Allan McNish begins his quest for the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship title in the season-opening six hour race at Silverstone on Sunday (14 April).
The Scotsman and Tom Kristensen (DK) are joined by Loïc Duval (F) in a hybrid-diesel Audi R18 e-tron quattro for all eight races spanning four continents including the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.
Dumfries-born McNish bids for his fourth and Audi’s fifth victory in the corresponding Silverstone race which sees the coveted Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy awarded to the race winners for the first time.
McNish commented: “This year’s race will have a different feel due to it [unusually] being the first round of the championship, the fact that it’s in April and the RAC Tourist Trophy is up for grabs.
“The weather is likely to play a key role. It’s going to be changeable with rain almost a certainty which would suit our R18 e-tron quattro. It will definitely be colder than what we’ve experienced at Silverstone in either late August or September making tyre choice more difficult.
“I’m looking forward to immediately getting stuck in to this year’s WEC and very excited to begin with a race on ‘home turf’ – I’ll be aiming to make it a perfect start. The outright race winners’ collect the RAC Tourist Trophy which has been an integral part of British motor racing for over 100 years. It would make me very proud to lift the trophy. It’s the first time it has been presented for a sports-prototype race at Silverstone while a Dane has never won it so Tom [Kristensen] will be determined as will of course our new co-driver Loïc Duval.”
2011 & ’12 Le Mans 24 Hour race winners and current FIA World Endurance Champions, Marcel Fässler (CH), André Lotterer (D) and Benoît Tréluyer (F), “pilot” the second Audi Sport Team Joest R18 e-tron quattro.
Audi has optimised the R18 e-tron quattro for 2013
The output of the electric motors have been increased to more than 80 kilowatts delivering over 218hp transmitted through its front axle above 75mph at four specific “zones” around Silverstone’s 3.67-mile Grand Prix track using power “harvested” under braking.
A change in regulations dictating a smaller diameter air restrictor, now limits the 3.7-litre, V6 TDI engine to deliver approximately 490hp.
The distinctive body features numerous refined details compared to last year’s WEC & Le Mans winning car. The aerodynamicists have designed the entire air flow for higher efficiency – from the front “flic” to the rear wing, from the radiator to the tail pipe while “winglets” complement the contour of the rear wing. The side pod “openings” and turning vanes behind the front wheels feature a new design.
The minimum weight is now 915kg and thanks to Audi’s ultra lightweight technology, the R18 now has more latitude for ballast and its positioning.
Last year, a roof-mounted camera was fitted covering the area behind the R18, transmitting images to an AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emission Diode) display in the cockpit. A new driver assistance system includes two roof-mounted cameras pointing forward. They improve the driver’s view from the cockpit.
Meanwhile Audi has moved on to the next level in lighting technology. After its pioneering role on introducing LED headlights, matrix beam technology now marks the next step. It allows the light “cone” to be controlled for better illumination of the field of vision when the car turns.
Allan comments on Silverstone
“The circuit layout has changed in recent years but the new parts of the track are ‘maturing’ as the new tarmac ‘weathers in’ and subsequently gets faster. The new Turn 1 was very bumpy initially but now its smoother and is basically flat out.
“There are only three real overtaking opportunities when racing a sports-prototype of a similar speed – going into Club, Luffield and Stowe – unlike the GT cars that I’m trying to pass as soon as possible at the earliest safe point on the track. The race will be an exciting one from start to finish of that I have no doubt.”
Source : Allan McNish