There have already been three versions: TDI (2011), ultra (2012) and e-tron quattro (since 2012). The prototype is different to its predecessors, the R8, R10 TDI, R15 TDI and R15 TDI plus in that it is the first Audi with a closed cockpit since the 1999 R8C. It hasn’t always been plain sailing for the Audi R18. In 2011, Allan McNish and Mike Rockenfeller both crashed cars, fortunately only causing material damage, leaving the only R18 left in the race to hold its own against a fleet of Peugeot 908s. Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer claimed a historic victory, with a mere thirteen second lead over the Peugeot driven by Sébastien Bourdais, Pédro Lamy and Simon Pageaud. And that was just the beginning.

In 2012, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest and FIA joined forces to launch the World Endurance Championship. The three versions of the R18 stole the show in the opening season. The R18 TDI won the opening round at Sebring. Then the R18 e-tron quattro and the R18 ultra made their débuts at Spa-Francorchamps. The former claimed pole position and the latter won the race. At Le Mans, Fässler, Lotterer and Tréluyer’s second victory together made history, the R18 e-tron quattro being the first hybrid car to win the 24 Hours. That season, they went on to win both the drivers’ and constructors’ world titles.

The following year, Loïc Duval, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish repeated the performance, winning Le Mans and both WEC trophies. In 2014, Toyota was the manufacturer to beat in the world championship. However, the Japanese outfit couldn’t add Le Mans to their list of victories that season. Fässler, Lotterer and Tréluyer – and the R18 e-tron quattro – had decided otherwise. This year however, even the well-oiled Audi machine was no match for the Porsche 919 Hybrids, which finished first and second.

As well as the four victories and three pole positions at Le Mans 24 Hours, the various versions of the Audi R18 have won twelve races in the World Endurance Championship. The 2016 version unveiled on 28 November has even more powerful aerodynamics than its predecessor. She certainly has a reputation to live up to.

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO – Translated from French by Emma Paulay

LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, LE MANS 24 HOURS, SUNDAY 15 JUNE 2014, RACE. Three-time winners at Le Mans 24 Hours (here in 2014), Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer are the most prolific winners in the Audi R18, with eight other World Endurance Championship victories to their names.