Published March 18, 2024 | Last update August 20, 2025 | 17 models online
Audi dominated sports car racing from 2000 to 2005 with their R8 (and nephew Bentley Speed 8). In 2006 Audi did something completely different and again shocked sports car racing. They threw a very big diesel engine in. How that went can be seen below, together with the model cars I collected over that period. This blog can be read as the sequel to #016 Joest Audi R8.
2006 Sebring 12h, Joest Audi R10 TDI. The Audi factory returned to endurance racing and this year it was with a brand new car with a revolutionary turbodiesel engine. It was a bald move, fitting such a heavy engine in a small car. The car was silent, fast, and reliable. The R10 TDI made its debut at Sebring … with a win even after it started from the pit lane. There wasn’t much competition for the Audi’s in the American Le Mans Series, the oil-burners won all ten races in 2006.
#2 Tom Kristensen (DK) / Allan McNish (GB) / Rinaldo Capello (I) – 1st
Audi R10 TDI – 5.5 liter Audi V12 twin-turbodiesel, approx. 650 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 935 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi – Dallara #101
- MINICHAMPS MC400 061602 (diecast)
2006 Le Mans 24h, Joest Audi R10 TDI. Audi was the favorite for Le Mans. The car was based on the successful R8 but had a much longer wheelbase to accomodate the 5.5 liter V12 diesel. It was heavier also, but the enormous torque of the diesel engine compensated that easily. Both Audi’s were on the podium, but one of the Pescarolo-Judds managed to get in second place 4 laps behind the winning Audi.
#7 Tom Kristensen (DK) / Allan McNish (GB) / Rinaldo Capello (I) – 3rd
#8 Frank Biela (D) / Marco Werner (D) / Emanuele Pirro (I) – 1st
Audi R10 TDI – 5.5 liter Audi V12 twin-turbodiesel, approx. 650 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 935 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnrs. Audi – Dallara #102 & #103
- MINICHAMPS Audi Collection Audi 502.06.010.13 & 502.06.010.23 (diecast)
2007 Le Mans 24h, Joest Audi R10 TDI. Audi got competition in 2007 on both sides of the ocean: In the American Le Mans Series, the Audi’s had to battle the LM675 Penske Porsche RS Spyders. These nimble cars were serious competition on the short North American race tracks. At Le Mans with its long straits, the Porsches were no completion but Peugeot was! Just as Audi, Peugeot developed a LMP900 car with a V12 diesel engine. However the new Peugeot was a bit quicker in qualifying, the race pace of the Audi’s just was better. Accidents held them from another 1-2-3 finish.
#1 Frank Biela (D) / Marco, Werner (D) / Emanuele Pirro (I) – 1st
Audi R10 TDI – 5.5 liter Audi V12 twin-turbodiesel, approx. 650 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 935 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi – Dallara #202
- MINICHAMPS MC400 071601 (diecast)
2008 Le Mans 24h, Joest Audi R10 TDI. Audi was not the favorite despite its wins in 2006 and 2007. The Peugeots were so much quicker and already won other races in the Le mans Series. But the #2 Audi managed to stay in striking distance and attacked when it started to rain. Audi won with less than a lap in front of the first Peugeot.
#2 Tom Kristensen (DK) / Allan McNish (GB) / Rinaldo Capello (I) – 1st
Audi R10 TDI – 5.5 liter Audi V12 twin-turbodiesel, approx. 650 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 935 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi – Dallara #204
- SPARK Quattro GmbH Audi 502.08.002.23 (resin)
From R10 TDI to R15 TDI
2009 Sebring 12h, Joest Audi R15 TDI. It was clear that the R10 TDI wasn’t quick enough anymore compared to Peugeot and couldn’t be developed much more. So a new car was built; the all new R15 TDI had a somewhat lighter V10 engine, very different aerodynamics and looked a bit like a shark. In the season opener at Sebring the new car won the 12 hour race with only 22 second margin over the first Peugeot. The second Audi finished third, 2 laps behind.
