Honeywell Boosts Audi TDI Win at Le Mans
Turbocharged Audi R10 TDI Writes New Chapter in Motorsports History
TORRANCE, Calif., June 20 -- Honeywell helped the Audi R10 TDI make history by besting all competition at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, recording the first-ever turbodiesel-powered victory in the world's most famous endurance event. The win follows the Audi R10 TDI win earlier this year at the 12 Hours of Sebring race in Florida, U.S.
The No. 8 Audi Sport Team Joest R10 driven by Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Marco Werner won first place; third place went to another R10 driven by Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish.
Audi R10's groundbreaking win gave the manufacturer its sixth victory in the last seven years ... this time crossing the winning line with a sportscar bristling with turbodiesel technology. This victory confirmed the dominance of Audi at Le Mans and proved to the watching world that turbodiesels can compete with -- and beat -- some of the world's greatest gasoline-powered racecars. And once again, Honeywell's Garrett(R) turbochargers helped to boost Audi to racing success.
The Audi engine is a technical tour de force: a twin-turbo, direct- injection, all-aluminum V12 displacing a modest 5.5 liters. While the engine's 650 horsepower is impressive, the torque output is astronomical at 811 lb/ft.
According to Adriane Brown, President and CEO of Honeywell Transportation Systems, "Audi has demonstrated that turbodiesels offer amazing performance along with excellent fuel consumption and reliability under even the most grueling circumstances. We're proud to be associated with this unique moment in motorsports history and glad that our turbos gave Audi the boost they needed ... literally."
"The predecessor of the Audi R10 TDI, the record-setting Audi R8 with FSI gasoline direct injection, was also equipped with our Garrett(R) turbochargers. So when Audi turned to us for the TDI diesel project, we were delighted to step up to the challenge -- and the partnership has paid maximum dividends," said Doug Milliken, Motorsports Manager for Honeywell Turbo Technologies.
Honeywell International is a $30 billion diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London, Chicago and Pacific Stock Exchanges. It is one of the 30 stocks that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is also a component of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. For additional information, please visit www.honeywell.com
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