V10 engine for Audi R8 LMS GT3 racer, similarly engined road car to follow ...

Dear Ultimatecarpage.com visitor,

Yesterday at the annual Essen Motorshow, Audi took the wraps off the all new R8 LMS, destined for GT3 racing in 2009. The launch itself was no surprise and Audi had already posted some images quite some time ago but there nevertheless was some big news revealed. Firstly the name 'LMS' moniker and more importantly the fact that the car will be powered by Audi's V10 engine. This also means that the debut of the long speculated V10 engined R8 road car is imminent. Our best guess for the type name for that machine is the R8 LM. The R8 LMS represents Audi's return to customer motorsport or as Audi Motorsport Director quaintly described 'kundenmotorsport.' For a hefty 262,000 ex taxes, anybody can order the 500 bhp racing car from the newly established customer sport center in Ingolstadt. Takers will have to be quick as Audi plans to build just eight cars for 2009. The V10 machine can be campaigned in any of a growing number of championships run under the GT3 banner. There it will face a massive field of F430s, 997 GT3s, Gallardos, Ford GTs, Corvettes and Vipers.
Dr Ulrich also confirmed a big rumor; Audi is well under way with a replacement for the R10 TDI Le Mans racer. Although little other than the R15 TDI type name was revealed, we have strong reasons to believe that the open racer will be powered by an all new V10 diesel engine. The R15 will make its competition debut at the Sebring 12 Hours next March.
Keep an eye on the news section as a full report of the Essen Motorshow will follow on Monday.

[url=http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/3818/Audi-R8-LMS.html]2009 Audi R8 LMS - Images, Specifications and Information[/url]

Regards,
Wouter Melissen

There is something weird to the name of this car : LMS, announced during the same pressconference where they surprised and disappointed the European racefans by simply telling (and not explaining why) that Audi will not participate in the LMS series in 2009. Also Audi knows of course very well that LMS has no entry opportunities for GT3 cars.

such a nice looking racer, could there possibly be roadgoing versions? or GT3/RS style R8's.

[QUOTE=henk4;849669]There is something weird to the name of this car : LMS, announced during the same pressconference where they surprised and disappointed the European racefans by simply telling (and not explaining why) that Audi will not participate in the LMS series in 2009. Also Audi knows of course very well that LMS has no entry opportunities for GT3 cars.[/QUOTE]

No there isn't. The road car will likely be named the R8 LM for Le Mans, so it's not so strange to call the racing car LMS. The LMS you refer to does not exist. You will not find the Le Mans Series ever refer to itself as the LMS.

Pretty much all forms of want.

Much obliged for the update, almighty Wouter.

[QUOTE=Wouter Melissen;849678]No there isn't. The road car will likely be named the R8 LM for Le Mans, so it's not so strange to call the racing car LMS. The LMS you refer to does not exist. You will not find the Le Mans Series ever refer to itself as the LMS.[/QUOTE]
nitpicking.....
Team Modena does..
[url=http://www.lemans-series.com/en/s03_actualites/s03p02_detail_actualite.php?news=766]Le Mans Series[/url]

"LMS" it's a weird name. I would have gone for "LM-R" or "LMR".
if "LM" is going to be the suffix of the road going version, the "S" doesn't really add the racing attitude. usually the R works better in this cases.

thanks for the update btw :)

[QUOTE=LeonOfTheDead;849688]"LMS" it's a weird name. I would have gone for "LM-R" or "LMR".
if "LM" is going to be the suffix of the road going version, the "S" doesn't really add the racing attitude. usually the R works better in this cases.

thanks for the update btw :)[/QUOTE]
Maybe it's S for Sport or something.

It'll be interesting to see what sort of performance the road going V10 will give the R8. And if that will finally make the Gallardo pointless...

Great update, sir.

[QUOTE=LeonOfTheDead;849688]"LMS" it's a weird name. I would have gone for "LM-R" or "LMR".
if "LM" is going to be the suffix of the road going version, the "S" doesn't really add the racing attitude. usually the R works better in this cases.

thanks for the update btw :)[/QUOTE]

What would they call the GT2 version if they would have called this LMR?

[QUOTE=Wouter Melissen;849718]What would they call the GT2 version if they would have called this LMR?[/QUOTE]

R8 GT2?
and this just R8 GT3. besides, are they going to introduce the GT2 version too?

Is there really a need for a GT3 class?

[QUOTE=Dino Scuderia;849720]Is there really a need for a GT3 class?[/QUOTE]

maybe you don't know that the GT4 class already exist.
less expensive car, more cars on the field, less wannabe-the-best-of-the-world drivers, more interesting races to watch. GT1 is a dieing category, so GT3 cars will be the GT2s of tomorrow.

[QUOTE=Dino Scuderia;849720]Is there really a need for a GT3 class?[/QUOTE]

Yes. Some epic racing and a wider variety of cars.

And it's about damn time Audi did this, regardless of the name.

[QUOTE=wwgkd;849842]Yes. Some epic racing and a wider variety of cars.

And it's about damn time Audi did this, regardless of the name.[/QUOTE]

So what 'epic' GT3 racing have you seen?