Honeywell’s Garrett Turbos Help Audi Sweep Podium at Le Mans

Source: Honeywell International

TORRANCE, Calif.–Honeywell’s Garrett(R) turbochargers helped give Audi the boost it needed to sweep the podium at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race.

Audi achieved maximum engine airflow allowed under the rules by boosting a small displacement engine, according to Doug Milliken, Manager of Motorsports at Honeywell Turbo Technologies. What this means, explains Milliken, is that relatively low engine RPM is required to achieve the maximum attainable horsepower. At 6500 rpm, the Audi engines run effortlessly hour after hour while larger-displacement naturally aspirated engines have to operate at much higher RPM to generate the same airflow, according to Milliken.

“Larger reciprocating mass moving at higher speed spelled doom for naturally aspirated engines as only five of the 11 starters were still running at the finish in the top LMP1 class,” said Doug Milliken. “In five years supporting Audi at Le Mans, we’re proud that we’ve never had a single turbo failure.”

The race took place June 12-13 at the 8.5-mile (15.8 Km) Circuit de La Sarthe at the south of the city of Le Mans in France.

The first place winner, Audi Sport Japan team “Goh,” made history as Tom Kristensen won his sixth victory at Le Mans, matching the record of Jacky Ickx. The team’s win also marks the first victory by a Japanese entrant since 1995.

Second place went to the Audi Sport UK Team “Veloqx,” whose car was driven by Johnny Herbert, Jamie Davies and Guy Smith. The American Audi team “Champion Racing” took third place with drivers Marco Werner, J.J. Lehto and Emanuelle Pirro.

Honeywell Turbo Technologies, the maker of Garrett(R) turbochargers and thermal systems, is a division of Honeywell’s Transportation Systems. With $1.9 billion in revenues in 2003, it is the world’s leading innovator of turbocharging technology.

Honeywell International is a $23 billion diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; specialty chemicals; fibers; and electronic and advanced materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York, London, Chicago and Pacific Stock Exchanges. It is one of the 30 stocks that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is also a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. For additional information, please visit www.honeywell.com.