<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/audi/" rel="tag">Audi</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/racing/" rel="tag">Racing</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/audi-r18-at-sebring/"><img alt="Audi R18 Testing at Sebring" src="http://blog.pangeic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/01-r18-630-1296491958.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px 0px;" /></a><br />
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	Audi R18 Testing at Sebring - Click above for high-res image gallery</div>
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/audi">Audi</a> has officially put its new <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/r18">R18</a> Le Mans racer and all nine of its factory drivers through their paces. The pair of closed-cockpit Audi bruisers and one last-generation <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/r15">R15</a> TDI spent some time lapping <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/r15">Sebring</a> as part of preparations for this year's <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/24%20hours%20of%20le%20mans">24 Hours of Le Mans</a>. Each of the cadre of pilots was able to get some seat time in all three vehicles. Interestingly enough, Audi has made it clear that the R15 "Plus Plus" will campaign alone at this year's 12 Hours of Sebring. Audi typically uses the venue as a dry run for new hardware before showing up in France.<br />
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At this point, it appears that he R18 will enjoy its race debut at Le Mans instead. Audi motorsport boss Wolfgang Ullrich said that Sebring offers up a unique test of any race automobile's mechanicals, and that the warm, dry weather in Florida is more conducive to testing than European venues. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/31/audi-r18-tests-successful-in-sebring/#continued">Hit the jump</a> for the full press blast.<br />
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<div><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/audi-r18-at-sebring">Audi R18 at Sebring</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/audi-r18-at-sebring/"><img src="http://blog.pangeic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/02-r18_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/audi-r18-at-sebring/"><img src="http://blog.pangeic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/01-r18_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/audi-r18-at-sebring/"><img src="http://blog.pangeic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/03-r18_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: Audi]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/31/audi-r18-tests-successful-at-sebring/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Audi R18 tests successful at Sebring</em></a></p><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/31/audi-r18-tests-successful-at-sebring/">Audi R18 tests successful at Sebring</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:01:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/31/audi-r18-tests-successful-at-sebring/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19821965/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/31/audi-r18-tests-successful-at-sebring/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>