a possible mock up of what it could look like. All speculation at this point. Audi will be at Sebring for the 12 hours, then we will all see it in person!
Audi returns to the closed-cockpit competition starting in 2011 when new regulations take effect with the new R18; Wolfgang Ullrich stated in an Autosport interview in 2010 that the R18 will be a closed roof coupe similar to the Peugeot
908, the R8C and the Bentley Speed 8.
Open-cockpit is far better for pit stop - change of drivers.
Closed cockpit is preferable for better performance/top speed, aerodynamics ... Audi used to have an advantage in pit stops because of the open cockpit at beginning and th...at was giving them an edge at the end of the race, but in recent years that advantage disappeared by more clever cockpit assembling solutions and also strategies by Peugeot, so now Audi is focusing in closing the performance gap that has been built up in the meantime!
According to John Dagys at Speed, "- Audi Sport team boss Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich said he hopes to have Audis new-generation prototype, the R18, running on-track by Christmas. However, dont expect it to see it at Sebring in March, as Audi will tackle the ILMC season-opener with a version of its R15 plus TDI, ahead of a likely race debut of the R18 at Spa-Francorchamps in May."
