Audi R18 TDI Hybrid

Revisiting the post on fast hybrids, now Audi confirms that their R18 TDI endurance racer will feature a hybrid electric drive system for 2012.

The diesel era at Le Mans may not be over yet, but already we're seeing the emergence of a new propulsion trend: hybrids. Toyota recently announced the TS030 Hybrid LMP1, Peugeot was working on a hybrid version of its 908 prototype before it killed the race program, and now Audi has confirmed a hybrid version of the R18 TDI.

Few details were released, but what we can tell you is that Audi will field four cars at Le Mans this year: two with hybrid assist and two without. One will be headlined by Allan McNish, one by Oliver Jarvis, one by Timo Bernhard and one by André Lotterer, with supplemental drivers to be announced sometime before the 80th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans kicks off in June.

I wonder why Audi went with two hybrids and two pure Diesels.  Maybe they're not convinced that hybrids are the way to go and want to test their viability against their well-tested, dominant counterparts.  I also wonder which drivers will be driving which cars.  After all, the skill and talent of the driver is still the most important variable in racing, and McNish is Audi's most experienced driver.  The car they give him to drive may indicate which they suspect is the best.

Here's Allan McNish explaining the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the coolest Audi commercial ever.
 

And here's the horrific crash that took him out of contention in 2011.