#2 Tom Kristensen (DK) / Allan McNish (GB) / Rinaldo Capello (I) – 1st
Audi R15 TDI – 5.5 liter Audi V10 twin-turbodiesel, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi – Dallara #103
- IXO Modern Le Mans & GT Cars GTM088 (diecast)
2009 Le Mans 24h, Joest Audi R15 TDI. Audi won 3 times Le Mans 3 times in a row with their R10 TDI, but that wasn’t up to speed anymore to defeat the Peugeot another year. The all new R15 TDI isn’t quick enough either at Le Mans and this year the Peugeots made no mistakes, so it was a double victory for the French team. The best Audi was 3rd.
#1 Tom Kristensen (DK) / Allan McNish (GB) / Rinaldo Capello (I) – 3rd
Audi R15 TDI – 5.5 liter Audi V10 twin-turbodiesel, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi – Dallara #105
- SPARK Quattro GmbH Audi 502.09.002.13 (resin)
2009 Le Mans 24h, Kolles Audi R10 TDI. Audi used the new R15 TDI this year. The older R10 TDI models – three times winners at Le Mans – were now used by the team of Colin Kolles. Dutchman Albers and his teammates finished 9th, two spots behind their two teammates in the #14 car.
#15 Christian Albers (NL) / Christian Bakkerud (N) / Giorgio Mondini (I) – 9th
Audi R10 TDI – 5.5 liter Audi V12 twin-turbodiesel, approx. 650 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 935 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi – Dallara #101
- SPARK Audi Collection S0691 (resin)
2010 Le Mans 24h, Joest Audi R15 TDI+. Audi was defeated by Peugeot in 2009. For 2010 they changed their car considerably and renamed it R15 TDI+. But again Peugeot was faster and when the #7 car was forced of the track by a slower car, it didn’t look good for Audi. But Peugeot had some small problems and when they increased their speed to stay in front, their engines blew one after the other. Audi took a surprising 1-2-3 victory and broke the almost 40 year old distance record. The #7 car finished 3rd, but would probably have won without the early accident. The victory was for #9 Audi.
#7 Tom Kristensen (DK) / Allan McNish (GB) / Rinaldo Capello (I) – 3rd
#9 Timo Bernhard (D) / Romain Dumas (F) / Mike Rockenfeller (D) – 1st
Audi R15 TDI+ – 5.5 liter Audi V10 twin-turbodiesel, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi – Dallara #202 & #204
- IXO 24 heures du Mans LMM136 (diecast)
- SPARK Le Mans Winners 43LM10 (resin)
Another evolution: R18 TDI e-tron quattro
2011 Le Mans 24h, Joest Audi R18 TDI. The rules for 2011 have changed. Audi and Peugeot have new cars with smaller diesel engines, but they still dominate LMP1. Audi uses a 3.7 liter V6 TDI which has less power then the previous versions but also is 30% more fuel efficient. In Le Mans Audi was just a bit quicker dan Peugeot all weekend. Allan McNish misjudges the speed and line of a Ferrari GT and crashes the #2 Audi heavily, Mike Rockenfeller has a similar kind of crash in the night in the #1. and the remaining Audi had to fight of three Peugeots, it won and finished only 13.8 seconds ahead of the first Peugeot.
#3 Benoit Tréluyer (F) / Marcel Fässler (CH) / André Lotterer (D) – 1st
#2 Tom Kristensen (DK) / Allan McNish (GB) / Rinaldo Capello (I) – DNF
Audi R18 TDI ultra – 3.7 liter Audi V6 twin-turbodiesel, approx. 540 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / YCOM #106 & #105
- SPARK Le Mans Winners 43LM11 (resin)
- SPARK Quattro GmbH Audi 502.11.001.43 (resin)
2012 Le Mans 24h, Joest Audi e-tron Quattro. Audi and Peugeot battled for a number of years with their diesel cars. Until January, when Peugeot suddenly stopped their racing program. Toyota wanted to make their debut in 2013 and were prepared to speed up and do so in 2012. Audi in the meanwhile developed a whole new car, the R18 TDI e-tron quattro. A diesel hybrid in which the electric engines drive the front wheels. Benoit Tréluyer, Marcel Fässler en André Lotterer won Le Mans just like last year. They had to fight of their Audi team mates but in the early hours also Toyota.
