Evo II

Think GT3 racing and its impossible not to think of the Audi R8 LMS GT3. One of the most successful GT3 race car of the modern era, it has amassed 83 drivers’ titles internationally and 106 championship victories – as well as eight overall victories in 12-hour races (including a record three at the Bathurst 12 Hour) and 13, 24 hour victories.

It resides atop Audi Sport customer racing’s impressive portfolio of race cars, which includes the R8 LMS GT2 and GT4 cars, as well as the RS 3 LMS which has found such tremendous success of its own in TCR racing globally.

Now, Audi Sport customer racing is looking to continue that success with the introduction of the evo II model, offering customers a race car that sees improvements in a number of key areas. According to Head of Audi Sport customer racing, Chris Reinke, ‘the innovations improve the drivability and allow drivers without a professional background in particular to make better use of the power potential and torque curve for consistent lap times’. 

“Whether it’s engine characteristics, interior climate control, chassis, or traction control, we have consistently implemented the wishes that our globally active teams have brought to us,” says Reinke of the new package.

The new evo II package includes revised aerodynamics, engine characteristics, interior climate control, chassis and traction control. The most visually striking change is the new rear wing suspended from behind. It fits seamlessly into the Audi Sport customer racing family look ands is shared with the GT2 variant of the R8 LMS and the RS 3 LMS touring car. Instead of top aerodynamic values, the focus of the Audi R8 LMS evo II is once again on improved drivability, making the car aerodynamically less sensitive under braking. 

In addition the engine has a new intake system with a better torque curve. Intake passages extended by 30 millimetres increase torque in the low and mid-range and as a result, the almost standard power unit offers greater potential than before when accelerating from lower speeds. 

The familiar traction control system adapts the flow of power from the engine via the three-plate racing clutch and the sequential six-speed transmission to the tyres to suit the road conditions. Various program characteristics can be selected in the cockpit and a new feature is the ability to regulate the intervention of the traction control system at the apex of the curve.

The revised components also include the four-way adjustable shock absorbers in the chassis which replace the two-way variable units used on the previous model and allow a wider range of adjustment options in the chassis without additional conversions. These have been extensively tested at the Nürburgring with outstanding results.

An air conditioning system rounds off the package of the R8 LMS evo II which extracts heat from the cockpit via a refrigeration circuit, transporting it to the outside and releasing it there, similar to that of a standard system in road-legal vehicles. Particularly over longer distances and at higher outside temperatures, the air conditioning hwill help the driver to maintain concentration in the cockpit, avoid mistakes and achieve more consistent lap times. 

The 5.2 litre V10 engine, with its displacement and up to 430kW remains largely unchanged and remains a benchmark in GT3 racing with its 10,000km service interval and rebuild interval of 20,000km.

The evo II package sees the price increase slightly from 398,000 to 429,000 euros, which Reinke says ‘is moderate compared with competitors’. The package can also be retrofitted to current R8 LMS GT3 cars and of course all changes will be fully backed by there Audi Sport customer racing support networks in each country.

R8 LMS GT3 evo II is currenlty undergoing testing which should be completed by the end of the  end of the 2021 season and be available for competition in 2022.