Another win for R8 LMS

The new R8 LMS has recorded its fourth endurance win, taking the GTD class at the Daytona 24 Hours race over the weekend. Behind the wheel of the #44 Magnus Racing R8 LMS, drivers Andy Lally, John Potter, Marco Seefried and René Rast produced a sensational race, which had fans on the edge of the their seats fight up until the end.

After nine time Le Mans winner, Tom Kristensen had officially started the race with the words “drivers start your engines” it was essentially a sprint race for 24 hours, in this iconic race which opens the American sports car championship.

Boasting a festival atmosphere not unlike the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Daytona 24 Hours saw numerous lead changes and weather conditions throughout the race, with it all coming down to a dramatic finish with only minutes remaining on the clock.

Leading the race with just nine minutes left and trying to conserve fuel, Audi driver René Rast allowed Italian Fabio Babini in the Lamborghini Huracán to pass him. Keeping the Italian in sight and saving his fuel for the final run, Rast blasted past Babini in the dying moments of the race to claim victory – the second GT class win for Audi Sport customer racing in the race since 2013 and his second GTD class win in the iconic American race with Magnus Racing.

This victory follows wins for the new R8 LMS in Dubai earlier this year, The Sepang 12 hour in Malaysia the Nürburgring 24 hour race last year. This all-new race car is already building on the legacy of the original Audi R8 LMS which made such an incredible impression on the motor racing world. The performance of the new R8 LMS bodes well for the coming Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race, which will see René Rast back behind the wheel, this time with Garth Tander and Steve McLaughlin.