Official: Audi confirms R18 hybrid as part of 2012 endurance racing program Car News and Review

The diesel era at Le Mans may not be over yet, but already we’re seeing the emergence of a new propulsion trend: hybrids. Toyota recently proclaimed the TS030 Hybrid LMP1, Peugeot was working on a hybrid version of its 908 prototype before it killed the race program, and now Audi has confirmed a hybrid version of the R18 TDI.

Few details were released, but what we can tell you is that Audi will field four cars at Le Mans this year: two with hybrid support and two without. One will be headlined by Allan McNish, one by Oliver Jarvis, one by Timo Bernhard and one by André Lotterer, with supplemental drivers to be proclaimed sometime before the 80th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans kicks off in June.

Audi also proclaimed a two-car entry for the inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship, with four cars to be run at select racers like Spa and Sebring. Expect more details on the R18 hybrid to be released later this month, but in the meantime you can check out the official annunciation after the jump.