Posted by Cetane_100 on
3. March 2009 |
Peugeot intends to race a diesel hybrid version of its 908 prototype at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. Jean-Philippe Collin, the French automaker’s new CEO, revealed the plans in an interview with L-Equipe, revealing that the vehicle could see competition as early as November 2008 at the ACO 1,000km challenge in Shanghai. We predict success for the first diesel electric hybrid racecar, it’ll be able to combine the excellent fuel economy and torque characteristics of both diesels and hybrids and would be positioned to take advantage of any future rule changes that benefit hybrid technology. F1, for example, is actively working to bring power added by regenerative braking to the sport.
Posted by Cetane_100 on
2. March 2009 |
Hayes Diversified Technologies (HDT) USA, the maker of the world’s only motorcycle purpose built diesel motorcycle engine, is entering the 2009 SCORE International Baja 250 which will be run in San Felipe, Mexico on March 14th. The world renowned off-road race will serve as a proving ground for the well tested and well prepared composite race team made up of members from HDT USA and Team SRD. The newly formed team will combine their successes from the diesel motorcycle land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats and their class 22 podium producing finish in the 2008 SCORE Baja 500.
In the early ’70s HDT raced and sold Pentons (early KTMs) and produced high-performance suspension and engine parts for motocrossers. In 2000 they sent the Marines their first diesel prototype motorcycle (based on the Kawasaki KLR650) for testing; the production model was delivered by HDT in September of 2006. Current owner of HDT Fred Hayes and associate Bryon Schmidt—both veterans—enjoy using racing to develop diesel record-breaking motorcycles at Bonneville. HDT USA is honored to serve the men and women of our Armed Forces by providing the best equipment possible. HDT USA is proud to provide the best in diesel motorcycle technology to both our government and civilian customers.
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Posted by Cetane_100 on
20. January 2009 |
While Audi will contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans as part of its factory commitment with the new R15 TDI in 2009, Dr Colin Kolles is planning to buy two Audi R10 TDI cars for his racing team. The privately fielded prototypes are planned to return to the venues of their greatest exploits in 2009: to the European-based Le Mans Series and to the 24-hour race at Le Mans, in which the Audi R10 TDI has not been beaten so far.
Since the 2006 season Audi has been cooperating with Dr Colin Kolles, who has entered two Audi A4 DTM cars in the DTM since that time. Now, the team owner based in Greding near Ingolstadt wants to extend his motorsport involvement to the sportscar area on his own initiative. The team plans to contest the 24-hour race at Le Mans on 13 and 14 June 2009 as well as the five rounds of the European-based Le Mans Series.
Audi Sport will sell two R10 TDI vehicles to Dr Kolles for this purpose and complement the agreement by a service package encompassing support for the private racing commitments by members of Audi Sport’s technical staff.
“We welcome the fact that Dr Kolles decided to take on this commitment and wants to purchase two Audi R10 TDI cars,” said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. “While on the factory side of the house we are concentrating on the development and fielding of the new R15 TDI sportscar as well as on the DTM, we are pleased to see that the R10 TDI will be privately entered in future and that racing vehicles of the Audi brand will continue to be represented in the Le Mans Series. That is why we agreed to the sale of the cars. However, our involvement will be strictly limited to providing support under the terms of the service agreement.”
In the 2006, 2007 and 2008 racing years, the Audi R10 TDI clinched as many as 22 overall victories in 38 worldwide entries. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as in the final LM P1 classification of the American Le Mans Series during that time frame the Audi R10 TDI remained unbeaten and last year won the LM P1 class of the European-based Le Mans Series as well.
