Audi has confirmed that it will use two of its R18 e-tron quattro diesel-electric hybrids for the rest of the World Endurance Championship season. Previously, Audi has split its entry between e-trons and turbo-diesel R18 Ultras.
The Ultras have a higher top speed but are not as quick through traffic, where the temporary extra horsepower offered by the e-tron’s hybrid system is a huge advantage. Having identical cars offers another benefit: The two crews can share and compare data to fine-tune both for maximum performance.
Audi says a further motivation is to give both its driver teams an equal chance to win the Drivers Championship. With only 7.5 points separating its top two squads, Audi wants to make sure the fight is fair.
“Our analysis has shown that we’ve got an advantage in traffic with the R18 e-tron quattro. This means that with two hybrid vehicles we’re in a better position in the battle with Toyota. At the same time, we’re giving both our driver teams identical material in the battle for the title,” explained Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, head of Audi Motorsport, in a press release.
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