Club Arnage

Teaser on www.motorsport.com ...

http://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/world-endurance-champion-audi-releases-teaser-of-2014-lmp1/ (http://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/world-endurance-champion-audi-releases-teaser-of-2014-lmp1/)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1471946_244004609097283_1285521884_n.jpg)

fair enough

there will be a wheel

or more

Must keep watching for a few days

Thanks GF

That looks more like an R18 front splitter.  Different lights

This a joke? Right?
Supposed to be excited by that?
Good God, be sharper than that. A crap photo like that are what things are reduced to?
The WEC isn't F1, or any thing close to it. Don't think anyone who really knows racing is going to find garbage like that clever.  Unless they feel the need to dumb down sportscar racing anymore. Perhaps they can throw in a Middleton broad...
Fax

Yes, it is a harmless light-hearted reminder that Audi will be launching the 2014 car later this week.

I don't think it's 'dumbing-down' in the slightest.

Their PR department needs to drum up all the support they can get as there's competition to worry about.

Does anyone else thinks there's a shortage of German fans.  The Danes and the Brits seem far more visible

Yes there is; a few years ago, I invited a good friend and work colleague from Germany to come along for the week at Le Mans. He brought 2 of his friends along as well, drove from Munich on the Thursday.

On the face of it, they said that they enjoyed the weekend but did not get the atmosphere in the camp site and all that goes on. It just did not appeal to them >:( So much so, that they left early on the Sunday to drive back and ended up Disneyland Paris  ::) on route back said now ex friend phoned up and said he'll stick to watching F1....................

Maybe it's also the case that the Germans have the Ring 24 hours a few weeks before LM24 which they have made their own.

Audi are not bothered at all with their home market, that pretty much takes care of itself. Exports are far more important, particularly to middle and far east customers. So long as the Le Mans grandstands are occupied as a background to TV pictures, I shouldn't think they care what nationality they all are.

 

More positivity from Fax I see  ::) ............

Sneak peak at the 2014 car at the end of this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzSnP8exHzM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzSnP8exHzM)
If your quick with the pause button you can see how low the rear end appears to be.
With the higher cockpit and lower rear end, its looking not great!!

Your right Robbo, I can be negative.  Just hate stupid PR stunts.  It reminds me of some of the ads you see from NASCAR, or something along those lines.  You would never have seen Jo Siffert, or Jacky Ickx being asked to pose like that with some dumb expression on their face.  It's the way the sport is evolving that makes me negative.
Sportscar racing should be above this.
Fax

You mean stuff like this ...

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/735579_10152064201877733_1808549386_o.jpg)

Or These!! ;D

http://cdn.images.autosport.com/specials/60years/photos/large/ickx81.jpg

Notice the logo on the Lorry behind the grinning muppets, Was Joest running the 936's?. Know he had a replica he run at Le Mans etc, but the Jules ones.

http://f1-history.deviantart.com/art/Jacky-Ickx-Spain-1970-338624980

(While looking for this come across some amazing images of Ickx, on trails bikes and every other conceivable car. What a legend)

I dont begrudge Audi the chance to drum up a bit of interest in sportscar racing. Watched a some of the Bahrain race on telly, the place was empty, now if I was a potential sponsor I would be considering my options.

The races need to be in places at least a few p[people bother to turn up at. Fingers crossed the arrival of Webber and Porsche will boost things a bit.

