Audi R18 Racers Get Digital Rearview Mirror

The last thing designers think of when penning a race car, even after driver comfort, is visibility. If its fast, then who cares what is behind you? However, in modern endurance racing not being able to see is a major danger. AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
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has fitted all of its R18sAudi R18Germany, 2011 > present4 versions
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with an AMOLED rear-view screen connected to a small camera at the rear of the car that allows drivers to see clearly behind them. It is the first time that the technology has been adapted for an LMP sports racer. 

"In the past, our drivers had to strictly rely on the outside mirrors when looking rearward. Yet the rear end and the rear wings plus the vibrations that occur at high speeds significantly limit the field of vision of these mirrors," said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich.

Audi mounted a small camera behind the antennas on the roof of the car. The AMOLED screen is mounted in the location of a normal rear-view mirror. Audi mounted the camera in a protected location where it should not be affected by rain, and it tweaked the screen to make sure at night it is not blindingly white. 

“Today, the system functions perfectly in the Audi R18 LMP race car. I’m sure that we’ll be able to return valuable findings to our colleagues in TE [Technical Development]. We integrated the system into the vehicle package in an extremely small space and reduced the aerodynamic effects of the camera and energy consumption to a minimum," said Dr. Ullrich.