TheRaceline Auto Blog

The much anticipated GT3-spec Audi R8 LMS was debuted at the Essen Motor Show, race car is marketed toward privateer teams and is part of Audi’s “three pillars of motorsports.” Audi has no plans to develop a factory team with the new GT3-spec Audi R8 but several teams in Europe are set to run the new race car in many European series. The race red Audi R8 makes 500HP from its mid-mounted V10 and is RWD as opposed to AWD in factory R8 models. The power is put down by a six-speed sequential gearbox. The new R8 race car is set to be delivered to customers in the Fall of 2009.

Audi Motorsport based on three pillars in the future

* New LMP1 sports car for the Le Mans 24 Hours
* Development of the Audi A4 for the DTM
* Customer sport programme with the Audi R8 LMS

Ingolstadt – In future, the AUDI AG motorsport programme will be based on three pillars: During the 2009 season, the brand with the four rings will compete once again in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the DTM. Additionally, with the new Audi R8 LMS, Audi Sport offers for the first time a racing sports car specifically developed for customer use.

“We know just how important motorsport is for the success of the brand,” emphasises Michael Dick, who as Chairman of the Board for Technical Development is responsible for the AUDI AG motorsport programme. “Therefore it goes without saying that Audi must also be present on the race track in economically hard times. It is all the more important for us to enter a motorsport category in which the cost-benefit calculation is positive.”

Audi therefore continues to support sport prototypes and the DTM. With the Audi R8 LMS, Audi also offers customer teams a racing car incorporating high-quality technology and the typical Audi traits but which is, however, also easy to operate.