Just this past weekend, Audi Sport shut the door on the 2007 American Le Mans Series with a nail-biting win over the competition in the series finale at Laguna Seca. Audi Sport boss Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich was coy about the companys plans for return next year, something thats been in question due to the rules advantages given to their LMP2 competitors by the American series. What isnt in question though is the companys future. Audi will race the R10 next year, and even more interesting is what they might run in 2010 when a new set of rules from the ACO will dictate development of a closed-top car.

Several months ago, Fourtitude featured one take on Audis next-generation LMP racecar that would abide by the new rules. Put together by an Architect with a passion for Audi and a real talent for CGI, the design offered a first look at what such a future prototype might look like.

In this most recent Independent Design feature, we take a look at another vision of the future of the ACOs top prototype class in the form of an Audi.

This new design comes from the Segra Group, a firm that specializes in engineering for the auto racing industry. In as much, it is likely an even more realistic impression of what could come from Audi in just a few short years.

Heres a description of the project from the Segra Group in their own words:


Audi R8/LMP10
Segra Group annually engages in a number of design studies for motorsport applications. Our most recent study was to develop a design for a Le Mans Prototype (LMP) that captures the intent of regulation proposed by the ACO for 2010. Based on the information they have released, it appears the ACO wants the prototype category entries to more closely resemble road cars, yet retain the architecture of a true prototype much like those seen at Le Mans in 1998.

Because of their success at Le Mans so far this century, we chose to base our concept on an Audi platform. Our design, the R8/LMP10, takes its name and design cues from the R8 road car. Much like you see in the German Touring Car series, our design takes the road car and morphs it into a racecar. But because of the desired end product (a LMP), our morph is more extreme.





Like the current R10, our design uses a turbo-diesel engine as the primary powerplant. Regenerative braking and other energy recovery systems would be incorporated as they become available. Our design utilizes a hybrid airflow management concept. This concept retains features from the R8/R10 racecars that make sense to carry over such as general fender and rear deck profiles, side air extraction, engine intakes, rear deck treatment and rear wing design. This concept also changes or adds features that are more specific to the R8 road car such as a front radiator, higher rear deck, shorter front fender teardrops, general greenhouse shape, as well as the general front and rear design layouts including the lights. We have also included one of the R8s most distinctive features the brushed aluminum side panels.

Our design was modeled and rendered entirely in Solid Edge from UGS/Siemens.




Fourtitude Editors Comments:
Wired into Audi as we are, we note a few other details that might change between now and whenever Audi shows off their next-generation racecar.

First, a rumor from deep inside Audi is that a V12 TDI sportscar will come from the company, but would not necessarily be in the form or name of the R8 road car. Our sources suggest the V12 is too long for the current R8 chassis. If the engine is to go inside a sportscar, according to our sources, it would be a longer car and an eventual replacement for the R8. Dubbed R10 perhaps?

If thats the case, and the LMP cars take more of a basis on a production model, then maybe the next-gen car would be an R10 LMP and be named after a possible R10 road car that would replace the R8 road car.

Also, dont expect to see a yellow car. Those of us who remember Frank Bielas dominant stint in the BTCC may love the color on Audi racecars, but more recent mentions of driver preferences at Audi Sport suggest otherwise. No prototype racer with an Audi badge has ever won a 24 Hours of Le Mans with the yellow accenting, and racecar drivers can be superstitious.




Naming and color aside, this is the most convincing look yet that weve seen of the next-generation LMP racer. And, the Segra Group's qualifications are certainly very impressive. While the design doesnt originate from Audi, were guessing its a strong indicator of what a future Audi LMP will look like.

For now, we do expect Audi to return to racing the R10 next season. How much involvement there will be in the American Le Mans Series and the European Le Mans Endurance Series remains to be seen. Even if Audi pulls from a full season of the ALMS though, it is expected that the company will compete in the 12 Hours of Sebring and the Petit Le Mans at the very least.

 

At least it looks better than the R8C.