<< Prev Page 2 of 2 For 2001, the cars were subtly developed, although to what extent was not revealed until after another Le Mans victory was scored. The engine used featured direct fuel injection or 'FSI', which increased fuel efficiency and also improved performance. In addition to the works teams racing on both sides of the Atlantic, R8s were also fielded by satellite teams Champion Racing in North America and Johansson Motorsport in Europe. In the following seasons, these and other teams would add many more wins to the R8 tally. 2002 was the last year the factory team raced the cars at Le Mans when another one-two-three victory was scored.
From 2003, the Audi R8s were fielded by satellite teams as the works efforts focused on the Bentley Speed 8, which was to some extent was a development of the R8C. While the Bentley won at Le Mans, the successes in North America continued and the Audi teams would go on to win the championship with the R8 through to 2005. At Le Mans, the privately entered R8s were gradually restricted to favour cars built to newer regulations. This did not prevent the ageing machine to score two more outright victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. For 2006, the R8 was replaced by the revolutionary, diesel engined R10, which was once again fielded by the works team.
Although not always racing against the strongest of opposition, the Audi R8 has a virtually unparalleled racing record with five outright Le Mans wins, six ALMS titles and also a pair of championships in Europe. One of the R8's defining features was its efficiency highlighted by the quick-change rear-end and the direct injection V8 engine. The R8 remains as the first great sports racers of the 21st century and kickstarted an era of Audi domination at Le Mans that would last fifteen years with just two exceptions between 2000 and 2014. The only real tarnish on the R8 legacy was the fatal accident of Michele Alboreto during a 2001 test at the Lauzitsring. << Prev Page 2 of 2
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For 2001, the cars were subtly developed, although to what extent was not revealed until after another Le Mans victory was scored. The engine used featured direct fuel injection or 'FSI', which increased fuel efficiency and also improved performance. In addition to the works teams racing on both sides of the Atlantic, R8s were also fielded by satellite teams Champion Racing in North America and Johansson Motorsport in Europe. In the following seasons, these and other teams would add many more wins to the R8 tally. 2002 was the last year the factory team raced the cars at Le Mans when another one-two-three victory was scored.