Audi diesel powers into records

The Audi R10 TDI is the first diesel-powered car to win at Le Mans.

The new Audi R10 TDI was the first diesel car to win arguably the toughest car race in the world.

In front of a record crowd of 235,000 spectators, Frank Biela (Germany), Emanuele Pirro (Italy) and Marco Werner (Germany) clinched the sixth and most important Le Mans win for Audi so far.

Dindo Capello (Italy), Tom Kristensen (Denmark) and Allan McNish (Scotland) also achieved a podium finish, in third place.

Said Audi chairman Dr Martin Winterkorn: "This historic Le Mans triumph is doubtlessly the greatest in the successful motorsport history of Audi. The aim to win the Le Mans 24-hour race as the first manufacturer in the world with a diesel engine was extraordinarily ambitious.

"We had the courage and we succeeded at the first attempt. Today, the diesel has finally made its mark in motor racing."

The fans and television audiences saw an impressive demonstration of the power and performance of modern diesel engines.

The brace of Audi R10 TDI cars, powered by a 485kW (650bhp) V12 TDI engine, were by far the fastest and most economical.

Kristensen drove the fastest lap of the race, setting a 3m 31.211s time. The advantage in fuel consumption was visible for the spectators too: on average, the Audi drivers pitted every 14 laps to refuel 90 litres of diesel.

Audi's petrol-powered rivals had to stop more often.

The only Audi unscheduled pit stop happened when the team decided to change the gear cluster after the car lost fifth gear. Another minute was lost with a broken headlight.

Biela and Pirro celebrated their fourth Le Mans victory after 2000, 2001 and 2002. They rank fourth in the record charts behind Tom Kristensen, Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell.

For Audi, it was the sixth Le Mans triumph and the third in succession. The success of the Bentley Speed 8 from 2003 included a car that was powered by a direct-injection petrol engine developed by Audi Sport. Audi technology is unbeaten at Le Mans in seven years.

The third-placed car driven by Capello, Kristensen and McNish was in the lead early in the race when the injectors of the right-hand cylinder bank of the V12 TDI engine had to be replaced.

Having dropped back to 16th position, Capello, Kristensen and McNish fought back with the fastest lap times in the field.

Then a collision forced another stop where a turbocharger was replaced. This took an hour but the three drivers still made it to the podium.

Audi's next challenge with the two R10 TDI cars is the American Le Mans series starting on July 15.