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Le Mans / ALMS
LE MANS: Audi To Run Second E-Tron Quattro
Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen switch back to hybrid-powered for remainder of FIA WEC season...
Audi will switch to an all-etron quattro lineup for the remainder of the FIA WEC season, starting next weekend in Bahrain. (Photo: John Dagys)
With increasing pressure from Toyota and a championship battle that's still to be decided among its two entries, Audi will roll into next weekend's FIA WEC Six Hours of Bahrain with a pair of identical R18 e-tron quattros.
The German manufacturer confirmed Thursday the No. 2 entry of Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen will make the switch back to the hybrid-powered prototype after two races with Audi's conventional R18 ultra.
"Our analysis has shown that we’ve got an advantage in traffic with the R18 e-tron quattro," explained Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Motorsport. "It makes it easier for our drivers to overtake other vehicles. This means that with two hybrid vehicles we’re in a better position in the battle with Toyota."
Audi recorded its first loss of the season last weekend in Brazil, following a dominant performance by Toyota in the Six Hours of Sao Paulo.
McNish and Kristensen finished third in that race, losing further ground to teammates Andre Lotterer, Benoit Treluyer and Marcel Fassler in the Drivers' World Championship.
The gap now sits at 7.5 points, with three rounds to go.
"It has been clearly developing over the last period since Le Mans," McNish said of the e-tron quattro. "In traffic, I think that's where one of the main benefits of that over the ultra have been. So it's good to be jumping back into that car. It will be fresh for the team to be working on it, but we're all looking forward to it
"It definitely puts us on a more level footing with the sister car in terms of the championship, without a doubt. Tom and I are quite clear that we are now in a straight fight towards the end."
It's unclear if the R18 ultra will resurface in the future, although it's believed Audi had been considering a switch exclusively to hybrid-powered cars for 2013.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
The German manufacturer confirmed Thursday the No. 2 entry of Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen will make the switch back to the hybrid-powered prototype after two races with Audi's conventional R18 ultra.
"Our analysis has shown that we’ve got an advantage in traffic with the R18 e-tron quattro," explained Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Motorsport. "It makes it easier for our drivers to overtake other vehicles. This means that with two hybrid vehicles we’re in a better position in the battle with Toyota."
Audi recorded its first loss of the season last weekend in Brazil, following a dominant performance by Toyota in the Six Hours of Sao Paulo.
McNish and Kristensen finished third in that race, losing further ground to teammates Andre Lotterer, Benoit Treluyer and Marcel Fassler in the Drivers' World Championship.
The gap now sits at 7.5 points, with three rounds to go.
"It has been clearly developing over the last period since Le Mans," McNish said of the e-tron quattro. "In traffic, I think that's where one of the main benefits of that over the ultra have been. So it's good to be jumping back into that car. It will be fresh for the team to be working on it, but we're all looking forward to it
"It definitely puts us on a more level footing with the sister car in terms of the championship, without a doubt. Tom and I are quite clear that we are now in a straight fight towards the end."
It's unclear if the R18 ultra will resurface in the future, although it's believed Audi had been considering a switch exclusively to hybrid-powered cars for 2013.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
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