New Toy

There were more than a few very happy Audi Sport customers in the lead up to Christmas this year as the first R8 LMS GT2 deliveries began. The latest addition to the growing Audi Sport customer racing range, the R8 LMS GT2 is directly derived from the Audi R8 Spyder V10 performance quattro and can be fielded in the GT2 Sports Club America, the GT2 Sports Club Europe and the GT2 Sports Club Asia series starting in 2020.

Assembled at Böllinger Höfe site along with its road going sibling and the Audi R8 coupe models, it produces a whopping 470kW making it the most powerful model ever offered by Audi Sport customer racing. 

“With the Audi R8 LMS GT2 we’re opening up a new chapter in our history,” says Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. “Starting in 2020, the GT2 class will enhance the world of GT racing by another valuable new category that immediately got a foothold on three continents. In addition, the race car is ideally suited for track days. In spite of its very specific concept design there are many things it has in common with the production model. They allow us to closely integrate the manufacturing process, which we are very proud of.” 

Starting at around 338,000 Euros ready to race, the R8 LMS GT2 is aimed squarely at gentleman drivers who appreciate the car’s high longitudinal dynamics. As well as the new GT2 racing series in 2020, additional fielding opportunities are opening up in the growing segment of track days and race resorts, which are attractive particularly for the owners of high-performance sports cars. 

The R8 LMS GT2 brings the offering from Audi Sport customer racing to four, with the R8 LMS GT3 and GT4 already global success stories and the sedan-based Audi RS 3 LMS one of the biggest names in TCR racing around the globe.

Indeed, the success of these existing Audi Sport customer racing models again in 2019 demonstrates the depth of the offering and just how successful the program is. In 2019, its 11th season of operation, Audi Sport customer racing took part in more than 750 races internationally, claiming 578 trophies, including 237 victories.

In Australia, Asia, the US and Europe, more than 20 titles went to Audi teams, including another Australian GT title to Geoff Emery, bringing his personal tally to three straight and the Audi tally to five.

In the inaugural Australian TCR series too, the Audi RS 3 LMS made it presence felt, winning several races and demonstrating why it’s the pre-eminent car in the series internationally.

Audi will again be prominent in Australian racing in 2020, starting with the Bathurst 12 Hour in just on one month’s time. At the iconic Mount Panorama from January 31 to February 2, Audi will seek to increase its lead as the most successful manufacturer in the modern era of the Australian endurance classic.