Audi reveals R18 e-tron Le Mans racer

Audi has revealed its 2016 R18 e-tron quattro that will compete in the LMP1 race series.

Confirming that it will compete in the six megajoule hybrid (6MJ) sub-class of the World Endurance Championship, this year the diesel-powered R18 hybrid swaps last year’s mechanical flywheel set-up for a front axle that claws back kinetic energy and stores it in powerful lithium ion batteries before re-deploying it when needed.

As well as the new powertrain, the new R18 also appears to have upgraded its aerodynamics with a completely new package created for 2016.

The factory works entries from Porsche and Toyota, meanwhile, will remain in the higher eight megajoule (8MJ) category.

This will mean, according to the complex LMP1 rules, the 6MJ hybrid power will be on par, under the technology equivalence criteria, with its 8MJ petrol-powered racers.

This should see a fierce battle between Audi and Porsche in the 2016 season.

Unfortunately, both Porsche and Audi have agreed to scale back their Le Mans 24 Hours campaigns and will only field two cars apiece.

The downscaling is off the back of the ongoing Volkswagen group emissions scandal.

This means last year’s Le Mans winners in Porsche’s third car, Nick Tandy and Eric Bamber will not be able to defend their title. Fellow winner and current Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg had already been ruled out because of an F1 race conflict with the world’s most famous endurance race.