2006 Audi R8 Pictures, Specifications, Information

While preparing the Audi R10 TDI for the the 24 Hours of Le Mans (17/18 June), the Audi Sport North America team decided to bring back the tried and trusted Audi R8 for three races in the middle of the 2006 season. The 2005 Le Mans race winning car (chassis 605) sports the same design as the silver-red R10 TDI – but with the slogan "Audi FSI Power” instead of "Audi TDI Power”.

Despite being burdened with extra weight, the R8 increased its legendary race credentials by winning the 2006 Lone Star Grand Prix against a competetive field of race cars. Capello started the Audi Sport North America Audi R8 from fourth on the 23-car grid but quickly forced his way in to second place as dusk changed to full darkness in the race that began at 8pm.

Excellent pit-strategy enabled McNish, who had taken over from Capello after 53 min., to “leapfrog” the LM P2 Porsche of Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas and in to the lead following the opening scheduled pit-stops. McNish made a second and final pit-stop for fuel after 97mins, re-taking the lead with 40 min. to run.

The five-year-old Audi R8 proved to be not only reliable and efficient. The Audi, which Capello had swept to a fastest race lap 0.234 sec. quicker than in qualifying, had set a searing pace around the 1.7-mile, 10-corner temporary “street” circuit constructed in Houston’s Reliant Park, eventually claiming a comprehensive fivelap victory. Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, head of Audi Motorsport, stated after the race, "We are very happy that the R8 can still win races despite being further handicapped by the regulations. Reliability and the FSI technology were yet again key factors. Congratulations to the team which had the right strategy and the drivers who did no mistakes on this difficult track."