Diesel puts Audi racer out in front

The R10 TDI on its way to victory

AUDI has rewritten motorsport history - its Sebring-winning R10 TDI race car is the first diesel-powered racer to win a major international event.

The win in the 12-hour race comes as Audi New Zealand is about to launch the diesel version of its A8 quattro flagship, powered by a 4.2-litre TDI V8 unit putting out 240kW (326bhp) and 650Nm of torque.

Audi started two R10 TDI cars at Sebring to prepare for the race it most wants to win - Le Mans, in June. But the No 1 car had to withdraw with heating problems after leading the race for two hours.

It was being driven by Frank Biela (Germany), Emanuele Pirro (Italy) and Marco Werner (Germany).

Said Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, head of Audi Motorsport: "This has been a very tough race and thus a good test for Le Mans. To get the first victory for a TDI engine is fantastic.

"Of course it is a shame that we couldn't bring both cars to the finish. But we learned a lot today and know that it is still a long way to Le Mans."

The winning No 2 car in the hands of Dindo Capello (Italy), Tom Kristensen (Denmark) and Allan McNish (Scotland) also suffered heating problems.

McNish had shown the potential of the 650bhp V12 TDI engine with a record-breaking pole position time in qualifying.

But during the warm-up for the race the car's heat exchanger had to be replaced and Capello was forced to start from the back of the field.

However, in 30 minutes he weaved his way from 35th and last position to second behind the sister car of Biela. When Biela pulled out after two hours, Capello took the lead and held it until the finish. His only unscheduled pitstops were for a fuel filter and to repair loose wheel nuts.

Co-driver Kristensen became the first driver to win America's most famous endurance race for a fourth time.

Said Capello: "Audi has again done something extraordinary. With this victory we really make a new chapter about motorsport history.

"It reminds me when Audi started rallying with the quattro to show that four-wheel drive is good not only for farm vehicles.

"When Audi announced it would go racing with a diesel engine, maybe many people did not take us seriously. But I think now they will not laugh any more about us."

Said Martin Winterkorn, chairman of the board of Audi: "This [win] impressively confirms the efficiency of the modern TDI technology. It is especially remarkable that this success was achieved at the very first race of the new Audi R10 TDI."