Game on

Audi’s 2002 Le Mans winner, the legendary Audi R8 is heading back to the track. The car that was not only instrumental in the brand’s domination of Le Mans, but gave its name to Audi’s first supercar, will be immortalised in a new racing sim (simulation) being premiered at this year’s gamescom convention in Cologne.

The world’s largest gaming convention, gamescom brings the industry’s best and brightest to Cologne from August 20 to 24 and will feature the 2002 Audi R8 Le Mans prototype on display at the GIANTS Software booth (Hall 6, Stand B061) to mark the premiere of a new racing game, Project Motor Racing, which features the Audi R8 race car in all its glory.

Developed by Straight4 Studios and published by GIANTS Software, the new racing sim will give gamers the opportunity to drive the groundbreaking Audi R8, recreated in extraordinary detail.

Although the Project Motor Racing sim will not be available to buy until November 25, those present at gamescom will have the chance to test it out ahead of time, with an exclusive prize going to whomever can post the fastest lap time during the convention.

It’s an exciting development for the brand and one which will not only thrill long-time race fans but introduce the legendary R8 race car to a new generation of motorsport enthusiasts says Kai Mensing, the man responsible for licensing at Audi Tradition. For the past 25 years, Mensing has overseen Audi’s video game integrations, which most recently included the brand’s Formula 1 prototype featured in EA SPORTS F1 22.

“It’s fascinating to see how gaming and the community have evolved over the years – today, you can dive so deeply into game worlds that you almost forget you’re playing a video game – it all feels incredibly real,” says Mensing, himself a gamer.

“Motorsport has always held a powerful fascination. Being able to drive a historic race car in a game yourself is an amazing experience – it makes these legendary vehicles feel truly authentic and alive.”

The 2002 winning car which features in the game and will be on display at the convention is particularly special, not because it represented the first win by Audi at Le Mans, but because it gave the brand its third straight victory at the great race, a feat only achieved by a handful of manufacturers.

Driven by Frank Biela, Tom Kristensen, and Emanuele Pirro, the No.1 2002 winner effectively cemented a legend, with Audi occupying the whole podium – the third time in a row it had won at Le Man.

Of course, this would not be Audi’s last clean sweep, winning again in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. The Audi R8 would account for five of the total 13 victories, as well as multiple additional podiums, with a succession of other now legendary Audi models like the Audi R10 TDI, R15 TDI, R18 TDI and R18 e-tron quattro also becoming part of motorsport lore.