Autoblog

Audi homologating R8 LMS for Grand Am racing

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 08:59:00 EST

Audi has been racking up motorsports wins all over the world thanks to its R8 LMS track star. The GT3 racer has compiled over 100 victories in Europe, Asia, South America and Australia. Now it's time for the four-ringed race car to earn a few checkered flags in North America, as Audi has announced that it is bringing the R8 LMS Stateside to run in the Grand-Am series.

If you're the owner of a racing team here in the U.S., now is the time to get excited. Audi will sell you a Grand-Am-ready R8 LMS, and offer support through its Audi Sport customer racing group. The R8 LMS will make its U.S. debut at the 50th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Daytona.

Principles of racing teams, click past the jump to read the full press release. OK fine, even if you don't own a race team, you can still read it.

Continue reading Audi homologating R8 LMS for Grand Am racing

Audi homologating R8 LMS for Grand Am racing originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi R8 GT3 will have coming out party in Essen

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Audi, Misc. Auto Shows

Click above for high-res image gallery of the Audi R8 GT3

Audi has created an R8 that looks like it would rather kill things than win races, but knowing Audi it will probably just stick to winning. The customer-team specific R8 GT3 will be officially unveiled at the Essen Motor Show, which begins November 28. The car gets more than 500 horsepower going entirely to its rear wheels since GT3 rules give a big no-no to all-wheel-drive systems like Audi's quattro. The German will be testing its mettle against equally hot racers like the Aston Martin DBRS9 and Jaguar XKR GT3. To Aston and Jag, though: you might want to hide your young. And for those of you who make it to the Essen show, you should also look out for the Audi R10, A4 DTM, RS6 Sedan and TTS Coupe. Check out the release after the jump, and the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: Audi R8 LMS

Gallery: Audi R8 GT3 - spy shots

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi R8 GT3 will have coming out party in Essen

Audi R8 GT3 will have coming out party in Essen originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Audi R8 GT3 caught lapping the 'Ring

John Neff — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Spy Photos, Supercars, Audi

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]

Spy Shots: Audi R8 GT3 caught lapping the 'Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi develops R8 GT3 racer

Alex Nunez — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Europe, Audi

Click above for a hi-res gallery of the Audi R8 GT3 car

The courtship between Audi and GT3-class racing teams has officially begun with the automaker's announcement that it has developed a GT3 version of the R8 sports car dubbed "R16" internally by its project overlords at Audi Sport . The rear-drive racer (GT3 regulations prohibit AWD) features a six-speed sequential gearbox, mostly production-spec suspension components, plus an updated front end and a large rear wing designed to keep it planted to the tarmac. No additional tech specs have been revealed at this time. Factory driver Frank Biela was at the wheel for the prototype's roll-out, and customer deliveries are expected to take place next fall. Look for the car to see wheel-to-wheel action against the likes of the Aston Martin DBRS9 and Jaguar XKR GT3 during the 2009 European racing season. We patiently await its inclusion in a future Gran Turismo update so that we can try it out, too.

Gallery: Audi R8 LMS

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi develops R8 GT3 racer

Audi develops R8 GT3 racer originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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