How a diesel won the 24H of Le Mans 2008

June 19th, 2008

Article By IPA Member: Guy Verstraeten
Guy594 Photography

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At one of the most exciting and fastest races in Le Mans history, Audi clinched another triumph at what is arguably the world’s toughest motor race.

In a gruelling 24 hours of hard-charging, heart-stopping action, drivers Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Marco Werner utilised the relentless power and efficiency offered by Shell V-Power Diesel race fuel to complete 380 laps of the sweeping French circuit. Not only did this see them 4 laps ahead of the competition, but safely into the history books as the only drivers to win motor racing’s most punishing event - with diesel in the tank.

The fastest race lap of the Audi R10 TDI was set by Alexandre Prémat on Saturday afternoon on lap 75 with a time of 3m 23.939s (average: 240.584 kph), which was 3.237 seconds less than Allan McNish's fastest lap from last year.

With both cars on the front row of the grid the performance advantage of Shell V-Power Diesel race fuel was clear to see as the Audi R10 TDI were over 2.5 seconds ahead of the field after the first lap.

Of the 55 vehicles that had started from the grid, 19 retired. Audi Sport Team Joest finished the race with all three Audi R10 TDI cars.

This remarkable result was due in part to the inclusion of Shell GTL (Gas to Liquids) Fuel in the race formulation. Shell V-Power Diesel is the first and only premium diesel to use this special synthetic fuel technology which is created from natural gas in Malaysia using a unique Shell synthesis process. Shell GTL Fuel burns more cleanly and efficiently than conventional diesel because of its outstanding purity and cetane quality.

Mike Copson, Shell Motorsport Technical Manager commented, “What we have achieved today would have simply been unimaginable a few years ago. It’s a landmark victory for Shell, and for diesel as a whole, and we’re very proud to have created the first ever diesel fuel with the enduring power needed to win at Le Mans.”

In summary, this was the 26th Le Mans appearance of a German car manufacturer, the 50th of an open cockpit sportscar and the 17th for Michelin, Audi's tyre partner, who has not been beaten at Le Mans since 1998.

For the team around Reinhold Joest, this was the tenth triumph at Le Mans, for Audi Sport Team Joest, the sixth