Audi R8 LMS | |
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Race Car | |
Category | FIA GT3 European Endurance Racing (privateer) |
Constructor | Audi |
Designer | Designer (lead designer if it was a team effort) |
Predecessor | {{{Predecessor}}} |
Successor | {{{Successor}}} |
Chassis | |
Suspension (front) | |
Suspension (rear) | |
Engine | V10 |
Electric_motor | {{{Electric motor}}} |
Battery | {{{Battery}}} |
Power | 500 hp @ N/A rpm N/A lb-ft. of torque @ N/A rpm |
Transmission | 6-speed sequential Manual, RWD |
Weight | {{{Weight}}} |
Fuel | |
Brakes | {{{Brakes}}} |
Tyres | |
Notable entrants | |
Notable drivers | |
Debut | pending (if not yet introduced) |
Races competed | |
Race victories | |
Podiums | {{{Podiums}}} |
Constructors' Championships | |
Drivers' Championships | |
Pole positions | |
Fastest laps |
The Audi R8 LMS is a racing variation of the Audi R8
First-generation[]
R8 LMS (2009–2012)[]
For 2009, Audi announced the production of an R8 LMS racing car, designed for the GT3 rules in the FIA GT3 European Championship and various national racing series. Known within Audi Sport as the 'R16', the R8 LMS features a 500 PS (368 kW; 493 hp) V10 engine. Because the GT3 regulations prohibit the use of four-wheel drive, Audi had to drop its 'trademark' quattro four-wheel drive system, and the R8 LMS was thus only available with the typical rear-wheel drive setup. The torque is transmitted via a newly developed six-speed sequential race oriented gearbox. The car was jointly manufactured by Audi Sport, quattro GmbH, and Audi Hungaria Motor Kft. (Győr). The first test races in various European racing series was scheduled for the 2009 season. Delivery to the customers was planned from the Autumn of 2010.
R8 LMS Evolution (2010)[]
Changes to the 2010 R8 LMS include the improvement of the engine cooling system capacity, suspension revisions, a race-optimised electronics and exhaust systems, and a 6-speed transmission that can be inspected through an opening in the housing without the need to dismantle the entire assembly. Previous variants could be upgraded via an update kit. The first deliveries of the car were made to the American-owned United Autosports team from Yorkshire in England.
R8 LMS ultra (2012–2015)[]
Unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, the R8 LMS ultra is a modified version of the Audi R8 LMS with CFRP (carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic) doors with high-energy absorbing new crash foams, new PS1 safety seat developed by Audi, updated transmission providing additional reserves on long-distance runs, increased engine power to 570 PS (419 kW; 562 hp) (depending on restrictor regulations) with higher torque at lower engine speeds, a larger engine oil cooler and transmission fluid cooler, relocated steering hydraulics oil cooler to the vehicle's midsection, enlarged air vents, improved air flow to radiator and interior, front 18-inch wheels with Michelin 30-65/18 tyres, optimized brake cooling at the front wheels, uniball joints transverse control arm mounts, weight-reduced compression and rebound-adjustable gas dampers from Bilstein, wider front hood with louvers, new wider rear wing with larger end plates, new front plate with optimised diffusion under the front end.
Second-generation[]
R8 LMS (GT3)[]
The Audi R8 LMS is the racing version of the R8. Despite looking identical to a regular R8, the LMS shares very little with its road-going counterpart in terms of features and mechanics. A new race specification V10 engine develops a peak power output of 430 kW (577 hp; 585 PS). The removal of the standard all-wheel-drive system and the intelligent mix of materials such as aluminum in the Audi Space Frame (ASF), a structural CFRP component and the steel roll cage alone make the chassis about 30 kg (66 lb) lighter - now weighing 252 kg (556 lb). At the same time, the torsional stiffness of the stressed frame has increased by 39 percent. These weight-saving measures result in a weight of just 1,225 kg (2,701 lb). Aside from that, the car packs many safety features such as a modified spaceframe structure at the front and a carbon fibre crash element at the rear protect the driver in a crash, the special PS1 racing seat from the Audi R18 e-Tron Quattro which has been known to set the safety standards for LMP1 cars is used for additional safety and is connected directly to the chassis for increased stiffness. A quickly adjustable foot lever system and a height and length adjustable safety steering column allow versatile adjustment to various drivers. A rescue opening in the roof as used in DTM race touring cars is implemented in the R8 LMS GT3, a first for any GT3 car, after an accident, it allows the driver's helmet to be lifted in a way that avoids straining the spinal column.
Although the combination of the materials in the R8 LMS is more complex, Audi has managed to integrate the manufacturing process for production and race cars even more closely than before. In a new manufacturing facility at the Bollinger Hofe industrial park in Heilbronn, Quattro GmbH produces both variants in combination. Although the race car, for example, is fitted with aluminum cast joints and a steel roll cage the racing chassis of the R8 LMS remains integrated into the basic production process up to and including the stages of the roof assembly and cathodic dip painting (CDP), which is a form of priming. Following these production steps, the race cars are completed in Heilbronn-Biberach. The new aerodynamic concept of the Audi R8 LMS for the first time includes a fully lined underfloor and a conceptually integrated rear diffuser. As a result, the dimensions of the rear wing can be reduced without a corresponding increase of aerodynamic drag. The wheel arches, which are open rearwards via a larger cross-section, contribute to improved airflow. The airflow rate and cooling area of the radiator at the front have increased by ten percent to handle maximum outside air temperatures. In order to improve the race drivers' ability to concentrate on their tasks, fresh air circulation in the cockpit has been improved. At a speed of 200 km/h (124 mph), the airflow rate is 250 litres per second. Audi has achieved these improvements despite the significantly higher constraints imposed on aerodynamics design by the 2016 regulations.
R8 LMS GT4[]
Audi Sport introduced a version of the R8 for GT4-class racing at the 2017 New York International Auto Show held in April. The GT4's 5.2-litre V10 engine is rated at a maximum power output of 496 PS (365 kW; 489 hp) and 550 N⋅m (406 lb⋅ft) of torque. Like the LMS GT3, the GT4 also uses a rear-wheel-drive drive layout. Performance figures include a 0–97 km/h (0–60 mph) acceleration time of 3 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) depending on racing conditions. The car has a dry weight of 1,460 kg (3,219 lb). The GT4 is eligible to compete in 13 world wide racing series and is designed to be an entry level racing model for amateur racing drivers.
Gallery[]
LMS GT3 (Type 4)
LMS GT3 (Type 4S)
LMS GT3 EVO
Complete Racing Results[]
(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)
Year | Team | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Points | WCC |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
YYYY | (Constructor) | (Engine) | (Tyre code) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Notes and references[]
See Also[]
External links[]
Please include any external sites that were used in collaborating this data, including manufacturer sites, in this section.
News and References
- Audi R8 GT3 Race Version with 500+ HP and Rear-Wheel-Drive!
- Audi Creates GT3 Race Version of the R8
- Audi developes R8 GT3 racer
- GT3-spec Audi R8 LMS formally unveiled at Essen
- Factory Supported Audi R8 LMS to Compete at the 24h of Nurburgring
Enthusiast Sites and Discussion Forums