Make mine Kyalami green

As if the styling and indeed the performance of the Audi R8 LMS GT2 wasn’t enough to get the blood pumping in the first place, Audi Sport customer racing has announced a strictly limited run of special Colour Edition models of the car. So special is this production run that there will be just one of each of the six bespoke colours made, making each car unique. 

“For the first time in the 13-year history of Audi Sport customer racing we are offering such a colour concept to our customers,” says Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. 

“With one model per colour, our Colour Edition guarantees pure individuality and will not be issued a second time like this. It is unique compared to our competitors and attracts attention – whether as a collector’s item or as a race car at track days and competitions.” 

With its 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 developing 470kW, the R8 LMS GT2 is the most powerful of the four Audi Sport customer racing models available. The Audi R8 LMS GT3 has proved itself to be one of the most successful GT cars in the modern era, having recorded wins in every major GT3 event and race series in the world. This includes being the most successful GT3 car in the modern Bathurst 12 hour race, where the R8 LMS GT3 has won a record three times.

The Audi R8 GT4 cars have likewise proved themselves again and again in international competition and the Audi RS 3 LMS is one of the most success cars in the enormously popular and competitive TCR category. That includes right here in Australia, where RS 3 cars have enjoyed success since the series was started in 2019 and where Chaz Mostert leads the 2021 Supercheap Auto TCR Australia series in his Melbourne Performance Centre Audi RS 3 LMS car.

The bespoke Colour Edition cars are built in parallel with the standard version of the R8 LMS GT2 at the Neckarsulm site – the chassis for the racing version in aluminium-CFRP composite design with steel roll cage is built in the same plant as that of the production model. The performance engine is built at the Győr site in Hungary and in Heilbronn-Biberach, a team from Audi Sport customer racing completes the model into a ready- to-run race car in accordance with the GT2 regulations of promoter SRO (Stéphane Ratel Organisation). 

The announcement of the limited edition cars follows the first two major wins for the R8 LMS GT2 at Monza’s Royal Park where customer cars won both of the races in the new GT2 European Series. Anders Fjordbach and teammate Mark Patterson wrapped up the first race with a c lear margin over the opposition – both campaigners having enjoyed considerable success with Audi R8 LMS GT3 cars in the last few years.

In the second race, Bert Longin and Peter Guelinckx were first across the line with another R8 LMS GT2 driven by  Luca Pirri and Stéphane Ratel just 0.65 seconds behind them in second place.

All four of the manufacturers already committed to this new high-performance category in international GT racing were on the grid at Monza, boding well for the future of this fledgling series.

For those interested in the bespoke GT2 cars, there is a choice between Kyalami green, Misano red, Nogaro blue, Vegas yellow, Tactical green and Sebring black – but once each car is gone, that’s it. The six Colour Edition models are for sale at a price of 349,000 euros plus all applicable taxes.