Thank you Nordic!  I've been harping on for years about how racing needs to be done in front of people who actually care about the sport, and will show up for a race.
I keep hearing the same old stupid line about races need to be held in emerging markets.  That would be awesome if the people in the emerging markets actually gave a damn.
They even struggled to get fans through the gates in Austin.  Down there they've drawn reasonably well for F1, but there's nothing to indicate anyone has any interest in watching sportscar racing there. http://sportscar365.com/wec/future-unclear-for-austin-wectusc-event/
Fax

First image

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1473036_246072898890454_1287042047_n.jpg)

From Audi, via TK Facebook
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/919035_629116230485353_616343136_o.jpg[/img]]https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=629116230485353&set=a.145609038836077.29995.144192782311036&type=1&theater
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/919035_629116230485353_616343136_o.jpg) (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=629116230485353&set=a.145609038836077.29995.144192782311036&type=1&theater
[img)

The new Audi R18 e-tron quattro is undergoing a test in Florida

A week after the World Championship winning Audi R18 e-tron quattro won its last race, its successor is ready for a test in Florida.
 
"“We have reached a crucial stage in this project",” explained Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "After building the first prototype, testing on various race tracks is now taking centre-stage. The tests are mainly focused on achieving high mileage, coordinating the highly complex hybrid drive systems and working out an efficiency-optimized total package that has never before been as complex as this one.”
 

First spy shots: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111818 (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111818)

(http://msn.foxsports.com/speed/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/audi-test-1.png)

(http://msn.foxsports.com/speed/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/audi-sebring-test-2.png)

 :o Jesus, just thinking about the nice prototypes they once built in Ingolstadt, remember the beautiful R8 Coupe? How f*cking ugly have these cars become nowadays. I'm afraid, even a first class paint job won't help much. >:(

Hi Werner,
               We will learn to Love it when Mark Weber passes the Audi for the lead  ;) and Alan McNish is sent out in hot pursuit  ;D
Phil

Audi say it is a 'ground-up' redesign of the 2013 car, but it does look very similar doesn't it. Most of the visible (some would say ugly) changes such a the higher roof and bigger cockpit bubble are as a result of the requirements of 2014 regulations.

From Audi press information:
(https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/S_zdVWuPE8dx8mZ-J8v9gcO650LECK15yIdNVy0z9703zjZfJrubIlKNR8HhNwunxlsTFuJhRLgnIzlPqUxFe6-Ltz4Q2KZnDLOAaKr7hON4BjlJd0c_lv_VZadyEHsnHcmFYZ8=s0-d-e1-ft#http://www.audi-motorsport.info/_img/newsletter2/header/audi_motorsport_884.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1470422_247372748760469_557872153_n.jpg)
 (http://audi-motorsport-blog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/gallery-2014-audi-r18-e-tron-quattro.html)

"higher roof and bigger cockpit bubble"

Roughly translated as Ferrari avoidance measures.

I get that funny feeling between my legs...what a beauty!

i hope it makes a bit more noise this year.

The new R18 has innovative LASER headlights.

Presumably to vaporise those pesky GTE cars that get in their way.

(http://www.audi-motorsport.info/_img/newsletter2/header/audi_motorsport_893.jpg)

2 cars in full season WEC
Possibly a third one at Le Mans.

Given the other thread on McNish's retirement, a prospect that sadly, we shall not see....

MG Mark

This is Audi's last attractive racing car
(http://www.planetdiecast.com/hwdphotos/originals/4034/347/Auto_Union_Streamliner.jpg)

Hi Mark,
           Perhaps some new Audi driver will entertain us to a good battle for the lead. Neal Janni is in the Porsche too so not sure who Rebellion will have in their driver lineup. Toyota should be ready for an overall win too.
Sounds exciting to me. LMP1 is alive and well everywhere except North America.
Merry Christmas
Phil

I think they had another beautiful one in 1999:

http://cacb.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/1999_audi_r8c1.jpg

AFAIK Tony Southgate designed it

I'd forgotten this one too.  There must be room for another couple of wings

(http://www.audistory.24max.de/old1/picold/bat02t.jpg)

Hi Werner,
               From Wiki:Unlike the R8R, for which Audi had turned to Dallara, they instead looked to Racing Technology Norfolk (RTN) to design and develop the new R8C. RTN assigned Peter Elleray the task, while Tony Southgate consulted on the project.
Merry Christmas
Phil

"Attractive" is in the eye of the beholder.