Audi R8 race car to arrive in fall ’09

Written by nitram on August 30, 2008

The Audi R8 is getting even faster.

Audi Sport has developed a racing version of the mid-engine supercar that will conform to the production-based FIA GT3 regulations, and it is to be available in Europe in fall 2009. Plans for bringing it to the United States are unclear, but a spokesman said that hasn’t been ruled out.

The car will pump out more than 500 hp, up considerably from the street car’s 420 hp. It also gets a giant wing on the back and front-end modifications to generate more downforce on the track.

The racing version is rear drive, as GT3 rules outlaw all-wheel drive, which is found on the street car. The engine is paired with a six-speed sequential gearbox.

Codenamed R16 inside Audi Sport, the car was tested by Audi factory driver Frank Biela earlier this month.

The car will not be street legal anywhere, a spokesman said, and pricing isn’t yet available.

Audi says the racing-spec car is a natural extension, since the R8 road car was named after the Le Mans-winning R8 prototype.

“Ever since the R8 was unveiled, we’ve been inundated with inquiries about a race version,” Audi Motorsport chief Wolfgang Ullrich said in a statement. “With the Audi R8, we will offer customers a racing sports car equipped with high-caliber technology and the typical Audi qualities, but which is nevertheless easy to handle.”

Audi joins Porsche in offering GT3-spec cars.

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