Audi to run hybrids for FIA World Endurance Championship

Following Audi's defeat at the hands of Toyota's TS030 HYBRID at the last round of the WEC at Interlagos earlier this month, Audi will switch to running two hybrid versions of its R18 coupe from the next round of the FIA World Endurance Championship in Bahrain.

The German manufacturer has mounted a split campaign between the hybrid R18 e-tron quattro and the non-hybrid R18 ultra since bringing its 2012-spec LMP1 machines on stream at the Spa 6 Hours in May. It will now run a pair of e-tron quattros over the final three rounds of the WEC, which means that Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish will have the same machinery as points leaders Andre Lotterer, Benoit Treluyer and Marcel Fassler.

Audi cited a number of reasons for the new strategy.

A statement pointed to the advantages of the e-tron over the ultra "in certain topographic track conditions and when lapping other cars in traffic". The Bahrain International Circuit incorporates a number of hairpins, which means it should favor the hybrid.

It always wants to even up the fight between Lotterer, Treluyer and Fassler and Kristensen and McNish, who are separated by just 7.5 points at the top of the WEC points table. Audi Sport boss Wolfgang Ullrich said he would now be giving "both our driver teams identical material in the battle for the championship".