Family resemblance

When the new Audi R8 celebrated its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show last year enthusiasts around the world shared the excitement. Within only one automobile generation, Audi has succeeded in establishing itself in the world of high-performance sports cars with one top-of-the-range model – both in production as well as motorsport. In Geneva, three versions of the new R8 stood in the spotlight – the R8 e-tron, the R8 Coupé and the R8 LMS race car – each embodied the concept of high-performance sportscars in their own way. 

Of those three R8 models, two will be showing just what they’re made of this weekend in Australia as the Audi R8 LMS takes to the Mount Panorama track for the Bathurst 12 Hour race, while its road-going sibling will be presented to the Australia motoring press on Monday for the first drive on Australia soil – or track as the case may be.

The Audi R8 V10 plus embodies the classic sportscar traits. The mid-engine principle, lightweight design, motorsport-based suspension and up to 449kW power are key data, which would be a credit to many race cars. As a result, sporty Audi customers have slightly more under their right foot than with the motorsport version, for which the regulations set narrower performance limits. The high-revving V10 engine accelerates the Coupé to 100 km/h in only 3.2 seconds, with a top speed of 330km/h – obviously more appropriate to the track in Australia despite the car being designed for the road.

Nevertheless, this new R8 is just as comfortable as its predecessor in the cut and thrust of daily traffic and a joy on country roads even if Australia speed limits mean its upper reserves must be saved for special track occasions.

The Audi R8 LMS is of course the basis for the GT3 vehicle from Audi Sport customer racing that will be doing battle for the first time in Australia this weekend. Race engineers, race drivers and developers have worked extremely closely together since the new R8 model project began with the two versions developed in unison. 

The synergies between the production model and race car are obvious: the V10 power plant is so good that it is used in motorsport without notable modifications. Teams drive 20,000 race kilo- metres before the first rebuild – a leading value when compared to the competition. Also perfectly suited for motorsport is the innovative chassis. 

The Audi Space Frame (ASF) is manufactured using the multi-material method for the first time. To this end, aluminium is combined with carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). The result: although the new production Audi R8 spoils its driver with numerous additional equipment and its chassis is even stiffer, it actually weighs up to 50 kilograms less than its predecessor. A mandatory steel roll-cage is added to the motorsport chassis. Never before was a race car so crash proof and as light as today. Fascination technology transfer – it is exactly this that motorsport at Audi has represented for more than 30 years, perfectly embodied in the R8. 

This weekend, the R8 LMS will make its presence felt on the race track – after that, the new R8 will make its presence felt on Australian roads. Keep a look out.