Dow Automotive, a major technology and solutions provider to the global automotive and commercial transportation industries, will again provide AERIFY™ diesel particulate filters to the Audi Sport Team. This year's new Audi R15 TDI LMP 1 race car will premiere at the American Le Mans Series 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race on Saturday, March 21 and will also compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.

AERIFY filters from Dow Automotive offer a unique microstructure with high porosity that demonstrates high strength, low back pressure and the ability to downsize for smaller packaging without compromising performance. Key benefits also include reduced fuel consumption, lower carbon dioxide emissions and regulation compliance at lower cost.

"Audi Sport has a long track record of success with endurance racing and we're very pleased to be on board with the team at this exclusive proving ground," said Steve Majkowski, Global Market Manager, Emissions Technology, Dow Automotive.  "Our technical partnership with Audi Sport has given us an outstanding opportunity to validate the performance benefits of AERIFY filters under extreme conditions. In addition, the tight dimension tolerance of Audi requirements for racing filters have allowed Dow to develop manufacturing process capabilities that are directly applicable for our production plant. This enables us to clearly demonstrate the value of our technology in commercialized applications for passenger cars and commercial vehicles."

The Audi R15 TDI is the successor of the record-setting Audi R10 TDI, which was launched in 2006 with Dow Automotive filter technology and became the first-ever diesel-powered sports car to win at Sebring. The Audi R10 TDI also won three times in a row at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The new Audi R15 TDI is packed with numerous technically innovative detail solutions and differs significantly from its predecessor model the R10 TDI .   Additional details about the new R15 TDI will be released by Audi prior to the Sebring race.

So far the R15 TDI has performed as we expected," explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "Now it must also prove itself in race conditions. Sebring is a particularly hard race and is therefore perfectly suited to reveal even the smallest of weaknesses." 

About Audi Sport

Since Audi revolutionized rally sport at the beginning of the 1980s with the Quattro drive, AUDI AG underlines that the company slogan, "Vorsprung durch Technik" is to be taken literally with their exceptional motorsport successes. AUDI AG positions itself as the sportiest manufacturer in the premium-class segment, with a particularly extensive and ambitious motorsport commitment. Audi is the first automotive manufacturer to have won the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans with a diesel engine. 2008 was the largest and most successful motorsport programme in AUDI AG history. Beside the overall win in Le Mans, Audi Sport achieved all titles in the ALMS as well as in the LMS and was able to defend the title in the DTM, one of the most popular racing series in Europe.

About Dow Automotive

Dow Automotive, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company and its affiliates, is a leading global provider of technology-driven solutions that meet consumer demands for vehicles that are safer, stronger, quieter, lighter, cleaner, more comfortable and stylish. The organization provides plastics, adhesives, glass bonding systems, emissions control technology, films, fluids, structural enhancement and acoustical management solutions to OEM, tier, aftermarket and commercial transportation customers around the world. For additional information about Dow Automotive products, services, and application development centers, visit www.dowautomotive.com.

About Dow

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