A Look at Audi's Newest R8 LMS GT3 Race Car
Slideshow: The fourth Audi race car introduced in as many years, the R8 LMS GT3 is an evolution of the previous R8 racer.
The New Breed of R8 Race Car
Audi has been offering customer race cars for private racing teams for the past few years. This helps to further the company's racing R&D, while also building relationships in different tiers of motorsport. And it doesn't hurt to have both the Le Mans racing credentials and an R8 road car in the portfolio.
GT3 Racer
The German brand released the newest iteration of the R8 LMS race car last month: a gentleman’s racer for endurance racing pros, as well as wealthy amateurs. Audi has specifically built the new R8 LMS GT3 to be not only faster than ever before, but also more reliable in the long term.
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All Show and All Go
Visually, the new R8 LMS is an evolution of the previous generation. And while all the aero parts and design features make it look like an out-of-control monster, every bit of this GT racer serves a very specific function.
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Built for Downforce
The collection of aerodynamic elements help provide the necessary downforce in high-speed corners and straights. The cooling ducts in the front and rear of the car help keep powertrain and brake temperatures under control.
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A Natural Athlete
One of the R8’s greatest features has always been its naturally-aspirated V10 engine. In a world where turbocharging has become a norm, Audi’s commitment to keeping the R8's screaming V10 alive is heartening.
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V10 Power
Powering the R8 LMS GT3 is the same 5.2-liter V10 you’ll find in Audi’s road-going R8s, which is capable of producing up to 585 HP. As we mentioned before, these powertrains have gone through extensive R&D to ensure reliability.
>>Join the conversation about the new R8 LMS GT3 right here in the AudiWorld forum!
Improving Upon the Previous Generation
Perhaps the most troublesome components on any racing car are in the drivetrain. Gearboxes and clutches transfer engine output down to the wheels. Audi engineers have outdone themselves in this department as well, improving upon the already successful R8 LMS.
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Endurance is the Name of the Game
Improving the car's endurance has been the focus of Audi's attention with this GT3 race car. The car can go longer between service intervals, which saves the racing teams time and money. Priced at €398,000 or $458,000, these R8 race cars are not cheap, but the design upgrades will surely pay dividends in the long run.
>>Join the conversation about the new R8 LMS GT3 right here in the AudiWorld forum!
Retrofitting with the Evolution Kit
In addition, an evolution kit will be made available for €28,000 or approximately $32,250, for owners of the previous generation of the R8 LMS race who want to retrofit their race cars with all the latest aero and mechanical race tech from the new R8 LMS GT3.
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For maintenance and repair guides, browse our technical How-to articles right here at Audiworld.com!