March 15-18, 2006

Conventional wisdom said that it could not be done. Critics claimed that a diesel engine would not hold together, that it would fly apart. They said that the Audi R10 would not finish 12 Hours at Sebring, but they were wrong. Though one Audi fell to the wayside, the remaining Audi Sport North America R10 entry went on to lead nearly all of the 349-lap event.

There were other stories throughout the day, including a late breaking battle between the #3 Corvette and the #007 Aston Martin. The two cars dueled for the last 6-8 laps, with each driver taking advantage of their cars strengths as well as the oppositions weaknesses. But in the end it was the groundbreaking win by the Audi Turbo-Diesel that garnered all of the attention.

As one of the TV commentators noted, this win by the Audi diesel will be a pivotal moment in sports car racing history. Until now alternative power plants have been seen as a novelty. Likewise, diesel has always been seen as a dirty, less powerful technology. It's clear that Audi set about to change that perception, and they have succeeded. This success, a win at one of the most demanding events in the world, will further reinforce the drive of teams like Peugeot who vow to field a diesel-powered car in 2007. It is also likely to cement the resolve of teams that choose to press the boundaries of automotive technology with radically new or vastly improve technology. It is truly an interesting time in motor sports.