Le Mans winning car versus Harrier "Jump Jet"
Diesel sportscar came close to beating jet-fighter
5,000 spectators watch one-kilometre race
Audi demonstrated once again the performance of modern diesel engines in an unique duel that took place prior the "Festival of Speed" meeting at Goodwood (England): In a one-kilometre acceleration race at RAF Wittering, the Le Mans winning Audi R10 TDI driven by Allan McNish was just narrowly beaten by a 15,000-bhp combat aircraft from the Royal Air Force (RAF).
Despite the 650-hp Audi R10 TDI being designed to start races from a "rolling" as opposed a "standing start", the revolutionary diesel sportscar was quicker off the line and in the lead for almost the whole one-kikometre distance before the Harrier GR7 "Jump Jet" just beat the Audi by literally a "nose" before it took off in front of a 5,000 crowd.
"It was essentially a 'fun' race," explained Audi factory driver Allan McNish. "But when a racing driver and a pilot get together it quickly becomes serious. To come so close beating a Harrier jet-fighter was a tremendous achievement once again for Audi TDI Power - especially if you consider that we didn't modify the R10 TDI for this 'race'."
-Ends-
Communication Motorsport
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E-Mail motorsport-media@audi.de
Photographs showing the Audi R10 TDI racing the Harrier jet and further information can be found in the Internet: www.audi-motorsport.info (accreditation required)
For more information:
Audi Middle East Communication
Karin Haferkorn,
Tel. +971 42045 888,
Mob: +97150 654 88 24,
Fax: +971 4 2045 891
email: karin.haferkorn@audi.avme.ae
Third Eye Public Relations
Roger Fennings,
Tel: +971 4 367 1126,
Mob: +971 50 478 9484,
Fax: +971 4 368 6892
email: roger@thirdeyepr.com
Nick Wheywell,
Tel: +971 4 361 2841,
Mob: +971 50 795 3493,
Fax: +971 4 368 6892
email: nick@thirdeyepr.com
© Press Release 2006
