Spy Shots: Audi R8 GT3 caught lapping the 'Ring
Click above for high-res spy shots of the Audi R8 GT3
Take one Audi R8, add a pinch of Satan's dandruff (it's potent stuff) and you get this: the R8 GT3. Spy photographers have caught this racing version of Audi's R8 supercar, which itself is named after the very successful diesel-powered R8 LeMans racer, circling the famed Nurburgring in Germany. As you can see in our gallery below, it looks all business with a Boeing-sized rear wing out back and asphalt-scraping carbon fiber splitter up front. Other mods made for racing include the large vent in the "hood" behind the grille, larger air scoops in the blades behind the doors, a plexiglass rear window and significantly wider track both front and rear. Our sources tell us that the suspension is supposedly entirely stock and the quattro all-wheel-drive system has been ditched in favor of rear-wheel-drive to meet current FIA GT3 regulations. As for the engine, the 4.2L V8 has supposedly been tweaked to produce 500 horsepower (up from 420). For all its wings, vents and fender flares, this R8 GT3 prototype reportedly only managed to lap the 'Ring in 8:41.00 due to slippery-when-wet conditions. Pay attention folks, as this is the turn-key racing R8 that Audi will soon unleash on teams who wish to crash the GT3 class in style.
Gallery: Audi R8 GT3 - spy shots
[Source: KGP Photography]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
TJ 1:32PM (11/18/2008)
Not a fan of the R8... but Holy _____(cant say the rest or I'll get fired/banned/both....)
Reply
zamafir 1:38PM (11/18/2008)
There are very few cars in my dream garage in a place above this one, looks, performance, driving involvement, jesus.
Tim 1:35PM (11/18/2008)
Gorgeous car....
Notice they still have quattro badge on grill ?
Reply
Torrent 1:36PM (11/18/2008)
big ass wing. I like it.
Reply
nastinupe 1:39PM (11/18/2008)
Love the R8, I hate the wing. I don't car if that wing takes off 15 seconds at the ring, I would never ever buy a car with a wing like that for the streets. It's looks redicilous.
Reply
Metar 1:54PM (11/18/2008)
No problem then, because it's not for the streets.
R8 GT3, meant to be driven in the *GT3* class of sportscar racing.
Graham 1:42PM (11/18/2008)
The R8 was the older gas-powered prototype. The R10 is the newer diesel-powered car.
I wonder if taking all the weight off the front end from no drive going to the front wheels will screw up this cars dynamics.
Reply
Ryan 1:43PM (11/18/2008)
Car is named after the R8 that had a twin turbo gas motor the R10 is the Diesel race car
Reply
mimitchi86 1:42PM (11/18/2008)
"Spy photographers have caught this racing version of Audi's R8 supercar, which itself is named after the very successful diesel-powered R8 LeMans racer..."
Uh, didn't the R8 run on gasoline?
Reply
Preus 1:45PM (11/18/2008)
Insanely cool, but they're gonna have to do something about the exhaust and the 'Ring time. This should beat the Nissan GT-R due to it's extra horsepower and racing stuff.
Reply
gmpphotography 2:17PM (11/18/2008)
Apparently you didn't notice that the ring time given was obtained under wet conditions.
Preus 2:30PM (11/18/2008)
I did notice.
Gomi 1:47PM (11/18/2008)
Looks BAD*SS in black.
Reply
kwsdurango 1:52PM (11/18/2008)
Needs more wing.
Reply
moyoi 1:57PM (11/18/2008)
mmmmmm *drools*
Reply
Franz 1:58PM (11/18/2008)
I wonder how Audi managed to get their hands on Lucifer's flaky stuff... I bet they're not telling either... bastards... ;)
Reply
Tim 2:01PM (11/18/2008)
Hey, they mentioned the Ring.....
I'm surprised no one has brought up the GTR...
ok...
I'll start.....
And the GTR is faster than this? Come on !!
Reply
Franz 2:05PM (11/18/2008)
Them's fightin' words, Tim! Say one bad thing about the GT-R... I dare ya! My finger is hovering over the low rank button as we speak. LMAO
Raigan 2:16PM (11/18/2008)
The person reporting this event is a total moron! If you know ANYTHING about the gt3 cars and their times on the ring then you WOULD KNOW they RUN A DIFFERENT LAP THaN THE PRODUCTION TEST CARS DO YOU MORONS!!!! GT3 (racecars) run the joint laps and production cars use standard old config laps...
Reply
Raigan 3:10PM (11/18/2008)
Maybe you guys should actually watch the NURB24 HRS event and learn something...
Mr.John Neff should too ... not to trash your post but when you report something please research it... now you made 20 million playstation morons think their japanese cow can fly faster than gt3 racecars...
excuse poor english its my best