International title for RS 3 LMS

The Audi RS 3 LMS wins its second TCR car of the year award.

Audi Sport’s entry-level race car, the RS 3 LMS is named ‘TCR Model of the Year’ for the second time in its short life, mirroring its tremendous success in race series around the world.

7 January, 2022


The Audi RS 3 LMS was first announced by Audi Sport customer racing in 2016 and began competing in world competition from the 2017 season

Adding to what is already an overflowing trophy cabinet, the Audi RS 3 LMS has received its second TCR Model of the Year title following another outstanding 2021 season of racing.

With dedicated series run in countries right around the globe and 14 manufacturers taking part, the burgeoning TCR category has exceeded all expectations since its international introduction in 2015 and the category continues to grow in both popularity and competitor numbers.

This latest award is conferred by world TCR promotor WSC (World Sporting Consulting), which rewards the world’s most successful touring car each year from all manufacturers taking part.

“This title reflects the commitment of our customers in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia,” says Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. “Our thanks and congratulations go to them because only they made this success possible.”

The Audi RS 3 LMS was first announced by Audi Sport customer racing in 2016 and began competing in world competition from the 2017 season, immediately making its presence felt on winners’ podiums at national and international level. 

Demand for the entry-level car based largely on the tremendously popular road-going RS 3 Sedan has quickly made the RS 3 LMS one of the most popular race cars in the Audi Sport customer racing stable which it shares with the hugely successful R8 LMS GT3, the R8 GT2 and GT4 models.

The RS 3 LMS started competition in 2017 and was awarded the title of 'TCR Model of the Year' in 2018.
Garth Tander has been a successful campaigner in the RS 3 LMS since its Australian debut in 2019.
Russell Ingall has put the RS 3 LMS on the podium in racing Down Under.
Chaz Mostert claimed the TCR Australian Championship in 2021.

At the time of its announcement in 2016, Chris Reinke said of the first generation race car:

“The potential of the TCR market is even larger than that of the GT3 category. With the TCR version of the RS 3 we’re also reaching countries where no GT3 races are held. As a result, we’re going to win new customers for Audi Sport as well. In terms of support and parts supply, they’ll benefit from the experiences we’ve been gathering with the Audi R8 LMS since 2009, which our GT3 customers have come to appreciate.”

That prediction was right on the money, the RS 3 LMS winning no less than 72 title around the world since 2017, which includes 18 titles in 2021 alone. This result includes last year’s TCR Australia Championship win by Chaz Mostert, in a Melbourne Performance Centre prepared RS 3 LMS. Since debuting with the category in 2019, the compact Audi touring car has enjoyed numerous podium finishes including race wins in the hands of a number of local and international drivers, but this was the first national title in the category Down Under for the RS 3 LMS.

Season 2021 also saw Audi Sport introduce the RS 3 LMS gen II which was entered in last year’s WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup. 

This latest incarnation of the hugely successful TCR champion will be rolled out in earnest this year, although 23 of the new cars were delivered to customers by the end of 2021. Despite the arrival of the new model though, homologation of the first generation will be retained so that customer teams can continue to use the hugely popular and successful Generation I race car in the future. 

The RS 3 LMS has achieved great success in TCR Australia as well, culminating in the Championship win last with Chaz Mostert

The RS 3 LMS Gen II made its debut internationally in 2021.
The Gen II car will be rolled out to customers in 2022, but homologation of the Gen I car will continue to be retained.