The combination of the R8, Biela, Kristensen and Pirro completed a hat-trick of wins in 2002, making them the first three-driver line-up to win three years in a row. And for the second time in three years, Audi locked out the podium.

 

Audi did not field a factory team in 2003, but there were several privateer R8s. This one, shared by JJ Lehto, Stefan Johansson and Emanuele Pirro, finished third.

 

Privately-entered R8s swept the podium in 2004, led by the Team Goh entry shared by Tom Kristensen, Dindo Capello and Seiji Ara.

 

In 2005 the aging R8 was saddled with engine restrictions and penalty weights because it didn't confirm to the new hybrid regulations, which translated into a significant loss of straightline speed. But that didn't stop Tom Kristensen earning his seventh win, with the help of JJ Lehto and Marco Werner.

 

Audi's R10 TDI made its debut in 2006 and carried Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Marco Werner to victory, making it the first diesel-powered car to win the race.

 

Audi had its first diesel-powered rival in the form of Peugeot in 2007, but Marco Werner, Emanuele Pirro and Frank Biela notched up another win for the R10 TDI.

 

The R10 TDI got another one over on Peugeot in 2008, this time steered by Allan McNish, Dindo Capello and Tom Kristensen.

 

The 2009 race marked the arrival of the R15 TDI, although its relative lack of development gave Peugeot the upper hand.

 

A raft of updates to the R15 resulted in the appearance of the R15 TDI plus in 2010. It wasn't a match for the Peugeot on speed, but its superior reliability translated into Audi's ninth win in 12 years.

 

The new-for-2011 R18 TDI triumphed in the hands of Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer and Benoit Treluyer, beating the leading Peugeot by just over 13s in the fourth-closest finish in Le Mans history.