Audi Sport boss Dr. Wolfgang Ulrich hinted that the prototype Audi will build for next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, the R18, will probably be a closed top. Up until this year Audi had a dilemma. Closed top prototypes are more efficient because of their superior aerodynamics but open prototypes can be more efficiently handled and so gain time during pit stops.
Starting next year, however, the ACO has introduced new sporting rules that cancel out the pit stop handling advantages of open top prototypes, so they will most likely build and race a closed top.