Audi R8 LMS GT3
TBC
ORIGINAL AUDI UK PRESS AND MARKETING CAR
INCREDIBLY RARE TIME WARP CAR THAT WAS NEVER RACED
ONLY EVER COVERED SEVERAL HUNDRED KM, SO IS IN PRISTINE CONDITION
FRESHLY PREPARED & READY TO RACE BY PROGRESSIVE MOTORSPORT
ELIGIBLE AND ENTERED FOR THE NEW MOTOR RACING LEGENDS GT3 LEGENDS SERIES
Audi’s footprint in the racing world cannot be overlooked. Not only has Audi become one of the biggest powerhouses in endurance racing, but they have also produced the most successful prototype to ever race at Le Mans. This car shares the same name as its GT3 counterpart, the Audi R8 LMP is singlehandedly responsible for five of Audi’s over Le Mans Victory’s. After the R8, Audi would go on to win Le Mans overall with the R10, R15 and R18, making them the second most successful manufacturer ever at Le Mans.
It is safe to say that Audi know how to build iconic race cars. Fortunately for us, they did not disappoint when they decideded to create a GT3 car. The Audi R8 LMS is the only current GT3 race car that still holds the same model type as its original design over 15 years later. In 2009 Audi changed the landscape of GT3 racing forever by bringing out what would become the most successful GT3 design of all time. From 2009 till 2011, Audi ran the R8 LMS without any major upgrades. In this time period the R8 LMS achieved over 30 major victories in class which includes a staggering three Nürburgring 24hrs wins and two Spa 24hr wins in class. No other manufacturer was more successful in that period.
It was because of the success of the Audi that every other chassisanufacturer at the time had to upgrade their cars. Giants like Aston Martin, Ferrari, Mercedes and Porsche all had to bring out new chassis in order to compete with the German Giant. When it eventually become time for Audi to upgrade the incredibly successful R8 LMS, they did not bring out a new model like all the other brands (minus Lamborghini), all they needed to do was upgrade the suspension and aerodynamic package of their existing car. This upgrade was known as the ‘Ultra’. Due to the majority of the major components (such as chassis, engine and gearbox) being the same, the Majority of original R8 LMS cars were upgraded to Ultras since it was cheaper than buying a new car. All of the success of the Audi R8 Ultra can be traced back to the brilliance of the R8 LMS.
This car presents a rare opportunity to create the racing history with one of Audi’s R8 LMS GT3 cars. This chassis was the test, development and marketing car for Audi UK. It has been tested by some of the greatest Le Mans drivers. Legends such as Tom Kristensen, Alan McNish and Dindo Capello have all demonstrated the car at various media and public events. As such, it has never had an active race life and is incredibly well preserved.
Not only has this car only completed a mere several hundred km since its birth in 2009, it has also been prepared and entered for the upcoming GT3 Legends race by ‘Progressive Motorsport’ whose standards are impeccable. Progressive are a team filled with ex-Audi/Bentley engineers and mechanics who oversaw the majority of Audi’s success on the greatest stage in motorsport…Le Mans. It is safe to say that this chassis has been recomissioned to the highest possible standards and is as such genuinely race ready. As part of this process, all relevant components have been crack tested, whilst a new new fuel cell, seat, seat belts and fire extinguisher have been fitted. All components on the car match the chassis mileage, and the car will be sold with a substantial spares package.
On top of the car being completely race ready, it is sold with a paid entry for the forthcoming inaugural GT3 Legends race at Silverstone in October 2024 on the Grand Prix circuit. It is rare for such time-warp and impeccably clean GT cars to come onto the market, so when coupled with the famous driving experience and its race readiness, this car makes a compelling purchase.
