Audi R8 LMS CLAIM 1-2 VICTORY AT BATHURST 12 HOUR

[gazza1]

As guests of Audi for the 3 days some of us Forum members here in Australia watched Audi and Joust Motorsport claim a 1-2 Victory.

It is to Audi Germany's credit that they invested to bring the German Motorsport team here to Australia in such a far away land to compete in this event.

http://www.ozracingwrap.com/general/...-hour-1-2.html

Along with this Audi Australia officially launched R8 Pilots here and presented us R8 Owners lots of fantastic R8 gifts including a beautiful R8 PILOTS Carbon Helmet,R8 Jacket and a original draft drawing from 2006.

The new German Managing Director of Audi Australia has been brought here to build a R8 Community through the R8 Pilots program and speaking to him one on one over the 3 days he is very passionate and committed to building a Porsche/Ferrari Type Community with R8 Owners here and intends to offer us owners experiences locally and internationally to that end onwards.

Built some great networks and connections with the Germans in attendance and I feel like I have been given the keys to the Kingdom..very fortunate!!

10 of us(including myself) were very privileged and fortunate to be taken for a hot lap around the 6 kmh track at race speed in a AUDI R8 GT3 LMS.

Audi also imported a R8 GT from Germany for promo purposes finished in a Matt Suzuka Grey.

We had access to the pits and I gained so much technical information and insight into the standard V10 coupe and the Lms from the Team Manager down.

The Germans were so open and inviting into their work space that we were made to feel some what like Royalty.

Some of the technical details of the LMS are as follows.

1. Brembo Steel Rotors and Endless Pads used.
2. 54% of the Car is standard R8 production parts.
3. Air Filters are Standard V10 Filters- NOT KN etc(no worthwhile gain I was told)
4.Intake Air is brought into the engine like the standard road going model through the sideblades.(no special tubes or boxes)
4.10-60w oil used--- told in a whisper and hushed voice(Castrol Edge Sport)
5. R-Tronic box has been replaced with different custom built as the road going version could not handle the loads and kept breaking bearings and housings.
6.Only major internal difference internally on the V10 is different con-rod bearings for race use.All other parts are standard.
7.Engines only have a rebuild and pull down after 20,000 Racing KM'S!!! Repeating they do not pull these engines apart until 20'000k's..Incredible!!


Below are some of the pictures I took of things.


AUSSIE AND GERMAN DRIVERS






















CARBON HELMET GIVEN TO US




ME AND THE RIDE OF MY LIFE




PARADE LAP R8'S














Thanks Audi for having us as VIP GUESTS,it was a fantastic weekend.

[RS4Cab]

Sounds like a great time was had. Hats off to Audi, sounds like they really stepped up in a first class way

[dailydriver]

That is way cool and sounds like an amazing experience. Thanks for sharing all of pics. It is great to see that Audi had a very successful race too!

[gazza1]

First class all the way for sure.

One interesting conversation I should have mentioned was the the Team Manager owner of Joust was involved in the development of the original R8 and that there was 2 definite points of view within Audi about the down-force characteristics of the front end.

One group thought that no more was required and that it was sufficient(as it currently is)and the other group(racers/motorsport)thought it was deficient and needed more.

The compromise or agreement was that version 1 would go into production with a more down-forced R8 later on (aka R8 GT)

Lastly don,t be surprised to see a 2 wheel rear drive version sometime next year ..it was volunteered openly and freely without a question asked.

[ignomini]

What a fantastic experience. Thanks for sharing the photos, and interesting news about a 2wd version.

[harrison]

Super information. Thanks for sharing and WOW, what a lucky guy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bodhii]

All super good stuff, Gazza. But after looking at all of the R8's in the photos, wasn't just a 1-2 finish a bit of a disappointment for Audi? *joke

Great to hear about the RWD car that will be coming. I imagine that will be their ultimate track standard car, similar to the Porsche GT3RS. Can't wait!

What a strange little ball of liquid to be hanging like that. Not that the liquid is strange, but such strange place to mount it.



Ps,.. Gazza, didn't Australia had some R8 LMS cars locally owned and racing there last year?

[desperado]

An excellent post about the cars and your experience. Thank you for sharing!

EDIT: I am totally in awe! What a fabulous experience!

[desperado]

@Bodhii: Here is an excellent example for APR of one way to mount the spoiler, and of a splitter installation too!

[calbear]

Thank you for providing us with the deails of the event gazza1!
It sounds like a incredible experience.
Great of you to share the pics.