Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Notes from day one of the Rolex 24 at Daytona]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/26/notes-from-day-one-of-the-rolex-24-at-daytona/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/26/notes-from-day-one-of-the-rolex-24-at-daytona/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/26/notes-from-day-one-of-the-rolex-24-at-daytona/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



We came to Daytona Beach, Florida where you can drive on the beach, gun shops outnumber doughnut shops and you can putt-putt and fish for alligators at the same place. But we're not here for any of that - we've made the trip with Audi in order to experience the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the first race in the 2013 Grand-Am season and the only 24-hour race in America.

Three teams are racing four Audi R8 Grand-Am cars - WeatherTech Racing, Rum Bum Racing and APR, which is running two cars. Shown to the world two years ago, the R8 Grand-Am is part of Audi Sport's R8 LMS customer racing program that was commenced in 2008, and ever since 2009 has been nabbing success all over the world: In four years it has taken 154 victories and 17 series titles. That is with less than 100 cars sold to customers throughout the world, and the trophies - either class wins or overall victories - have been gathered from all of the major endurance races except one: Daytona.

Continue reading Notes from day one of the Rolex 24 at Daytona

Notes from day one of the Rolex 24 at Daytona originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Jan 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiaudi r8 grand-amdaytonagrand amgrand-amr8r8 grand-amr8 lmsr8 lms ultrarolex 24 at daytonaSat, 26 Jan 2013 14:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20439692/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/26/notes-from-day-one-of-the-rolex-24-at-daytona/20439692/article-detail.xml 20439692 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/daytonagrand-am1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/daytonagrand-am1.jpg <![CDATA[First pics of the Grand-Am Rolex Series Audi R8 LMS]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/10/first-pics-of-the-grand-am-rolex-series-audi-r8-lms/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/10/first-pics-of-the-grand-am-rolex-series-audi-r8-lms/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/10/first-pics-of-the-grand-am-rolex-series-audi-r8-lms/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Audi of America recently took delivery of a U.S.-customer-spec R8 LMS Ultra meant for testing next month, and the gents at Quattroworld were able to get a picture of it. Being lighter, safer, and better balanced, the V10-powered racer with up to 570 horsepower is expected to outdo its multiple-title-winning predecessor.

It will be campaigned by APR racing in 2012. Although the stars-and-stripes outerwear doesn't look nearly as mean as just plain silver, the patriotic paint scheme could be good for shaving off a few tenths per lap when the winged coupe officially rolls out at the Grand-Am test days in January.

Head on over to Quattroworld for more details on this car and some tidbits on Audi's racing program, including the outrageous revelation offered by an Audi engineer when asked how often they had to overhaul the engines: "I don't know, we never have had to rebuild one."

First pics of the Grand-Am Rolex Series Audi R8 LMS originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 10 Dec 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audi grand-amaudi lmsaudi r8 lms ultragrand-amlmsr8 lmsr8 lms ultraSat, 10 Dec 2011 14:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20122512/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/10/first-pics-of-the-grand-am-rolex-series-audi-r8-lms/20122512/article-detail.xml 20122512 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/r8gtalmscustomer_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/r8gtalmscustomer.jpg <![CDATA[Audi releases upgraded R8 LMS Ultra for customer racers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/18/audi-releases-upgraded-r8-lms-ultra-for-customer-racers/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/18/audi-releases-upgraded-r8-lms-ultra-for-customer-racers/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/18/audi-releases-upgraded-r8-lms-ultra-for-customer-racers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

audi r8 lms ultra

While most of the industry is busy with new debuts in Los Angeles, things aren't slowing down one bit on the racing side of the business. In the past couple of days alone, Chevrolet has debuted a new Corvette Daytona Prototype, Dacia has launched a new ice-racing minivan, Mini has announced a new B-spec Cooper, and now Audi has released their latest customer sports racing car.

The R8 LMS Ultra picks up where its predecessor left off - and that's quite a starting point: In just three years, the R8 LMS has won 115 races and 12 championships on racing circuits around the world. The improvements encompassed in the Ultra, however, promise to increase that number significantly.

Compared to the existing R8 LMS, the R8 LMS Ultra has lost some weight (thanks to carbon reinforced plastic doors), been made safer (thanks to new safety foam and racing bucket), gained a new transmission, had its cooling and breathing improved, its weight better balanced, its suspension and rolling stock beefed up and its aerodynamics optimized.

The same production-based 5.2-liter V10 carries over essentially unchanged, offering up to 570 horsepower depending on the regulators mandated by various racing series. The R8 LMS Ultra conforms to standard GT3 regulations, and can be yours for the low, low price of 329,900 euros ($445k USD) with deliveries beginning in March. Details in the press release after the jump, high-res photos in the gallery.

Continue reading Audi releases upgraded R8 LMS Ultra for customer racers

Audi releases upgraded R8 LMS Ultra for customer racers originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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