seeds of jatropha curcas, a tree grown in Africa, Southeast Asia and India. Unlike crops such as rapeseed, soy and palm, jatropha grows on waste and marginal land, and its production will not displace food crops in developing countries.

Also Peugeot is going to field a Diesel powered car in the 2007 Le Mans, as with any racing that is done at this level eventually the consumer is the winner as the tech will eventually trickle down to road going cars. Also of note the 1st Diesel car to win a a 24hr edurance race was a specially prepared BMW M3 that was entered in the 24hrs of Nurburgring race back in 1998.

Laterz :)