24h Le Mans
Only eight days after the end of the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship season at Bahrain, Audi heads to Sebring, Florida for its first tests of the new LM P1 2014, which will be officially unveiled on Dec. 18.
Photo : Audi Motorsport
As promised on social networks, Audi unveiled the very first photo of the new prototype on Dec. 8. There are already a few noticeable characteristics from the new regulations package, including the raised cockpit in order to help peripheral visibility for drivers.
Over six months after the new Porsche LMP roll out, here are now two major adversaries on track for 2014, the two marques totaling no less than 28 wins in La Sarthe (16 for Porsche and 12 for Audi), more than a third of all Le Mans 24 Hours editions. Audi's new weapon is a descendent of a prestigious line of prototypes dating back to 1999: with notable cars being the R10 TDI and R18 R18 e-tron quattro, first diesel and hybrid powered entries to win at Le Mans. As the new LM P1 takes to the track for testing, the stakes are already high, not only against Porsche, but also Toyota, who hope to continue in 2014 how they finished this year, with a victory at the 6 Hours of Bahrain on Nov. 30. The countdown to the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours has already begun...
The 82nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be run June 14 and 15, 2014. Click here for ticket information.
Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translated by Rainier Ehrhardt / ACO
Photo : For more images and information on the new Audi prototype, you'll have to wait until the marque does a full unveiling on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
