LE MANS miniatures Audi R18 TDI n.3 24 Heures du Mans 2011

Audi R18 TDI 24 Heures du Mans 2011
N°3 : R.Capello - T. Kristensen - A. McNish
Retirement 1 hour

Specifications :

• Scale : 1 / 32
• Manufacturer name : Audi
• Manufacturer model : R18 TDI Ultra
• Competition : Yes
• Race : 24 Heures du Mans
• Year : 2011
• Driver : Rinaldo Capello - Tom Kristensen - Allan McNish
• Body : Polyurethan
• Chassis : ABS injected
• Rims : Aluminum at the rear + M2 screw
• Engine : In-line Slot.it
• Engine support - crown - tires- axles - braids - pick-up & pinions : Slot.it
• Weight : 118 g
• Detail that kills : Chrome-plated roof : technical exploit to put chrome-plate on polyurethan resin body shell

Audi comes back in 2011 with the R18. The “Presentation” version that mades the first tests in November 2010 is very different from the Le Mans version.

On the Le Mans version a new front spoiler has been put in. In front of the front headlamps we can see new flaps. The front bonnet undergoes modifications such like the grids on the wheelarches. The sides have been changed ; the Naca air intakes have disappeared. On each side, the air intakes are narrower and a new hatch appears on the rear bonnet, which air intakes disappear too. Although the cockpit is closed the chassis is lighter than the 2009 car.

The Audi car number 2 of Benoît Tréluyer starts in the lead for this 79th edition of the 24 Hours Le Mans in front of Audi car number 1 of Timo Bernhardt. At 3.51 pm McNish is hit by Anthony Beltoise's Ferrari. The two cars spin round. The Ferrari runs aground the pile of tires and starts off again while the Audi flyes above the gravels, violently hits the security barrier and swirls above before landing on the right side. McNish immediately comes out of the completely destroyed car. At the quarter of the race the Audi car number 1 is hit at the left rear by the Ferrari car number 71. Rockenfeller's Audi hit the security barrier fullface before bouncing and taking fire. The driver can extract himself from the car.

At the end of the 14th hour the 4 leading cars are grouped in less than 4''. The race goes on, the leaders change and are alike at the rythm of refuellings which follow on each other. Few minutes before midday Lötterer refuels and for 18'' keeps the head.

An half hour before the checkered flag Pagenaud's Peugeot arrives at the same time in the pit to change tires. When Lötterer leaves the pit, he only has 7'' advance but he succeeds in keeping on hollowing the gap. At 3 pm when he crosses the finishing line it is only 13”854 that give him the victory.