bhtooefr
TDIClub Enthusiast, ToofTek Inventor
Might as well start this, as the 2015 R18's been tested at Sebring (note that Sebring isn't a WEC race this year, though): http://www.racer.com/wec-le-mans/item/114063-wec-2015-audi-r18-breaks-cover-at-sebring
It broke Sebring's official track record, apparently. Audi's also done a lot of changes to the front end.
Racer got video of it, too, link in the article.
Audi's rumored to be using a 4 MJ/lap hybrid system for 2015. Toyota, Porsche, and Nissan are rumored to be using 8 MJ/lap systems (and with how tiny Nissan's brakes are, I'd be damn surprised if they're not running 8 MJ/lap).
Speaking of Nissan... how about that Nissan? My expectation is that it won't finish at Le Mans, they've had trouble with their hybrid system in testing, they're highly dependent on their hybrid system (unlike, say, Audi - Audi's rumored to have run a significant portion of Le Mans with an inoperative hybrid system), and they're newcomers. I wouldn't be surprised if it is very, very fast though, despite the... interesting... layout.
So, drivetrain layouts in Le Mans now (low end of the hybrid release energy is 2014 spec, high end is rumored 2015 spec):
It broke Sebring's official track record, apparently. Audi's also done a lot of changes to the front end.
Racer got video of it, too, link in the article.
Audi's rumored to be using a 4 MJ/lap hybrid system for 2015. Toyota, Porsche, and Nissan are rumored to be using 8 MJ/lap systems (and with how tiny Nissan's brakes are, I'd be damn surprised if they're not running 8 MJ/lap).
Speaking of Nissan... how about that Nissan? My expectation is that it won't finish at Le Mans, they've had trouble with their hybrid system in testing, they're highly dependent on their hybrid system (unlike, say, Audi - Audi's rumored to have run a significant portion of Le Mans with an inoperative hybrid system), and they're newcomers. I wouldn't be surprised if it is very, very fast though, despite the... interesting... layout.
So, drivetrain layouts in Le Mans now (low end of the hybrid release energy is 2014 spec, high end is rumored 2015 spec):
- Audi: 4.0 V6 single-turbo (electric-assisted) diesel, RWD, 7-speed transmission, 4 MJ FWD harvest/FWD release flywheel electric hybrid (may also have exhaust harvest)
- Toyota: 3.7 V8 NA gas, RWD, 7-speed transmission, 6 MJ AWD harvest?/AWD release supercapacitor hybrid
- Nissan: 3.0 V6 twin-turbo gas, FWD, 5-speed transmission, 8? MJ FWD harvest/AWD release flywheel mechanical hybrid
- Porsche: 2.0 V4 twin-turbo? (last year was single-turbo electric-assisted) gas, RWD, 7-speed transmission, 8 MJ FWD/exhaust harvest/FWD release LiIon hybrid
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