#1 Benoit Tréluyer (F) / Marcel Fässler (CH) / André Lotterer (D) – 1st
Audi R18 e-tron Quattro – 3.7 liter Audi V6 twin-turbodiesel hybrid, approx. 520 + 200 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 910 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / YCOM #208
- SPARK Quattro GmbH Audi 502.12.002.13 (resin)
2013 Le Mans 24h, Joest Audi e-tron Quattro. Audi has ruled Le Mans for years, but in 2012 a new challenger appeared by the name of Toyota. This year the battle continued. Toyota’s didn’t crash and neither did they retire, but they just couldn’t keep up with the improved Audi. This #2 car won with the experienced Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish who drove together with young Loïc Duval. Their advantage over the first Toyota was just 1 lap.
#2 Tom Kristensen (DK) / Allan McNish (GB) / Loïc Duval (F) – 1st
Audi R18 e-tron Quattro – 3.7 liter Audi V6 twin-turbodiesel hybrid, approx. 520 + 200 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 910 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / YCOM #413
- SPARK Le Mans winners 43LM13 (resin)
2014 Le Mans 24h, Joest Audi e-tron Quattro. Audi has ruled Le Mans for years, but now had competition from both Toyota and Porsche. The challengers relied on petrol engines that were supported by (6MJ/lap) strong hybrid systems. The 4th edition of the Audi R18 TDI remained loyal to its reliable diesel engine which combined with a relatively weak (2MJ/lap) hybrid support. The race for the Audi’s was not without problems, but those at Toyota and Porsche were bigger. So in the end it was a very unexpected result with Audi in first two places. It was the 3rd win for Tréluyer, Fässler and Lotterer.
#2 Benoit Tréluyer (F) / Marcel Fässler (CH) / André Lotterer (D) – 1st
Audi R18 e-tron Quattro – 4.0 liter Audi V6 twin-turbodiesel hybrid, approx. 540 + 200 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 910 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / YCOM #413
- SPARK Quattro GmbH Audi 502.14.002.33 (resin)
2015 Le Mans 24h, Joest Audi e-tron Quattro. Audi has ruled Le Mans for years, but now had competition from both Toyota and Porsche. Audi made good progress with this 5th generation of the R18 e-tron and was faster than Toyota that were not able to get more speed from their TS 040. Porsche did even better and dominated Le Mans. This Audi still finished on the podium and that meant that again Benoit Tréluyer, Marcel Fässler and André Lotterer were the best of the Audi’s, again – 3rd.
#7 Benoit Tréluyer (F) / Marcel Fässler (CH) / André Lotterer (D) – 1st
Audi R18 e-tron Quattro – 4.0 liter Audi V6 twin-turbodiesel hybrid, approx. 540 + 300 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 910 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / YCOM #419
- SPARK Quattro GmbH Audi 502.15.003.13 (resin)
2016 Le Mans 24h, Joest Audi e-tron Quattro. The last generation Audi R18 TDI looks even more futuristic and sinister than before. Unfortunately the diesel engined car is less competitive than in previous years. Because the leading Toyota got problems only minutes before the end of the race, the #8 Audi managed to get to the podium. This #7 car with triple winners Tréluyer, Fässler and Lotterer finished fourth. It would be the last race at Le Mans for Audi, the Volkswagen Group suddenly cancelled a number of motorsport programs by the end of the year. Another prove that manufacturers are not the most reliable partners in any racing category.
#7 Benoit Tréluyer (F) / Marcel Fässler (CH) / André Lotterer (D) – 4th
Audi R18 e-tron Quattro – 4.0 liter Audi V6 twin-turbodiesel hybrid, approx. 540 + 300 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 910 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / YCOM #613
- SPARK Quattro GmbH Audi 502.16.002.31 (resin)
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