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Audi R8 Race Car

Audi R8
An Audi R8 in its final race.
Category Le Mans Prototype
Constructor Audi
Designer(s) Michael Pfadenhauer (aerodynamics)
Wolfgang Appel (chassis)
Ulrich Baretzky (engine)
Predecessor Audi R8R
Successor Audi R10 TDI
Technical specifications
Chassis Carbon fiber and aluminum honeycomb monocoque
Suspension (front) Independent double wishbone pushrod system with horizontal spring/damper unit, adjustable gas-filled shock absorbers
Suspension (rear) Independent double wishbone pushrod system with horizontal spring/damper unit, adjustable gas-filled shock absorbers
Engine Audi 3.6 liter 90-degree V8 twin-turbo, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
Transmission Ricardo 6-speed sequential manual Multiple-disc limited-slip differential
Fuel Shell
Tyres Michelin
Competition history
Notable entrants Germany Audi Sport Team Joest
United Kingdom Audi Sport UK
United Kingdom Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx
Japan Audi Sport Japan Team Goh
United States Champion Racing
United Kingdom Johansson Motorsport
France Audi PlayStation Team Oreca
Notable drivers Denmark Tom Kristensen
Germany Marco Werner
Italy Rinaldo Capello
Debut 2000 12 Hours of Sebring
Races Wins Poles
79 63 47

The Audi R8 is a Le Mans Prototype sports-prototype race car introduced in 2000 for sports car racing as a redevelopment of their Audi R8R (open top LMP) and Audi R8C (closed top LMGTP) used in 1999. In its class it is one of the most successful racing sports cars having won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2005, five of the six years it competed in total. Its streak of Le Mans victories between 2000 and 2005 was broken only in 2003 by the Bentley Speed 8.

The petrol-powered Audi R8 race car was in 2006 replaced by the new Audi R10 TDI Diesel; however, the need to further develop the R10 meant that the R8 saw action in a few races leading up to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

In 1997, sports car racing and especially the Le Mans 24 Hours was popular among factories like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Toyota, Nissan Motors and others. At that time, Audi Sport boss Wolfgang Ullrich started to evaluate the options of joining.

With the upcoming American Le Mans Series also providing a stage for the US-market, Audi announced plans in 1998 to compete in 1999, with the R8R and powered by a 550 hp (410 kW) V8 turbo. As it was considered the better choice for a whole race due to less weight and wider tires, Audi ordered an open top roadster from Dallara, to be developed and run by Joest Racing.

Yet, during the autumn of 1998, after the necessity of GT1 homologation was dropped in favour of LM-GTP prototypes, regarding the speed and success of these closed GT coupés like the Porsche 911 GT1, Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR, and the Toyota GT-One, Audi also ordered their newly acquired Norfolk based RTN (Racing Technology Norfolk, led by Tony Southgate) to build a closed-cockpit car using the same drivetrain.


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