Developed for the 2011 season in response to sweeping changes to the Automobile Club de l’Ouest’s LMP1 regulations, the Audi R18 TDI Ultra represents a defining moment in modern endurance racing. Conceived as a clean-sheet successor to the open-cockpit R15, the R18 was Audi’s first closed-coupé prototype since 1999 and the final non-hybrid Audi to compete at the pinnacle of Le Mans prototype competition.

Power was provided by a compact 3.7-litre turbocharged V6 TDI engine, featuring a hot-vee configuration with the Garrett turbocharger positioned between the cylinder banks for optimal efficiency and packaging. The carbon-fibre monocoque chassis was paired with a closed cockpit to significantly improve aerodynamic efficiency, while innovations included an electronically actuated transmission and the first use of full LED headlights at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Although conceived as a combustion-powered prototype, the R18 was engineered with electrification in mind. This forward-thinking approach would culminate in the hybrid R18 e-tron quattro introduced in 2012, rendering the 2011 R18 TDI Ultra the last of Audi’s purely combustion-powered LMP1 cars.

Despite regulatory efforts to curb performance, the R18 TDI Ultra proved immediately successful, securing Audi’s tenth victory at the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans in one of the closest finishes in the event’s history, defeating Peugeot by just 14 seconds after 24 hours of racing.

Technical Specification

Chassis: Carbon-fibre monocoque, closed cockpit
Engine: 3.7-litre turbocharged V6 TDI
Turbocharger: Single Garrett unit, hot-vee configuration
Transmission: Electronically actuated sequential gearbox
Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive
Headlights: Full LED (first application at Le Mans)
Fuel: Diesel
Minimum Weight: 900 kg (ACO regulation)
Chassis No. 107 Competition History

Chassis number 107 was campaigned by Audi Sport Team Joest during the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup season. Delivered new to the works team, it was initially assigned car number two and driven by Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen, two of the most successful endurance racers in history.

Its competitive debut came at the 6 Hours of Imola, where challenging conditions limited progress and resulted in a fourth-place finish. At Silverstone, chassis 107 demonstrated its outright pace by qualifying second overall and briefly leading the race before contact with a GT-class car necessitated extended repairs, ultimately relegating the car to seventh position.

The car subsequently competed at Petit Le Mans in the United States, joined by multiple Le Mans winner Rinaldo Capello. A sequence of incidents involving slower traffic led to the car’s withdrawal. Further misfortune followed at the season finale in Zhuhai, despite a competitive showing.

In 2012, prior to the full deployment of Audi’s hybrid programme, chassis 107 was recalled for the opening round of the inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship: the 12 Hours of Sebring. Now bearing car number one, it was entrusted to reigning Le Mans winners André Lotterer, Benoît Tréluyer, and Marcel Fässler.

In a standout performance, Lotterer secured pole position with a lap of 1:45.8, earning Audi its tenth Sebring pole position and conclusively demonstrating the continued competitiveness of the R18 TDI Ultra. This event marked the final works appearance for chassis 107.

Following Sebring, the car was returned to Audi Sport in Ingolstadt, where it was refinished in the livery of the 2011 Le Mans-winning R18 for display and promotional use. It was later awarded to André Lotterer, the driver responsible for its pole position at Sebring.

Subsequent History & Present Condition

In private ownership, chassis 107 has been carefully preserved as a fully operational example of Audi’s final non-hybrid LMP1 prototype. Most recently, it appeared at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed, driven by Benoît Tréluyer, one of the drivers responsible for Audi’s 2011 Le Mans victory. Today, the car wears the correct livery from its outstanding pole position result at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2012.

Significance

Chassis number 107 occupies a uniquely important position in endurance racing history. As a works Audi R18 TDI Ultra, it represents both the culmination of Audi’s diesel dominance at Le Mans and the final chapter of purely combustion-powered prototypes at the top level of the sport.

With verified works competition history across Europe, North America, and Asia; a Sebring pole position; factory provenance; and ongoing eligibility for the world’s most prestigious historic motorsport and concours events, chassis 107 stands as one of the most significant and usable modern endurance racing cars available today. Contact us now for more information or to arrange a viewing.

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