Audi To Field Three R18s at Le Mans

Photo: Audi

Audi will field three of its new R18 e-tron quattros in next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Confirmation of the German manufacturer’s program came Wednesday evening during the world premiere of the new-for-2014 LMP1 contender in Ingolstadt.

Additionally, Audi Sport Team Joest will continue to campaign two cars in the FIA World Endurance Championship, with driver lineups to be confirmed at a later date.

There will be at least one new addition to the driving squad, following Allan McNish’s retirement, which was made official on Tuesday.

While key technical details were revealed last week, Audi announced that the new R18 will be running with laser lights for the first time, an innovation that will eventually make its way to its line of production cars.

“The new laser light is just one of numerous technical innovations featured by our new R18,” said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich.

“We’re not going to reveal any more than that at this early stage, as in 2014 we’re facing an extremely tough competition and a year full of challenges for Audi Sport.”

In addition to acknowledging McNish’s illustrious driving career with Audi, the end-of-season ceremony also paid tribute to Ullrich’s 20 years at the helm of Audi Sport.

Filipe Albuquerque, Oliver Jarvis, Dion von Moltke and Edoardo Mortara, the four GT class-winning drivers from this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, also took to the stage during the event.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John