Audi will use the Essen Motor Show which starts later this week to unveil the motorsport version of its all conquering R8 sportscar.
"Ever since the Audi R8 was unveiled we've been inundated with inquiries about a race version. With the Audi R8, we will offer customers a racing car packed with sophisticated technology and characteristic Audi quality, but which is nevertheless easy to handle," says Head of Audi Motorsport, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich.
The four-wheel-drive system found in the production version has been replaced with a more conventional GT rear-wheel drive system to confirm with strict FIA standards . It also features a newly developed six-speed sports sequential gear box, a huge rear wing and a modified front end.
Additionally the german premium car maker will use the press conference at Essen to reveal its plans for the 2009 motorsport season which is expected to include the R8's entrance into the GT3 category. Attendees will also get the opportunity to see this year's Le Man winning R10 TDI and Tim Schneider's DTM winning A4.
World premiere of the motorsport version of the Audi R8
Presentation of the motorsport program for the 2009 season
Attractive vehicles in the current Audi model portfolio
Audi is set to present a world premiere at the Essen Motor Show from November 28 to December 7: the brand with the four rings will be unveiling a race version of the Audi R8 with over 500 horsepower. During the press conference on November 28, Audi will also be presenting its plans for the 2009 motorsport season. This year’s winning Le Mans car and Timo Scheider’s victorious DTM car will be lining up in Essen alongside numerous attractive production models.
The version of the Audi R8 specially developed for customer teams will be celebrating its world premiere in Essen. From fall 2009, therefore, Audi Sport will for the first time offer a racing car that was specifically developed for customer use.
“Ever since the Audi R8 was unveiled we’ve been inundated with inquiries about a race version. With the Audi R8, we will offer customers a racing car packed with sophisticated technology and characteristic Audi quality, but which is nevertheless easy to handle,” says Head of Audi Motorsport, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. The first prototype completed its first tests in mid-August with Audi works driver Frank Biela at the wheel.
The new GT sports car will be joined in Essen by other successful members of the Audi motorsport family: this year’s winning Le Mans car, the Audi R10 TDI driven by Rinaldo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish, and the Audi A4 DTM in which Timo Scheider clinched the championship title just a few weeks ago. On Friday, November 28 at 2 pm, the Audi motorsport boss will be appearing on AUDI AG’s stand in Hall 3 to report for the first time on Audi’s plans for the 2009 season.
The motorsport highlights will also be accompanied by an attractive selection from Audi’s current model range. The production R8 together with the RS and S models are the link between motorsport and series production. In Essen, the brand with the four rings will be showing the Audi R8, the Audi RS 6 Sedan, the Audi TTS Coupé as the top-of-the range model in the TT line, the Audi S3 as the top model in the A3 line and the Audi S4 as the sporty highlight in the A4 family. The S4 will be celebrating its German show premiere in Essen. It will be joined there by the Audi Q5 3.0 TDI quattro, the Audi Q7 V12 TDI quattro and the Audi A5 Coupé 2.0 T quattro.
is this to be released to the public in any way, shape, or form, whether left unchanged or modified for consumer use or will it be strictly for the track?
