Audi Sport chose this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed to reveal the new R8 LMS GT2 race car, which is set to compete in the new GT2 class from 2020 on.
The new version of the Audi R8 is the most powerful customer race car ever offered by Audi Sport, with the naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine producing 630hp (470kW), mainly thanks to its new exhaust system.
With the new R8 LMS GT2, Audi joins Porsche as the second manufacturer to commit to the GT2 Class, which aims to fill the gap between the existing GT3 and GT4 classes. GT2 race cars are designed to offer less downforce than the GT3 cars and are scheduled to make their racing debut in Europe and North America next year.
The new Audi R8 LMS GT2 comes with a significantly wider bodywork than the production R8, featuring a new front bumper, a huge rear wing and a roof-mounted air intake for the engine. Audi says that around 55 percent of their new GT2 racer is shared with the road-legal R8.
“The Audi R8 LMS GT2 is the ideal sports car for classic fielding in races, as well as being suitable for Track Days and events at Race Resorts, which enjoy increasing popularity among this group of customers worldwide,” said Oliver Hoffmann, CEO of Audi Sport GmbH.
The most powerful version of the Audi R8 LMS is now available for sale, with prices starting at 338,000 euros ($380k in current exchange rates), plus VAT.