Diesel automobile racing

Diesel automobile racingcan refer to any use ofdieselas a fuel for racing cars. The diesel-fueled vehicle may be used in direct competition with other vehicles, in a separate Diesel class in the same racing event, or in a diesel-only event.

Diesel is not normally preferred for speed racing, due to the generally higher weight compared to a petrol-driven vehicle. However, diesel vehicles may in some events be classed independently of other competitors. In motorsports such as off-road trials ortruck racing,diesel may be more predominant. Inendurance racing,the broad power band, high torque andfuel economycan prove advantageous.

History

In 1931, Dave Evans drove hisCumminsDiesel Special to a non-stop finish in theIndianapolis 500,the first time a car completed a race without apit stop.That car and a later Cummins Diesel Special are on display at theIndianapolis Motor SpeedwayHall of Fame Museum.In 1934 Cummins designed a second car to race at the Indianapolis 500 with a much improved fuel metering system.

The Delettrez brothers competed in the1949 24 Hours of Le Mansin a 4.4L engined car, but did not finish.

In the late 1970s,Mercedes-Benzdrove aC111-IIIwith a five-cylinder diesel engine to several new records at theNardò Ring,including driving at an average of 314 km/h (195 mph) for 12 hours and hitting a top speed of 325 km/h (201 mph).

With turbocharged diesel cars getting stronger in the 1990s, they were entered intouring car racing,andBMWwon the24 Hours Nürburgringin 1998 with a320d.

After winning the12 Hours of Sebringin 2006 with the diesel-poweredR10 TDILMP,Audiwon the24 Hours of Le Mans,too. This was the first time a diesel-fueled vehicle had won at Le Mans against cars powered with regular fuel or other alternative fuel likemethanolorbio-ethanol.French automakerPeugeot,which has astrong Diesel tradition(as such similar to and in competition with Mercedes-Benz on the automotive market), entered the diesel poweredPeugeot 908 HDi FAPLMPin the2007 24 Hours of Le Mansin response to the success of theAudi R10 TDI.But Audi won the race again and for the third consecutive time in2008,until two 908 finally won the first places in2009.In 2008 Audi used next generation 10%BTLbiodiesel manufactured frombiomass.Despite the success of the 908 in 2009, all four Peugeot involved in the Le Mans 2010 raceexperienced some issues.And in 2011, the newAudi R18 wins overfour other Peugeot 908 (respectively, 1st and second to fifth place).

In an effort to further demonstrate the potential of diesel power, California-basedGale Banks Engineeringbuilt and raced a Cummins-powered pickup at theBonneville Salt Flatsin October 2002. The truck set a top speed of 355 km/h (222 mph) and became the world’s fastest pickup, and the truck drove to the flats towing its own support trailer.

On 23 August 2006, the British-based earth moving machine manufacturerJCBraced the specially designedJCB Dieselmaxcar at 563.4 km/h (350.1 mph). The driver wasAndy Greenand the car was powered by two modified JCB 444 diesel engines.

In 2007,SEAT- with theSEAT LeónMk2 at the Oschersleben Motorsport Arena inGermany- became the first manufacturer to win a round of theWTCC seriesin a diesel car, only a month after announcing it would enter theFIAWorld Touring Car Championshipwith the Leon TDI.SEAT's success with the León TDI was continued and resulted in winning both2009 FIA WTCCchampionship titles (for drivers as well as for manufacturers).

In 2007, Wes Anderson drove theGale Banks Engineeringbuilt 1250 horsepowerChevrolet S-10diesel-powered Pro-Stock pick-up to a National Hot Rod Diesel Association record of 7.72 seconds at 179-mph for the quarter-mile.

In 2007Top Gearas well as another rival team drove dieselBMW3 seriesin the Britcar 24 hour race. They took place third in their class.