Audi R8 LMS
Fastest-ever V10-powered R8 is the ultimate off-the-shelf racer
Take a look at the fastest-ever Audi R8! Called the R8 LMS, it takes the fight to the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR and the Aston Martin V12 Vantage, packing a high-revving 500bhp 5.2-litre V10 mated to a six-speed sequential box, operated via wheel-mounted paddles.
Audi’s motorsport division has made a series of tweaks to the standard car to ensure that the R8 LMS is the ultimate ‘off-the-shelf’ racer, with a wide bodykit, ground-hugging front splitter and wild rear wing, which combine to produce masses of downforce. And as well as that vast V10, the gearbox is borrowed from Audi’s Le Mans 24 Hours-winning R10 prototype.
Up to eight customer cars will compete in different European race series and at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The first customers are scheduled to take delivery of the new car next autumn. But dream racing cars don’t come cheap: the R8 LMS costs £206,000.
