Audi updates R8 GT3 racer for 2010

Back in 2008 Audi launched the race-going R8 LMS. The car was prepped for the 2009 season ready to race in GT3 categories across the globe.

Indeed, the four-pronged R8 attack on the 2009 Nürburgring 24 hour race almost ended Porsche’s recent domination of the event. The #99 Phoenix Racing entry held the lead for 17 hours until a drive shaft problem cost valuable time. In the end it was the #97 Abt Sportline car that finished in second place, highlighting the impressive debut by the R8. As well as that, the R8 LMS went on to secure three championships and 23 race wins during 2009.

For the 2010 season Audi have made some changes to their go fast machines to ensure they remain capable of leading the field. The ‘Evolution’ updates include revisions to the chassis, suspension and cooling systems. While on-board electronics and the race-tuned exhaust system have been further enhanced.

Customer deliveries of the 2010 spec cars have started, with the US-British alliance of United Autosports being the first in line. If you would like to join them and you have a spare €300K+ burning a hole in your pocket, well, I’m sorry, but you’re out of luck. The 2010 production run has sold out and all customer cars will be delivered before the end of April. If you’re still keen you’ll need to try your luck with the ‘Race Experience’ program or get your name on the list for the 2011 production run.

Owners of 2009 spec R8 LMS cars are able to make the same changes to the 2010 models to ensure they can now race with the latest specification.

Australian race fans will get their chance to see the 2009-spec R8 LMS up close next weekend at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide. Mark Eddy, 2008 Australian GT Champion, is the first private buyer outside of Europe to get his hands on the purpose-built GT3 racer. Find out more on the Australian GT website.

GREEN LIGHT FOR EVOLUTION VERSION OF THE AUDI R8 LMS

• GT3 race sports car has undergone further technical development
• Delivery to customer teams has started
• Annual production for 2010 is already sold out

Ingolstadt, March 8, 2010 – With the delivery of the first customer cars, Audi AG’S GT3 customer sport programme has reached the next phase. By mid-April, 20 Audi R8 LMS vehicles will have been handed over to the teams that are planning to run the GT3 race sportscar in various national and international racing series and in the two 24-hour races at the Nürburgring and at Spa-Francorchamps in the 2010 season.

After its successful 2009 debut year in which Audi Sport partners clinched three championship titles and 23 victories in 76 racing commitments, the Audi R8 LMS will now be handed over to customers for its second season, as planned. Last week, the American-owned United Autosports team that operates out of Yorkshire inEngland, was the first team to receive its two R8 LMS cars.

To offer customer teams a perfect a race car as possible, Audi Sport is making use of the opportunity offered by the GT3 regulations and will obtain FIA homologation of an evolution-version of the R8 LMS which features numerous technical improvements compared with last year’s model. The previous vehicles will be brought up to the current level by an update kit and teams can thus continue to run them.

“During our evolution project we primarily focused on service life and maintenance-friendliness,” explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “All the experience we gathered last season with the help of our partners has been fed into the evolution-version. We’re convinced that we’re handing over a reliable and easy to handle vehicle to our customers that embodies the high quality standards of the Audi brand.”

Certain details of the chassis and suspension have been revised. The capacity of the engine’s cooling system has been improved even further so that the R8 LMS can also be used in extreme ambient temperatures without any problems. The complex electronics as well as the exhaust system have been optimized for use in racing. The newly developed six-speed racing transmission is particularly maintenance-friendly. It allows wearing parts to be inspected through an opening in the housing. The transmission does not have to be dismantled for this purpose.

Over the past few months the evolution-version of the Audi R8 LMS was extensively tested on various race tracks and rigs and its durability proved in several endurance tests.

The final version of the Audi R8 LMS is available at a price of 298,000 Euros plus VAT. The annual production for 2010 is already sold out. The delivery of vehicles for the 2011 season will start at the end of this year.

Teams fielding the Audi R8 LMS in the 2010 season

• ABT Sportsline (D): ADAC GT Masters, Nürburgring 24 Hours, VLN *
• Audi race experience Team Joest (D): VLN *
• Audi Sport Italia (I): Italian GT Championship
• Black Falcon (D): VLN, 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, FIA European GT3 Championship
• Brinkmann Racing (D): International GT Open
• Mark Eddy (AUS): Australian GT Championship **
• ORECA (F): French GT Championship
• Phoenix Racing (D): VLN, International GT Open, Nürburgring 24 Hours, Spa 24 Hours
• Team Rosberg (D): ADAC GT Masters, FIA European GT3 Championship
• United Autosports (USA/GB): FIA European GT3 Championship, Spa 24 Hours, British GT Championship *
• W Racing Team (B): Belcar, French GT Championship
• Other teams in preparation

* Sporadic commitments
** 2009-spec R8 LMS