Using all the wit they could find after the shameful Dieselgate scandal, Audi and the rest of Volkswagen are in search of some good marketing. Making progress on some of the most prominent racing tracks in the world is one way of doing it and Audi always had it good there. So good actually that since 2000, Audi climbed 13 times (yes, thirteen) on the highest step of the podium. After Porsche won last year, it was clear that Audi must invest a bit more in the development of their diesel based hybrid. Full year of development brings us to the point where Audi revealed the 2016 WEC Challenger. 

No question this is the best looking menacing racing car we have seen in ages.

The newest racer from Audi is called the 2016 R18 WEC and the most important change compared to the year before is the fact it will race in the 6MJ hybrid sub-class instead of the 4MJ division from the year before. Some serious structural changes and technologies used had to be adapted to create a vehicle ready for the slightly different LMP1 class. Although Porsche and Toyota are kicking it out in the 8MJ class with their petrol based hybrids, Audi is still using the diesel (yes, that TDI). World Endurance Championship regulations clearly state that the 8MJ petrol powered cars are equal to 6MJ diesel machines. Audi moving one step up made them even more fierce competitors to Porsche and Toyota.

The new car had to be reengineered for the new sub-class. The flywheel energy storage used before was ditched in favour of the lithium-ion battery setup. This way the power comes in a slightly different way thus creating even more responsive throttle and better acceleration as a consequence.

Audi Sport boss Wolfgang Ullrich said: “With our new Audi R18, we’re setting a clear signal: Audi continues to put the pedal to the metal in motorsport, deliberately relying on TDI – the world’s most successful automotive efficiency technology – at the Le Mans 24 Hours.”

He expressed some bold claims there and the results definitely prove that the TDI engined LMP1 racers are quite reliable, efficient and fast.

Apart from quite profound tech changes under the body, the R18 for the 2016 brings a bit different aerodynamics, obviously a much better exterior and, quite interestingly, only a front-axle kinetic energy-retrieval system. Despite of the Autosport’s reports, Audi did not confirm it will have a front-axle energy retrieval system. What is confirmed is that the driver lineup will stay the same as before. Andre Lotterer, Benoit Treluyer and Marcel Fassler will be in charge of the car #7, while the car #8 will be managed by Loic Duval, Lucas di Grassi and Oliver Jarvis. Following the same path as Porsche, Audi will race only two cars at the next 24 hours of Le Mans race. Obviously, the Dieselgate caused the budget to be slashed a bit, but the WEC is just too important for Volkswagen so they have to have a presence there.

All in all, the new car is searching for ways to catch up with Porsche since the guys from Stuttgart won the last Championship and the 24 hours of Le Mans in a great spectacle.