RS 3 LMS Australian visit

Audi sprung a hugely pleasant surprise to the Australian motoring media at this month’s launch of the new TT RS at Phillip Island by unexpectedly showing off the Audi Sport RS 3 LMS track machine created for a low-cost international touring car series called TCR.

The only example in Australia was entrusted to Audi’s Chief Driving Instructor, Steve Pizzati, who took the lucky journalists for hot laps at the country’s fastest permanent racetrack.

It certainly looks the part with DTM-inspired bodywork including toe-squashing front splitter, exaggerated squared arches over the Pirelli P Zero slicks and big rear wing to help keep it planted in the corners. And a cockpit that looks like a serious workplace.

Built to a production-based formula, the TRC rules mandate a  turbocharged 245kW 2.0-litre petrol or diesel engine, 4/5-door vehicles with wheel arch mods, choice of production or TCR racing sequential gearbox, two-wheel drive, 10- x 18-inch wheels, front and rear wings.

Eighteen different models (across 14 brands) are eligible, including, obviously, the Audi RS 3 LMS.

The fast-growing FIA-sanctioned TCR is expanding rapidly around the globe with national championships in many countries plus a 10-round international series. Regional championships are conducted in Asia, Benelux, China, Italy, Portugal, the US, Thailand, Germany and Scandinavia.

Though not yet part of the Australian motor racing landscape, the local Audi Sport Customer operation, Melbourne Performance Centre, is hoping to convince the right people that a TCR category should be part of the Shannons Nationals calendar and also have its own category in races such as the Bathurst Six-Hour. The precedent was set when TCR cars were accepted into stand-alone endurance races including the 24 Hours of Nurburgring.

The RS 3 LMS joins the Audi R8 LMS, the most popular car in world GT3 racing, as a fully developed and proven, cost-effective way to go racing.

 The RS 3 LMS’s 2.0-litre turbo engine (also used in other VW Group LM track cars) ladles out via the front wheels 243kW at 6200rpm and 410Nm at 2500rpm.

The base club car is priced at 99,000 Euros. An enduro version is an added 10,000 Euros while the car brought to Australia to show to would-be customers is fully specced with a French Sadev racing dog-box gearbox and is priced at 129,000 Euros. 

“The first impression I got was just how benign it is,” commented Pizzati after his first familiarisation run in the left-hand-drive flyer. “It’s quick but designed to be a sweetheart for a broad range of drivers – novices to experts.

“This is a car with good aerodynamic downforce and plenty of grip. This combo can often be tricky for drivers of limited experience, but this is not the case with the RS 3 LMS. It’s super friendly.”

The driver sits in an almost reclining position with the pedal box raised off the floor. Paddles do the up shifts at full throttle while the electronics won’t let the driver over rev the engine. There is also a long rally-style handbrake to prevent any jump starts on gradients.

From the passenger seat, the RS 3 LMS feels brisk and energetic without threatening whiplash.

The slick tyres give plenty of grip, and notably, there was barely any suggestion of understeer, such is its balance and excellent power-down capabilities.

“Yep, good grip everywhere…no turn-in understeer; no lift off oversteer,” Pizzati reported.

Pizzati was highly complimentary about the brakes too. “There’s no ABS but they do have great pedal feel and brilliant stopping performance.”

The hook has been baited. The fish are circling.