Supercar prepares for race debut

By Conor Mills

01st September 2008

It’s an all-out track attack from the latest R8! The firm’s competition division, Audi Sport, has revealed a track-only version of the R8, and it’s designed to compete in the GT3 sportscar category.

Codenamed R16, it’s the first racer from the firm that will be offered for sale to customers. The modified 4.2-litre V8 engine will deliver 500bhp. This is 86bhp more than the standard R8.

Another big change on the R16 includes a shift from four-wheel to rear-wheel drive, which allows Audi to meet the GT3 regulations. The gearbox has been swapped for a newly developed six-speed sequential transmission, too. Other racing tweaks include a modified nose with a large front splitter and a massive rear wing designed to generate the required downforce for high cornering speeds.

Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, head of Audi’s competition department, said: “Since the initial release of the R8, we’ve been inundated with enquiries about a race version. With the R16, we will offer a sportscar with all the typical Audi qualities.”

The firm has already completed a successful preliminary shakedown session with the first prototype, and there are additional test races scheduled across Europe in 2009. First customer deliveries of the GT3 are planned to start in autumn next year.