Hot! Audi R8 Race Car

The Audi R8 is a sports-prototype competition auto introduced within 2000 with regard to cruiser bike racing as being a redevelopment of the LMP ) plus LMGTP ) employed in 1999. It can be among the list of most profitable sports motors actually (alongside this kind of greats for the reason that Porsche 956/962 ) acquiring claimed that exclusive twenty-four Hours involving Le Mans throughout 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, and june 2006 (five belonging to the eight years this competed). Its streak with Le Mans advantages among 2000 along with 2004 was busted exclusively by your Bentley Speed 8 (powered through the very same V8 twin-turbo engine) in 2003, once the R8 completed 3rd.

The petrol-powered Audi R8 Le Mans .

History 1998: The challenge

In 1997, low rider bike racing along with especially the particular Le Mans twenty-four Hours seemed to be well-liked by factories including BMW , Mercedes-Benz , Porsche , Nissan Motors and also others. At that will time, Audi Sport manager Wolfgang Ullrich began in order to assess the choices regarding joining.

With that approaching American Le Mans Series as well furnishing a step to the US-market, Audi released projects within 1998 that will participate within 1999, with the Dallara , to get developed in addition to operate by simply Joest Racing .

Yet, through fall of 1998, following necessity regarding GT1 homologation ended up being lowered inside prefer with LM-GTP prototypes, regarding the velocity in addition to being successful with these types of shut GT coup s like the Porsche 911 GT1 , Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR , as well as the , Audi likewise purchased their own recently acquired Norfolk structured RTN (Racing Technology Norfolk, directed by Tony Southgate) to build a closed-cockpit car when using the exact same drivetrain.

The ACO regulations for closed-top prototypes helped cars to own by using larger air flow restrictors, ensuing around additional power (about 600 hp), which took an improved best velocity throughout combo with your lessen drag. To compensate this benefit covering the period of any race, the LMGTPs have been restricted in order to smaller tyres and smaller gasoline tanks.

1999: The R8R in addition to R8C

Following a period of testing, not one but two R8Rs debut at the 1999 12 Hours of Sebring . The BMW V12 LMR won, that's a powerful warning for the race in France. The by now tried open-top Audi R8R, inserted by way of Joest Racing was not quick ample in order to challenge to get a new win, concluding 3rd.

After further assessments plus modifications, this Audis arrived for Le Mans. The innovative debuting R8Cs lacked speed and also unfortunately sustained mechanised gearbox woes. Lap periods were 10 mere seconds affordable from your contributing LMP in addition to LMGTP competitors. Joest's R8Rs ran steady, nevertheless even now was as well slow to own intended for scratching post position. After a race which usually spotted the particular magnificent arrivals in the Mercedes-Benz CLR in addition to leading automobiles of Toyota and BMW crashing out, your Audi R8R required 3rd along with fourth of july driving the particular surviving #15 BMW V12 LMR along with the Japanese-driven Toyota.

1999: Retiring challengers 2000: The R8 2003: Bentley fails the particular streak 2005: End of any story Records Legacy 2006: The R10 TDI 2007: R8 route automobile Notes

Michael J. Fuller. .

Alboreto Is Killed Testing Audi R8, New York Times , April 26, 2001, Page D7.