Audi Will Race Experimental R18 Long Tail in 6 Hours of Spa

AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
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has announced that among the three Audi R18 e-tron QuattrosAudi R18 e-tron quattroGermany, 2012 > present8 photos
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being entered for the Six Hours of Spa, one of them is a new, experimental version with long-tail bodywork that is meant to increase top speed and improve high speed stability. 

It is easy to identify the long tail version with its longer sail and lower rear wing. Mechanically, it is the same as the other R18 e-tron Quattros. Audi is introducing the car at Spa because it wants to compare the sector times of the two cars in race conditions. 

The teams of Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer in the #1 car and Loïc Duval, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish in the #2 car will remain the same for the race at Spa. Marc Gené, Lucas di Grassi and Oliver Jarvis will drive the experimental car. 

“As always, Audi will be using the race at Spa as a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.

"Fielding the Le Mans aero variant on the third vehicle that hasn’t been optimized for the lap times at Spa is an important element of the preparation for the 24-hour race," said Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Motorsport.

Audi's main challenger in the race will be ToyotaToyotaJapan, 1937 > present155 models
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again. The team first announced that it would introduce its 2013 carToyota TS030 HYBRIDJapan, 2012 > present5 photos
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at the previous race at Silverstone, but it changed its mind just before the race and the the 2012 car instead. Now it says that the Six Hours of Spa will be the car's introduction. 

The Six Hours of Spa starts at 2:30pm local time (8:30am EDT) on Saturday, May 4. The race will be broadcast live on Eurosport for European fans and streamed live on audi-liveracing.com for fans in the rest of the world.