Audi to race diesel sportscar at Le Mans

Audi will return to the Le Mans 24 Hours race next year aiming to become the first manufacturer to triumph with a diesel-engined car.

The German carmaker unveiled the open-topped R10 car in Paris earlier this week with seven-times winner Tom Kristensen of Denmark driving it on a closed section of public road in the shadow of the Eiffel tower.

Audi have won the classic French race five times in the last six years with their R8 sportscar.

"The R10 project is the biggest challenge ever to have been handed to Audi sport," said Audi motorsport head Wolfgang Ullrich in a statement.