R8 as a dedicated track car?

[javelin]

I have been lookiing at the R8 for some time now. being that I use my two door cars exclusively for the track. I'd like to know the following before I pull the trigger.

I do about 40 track days during the short Canadian season and require quite a bit of camber to save the tires on the outside edges.

Relaibility under track use as compared to a Porsche GT3

Availability of go fast bits compared to Porsche

Engine upkeep under 100% track duty compared to Porsche

What suspension mods do I need to get minus 4 degrees of Camber F and 3.5 rear. I know this is well beyond what the stock suspension can do.

Brakes: how are the stock brakes on the track in terms of feel, feedback and fade.

Seats and Roll cage any suggestions?

Anyone have first hand knowledge of stripped out weight of either versions?

Thanks in advance and forgive any typo's or bad grammar I made this post on a mobile device.

[Bodhii]

Buying one of these would probably be your wisest and cheapest course of action.



http://www.cr-8.com/

http://www.fourtitude.com/news/publi...cle_5231.shtml

I am a long time Porsche track guy. I have never seen a hard driven track Porsche GT3 show the same proven reliability of the Audi R8.

The worst thing about the R8 is unavailability of reasonably priced, hi performance racing after market products. Its a very different game than with a Porsche where many very good manufacturers compete in producing the best race parts for reasonable prices.

If I were making a full time track machine, I would eliminate the AWD. This saves over 250 LBS! MTM has made such a model.

http://www.r8talk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4141"]MTM R8R SC Rear-wheel Drive[/URL]

KW makes a good coilover suspension, and Brembo and GiroDisc have good brake kits. PPI makes a good camber kit. The rollcage set up is almost identical to a Ferrari 460. Anyone who has made one of these will understand immediately how to do one for the R8. Sparco Evo 2 racing seats work perfectly using the same base for the Audi A4. You can upgrade the manual clutch with the R8 V10 clutch. I do think its possible to get the car below 3000LBS pretty easily if you can make it RWD and strip out most extra electronics. The Audi 4.2L engine has been a true warrior for me in every way. Never the slightest prob, even with the VF S/C. I do think I will do an engine rebuild in April, and then at each 75 hrs heavy track use.

For a full time track car, you would also wish to increase the tire sizes and this requires new body panels like these on the PPI R8 Razor GTR. Wish I new of some cheaper ones.



Hope this helps.
I'm sure MotherTucker and others have some interesting good stuff to add.

[javelin]

thanks mate, the second link did not work.

I am not looking to race so I am thinking of buying a used R8, strip it out, change shocks, wheels and do what I need to get the camber right. that should cost me under 20K which is considerably, less than the full race option like the one you linked.

[rmicroys]

Why not just get a Radical SR3 and go faster for cheaper in the long run. Cheaper to maintain, run and operate. Sure it requires a truck and a trailer, but in the long run a much more rewarding experience in my mind. I guess it all depends on what you want out of the ride you go to the track with and the experience you want.

If you're hooked on to a tin top, for the track, I would probably stay with a GT3 or something similar over the R8 you need to actually have a tin top. I assume you've already had an opportunity to drive a Radical. If not, you really should get to Mosport in one, very rewarding. 1m25s laps are easy in a car that costs 1/4 of what a new V10 costs.

If you're out of Toronto, Ronnie O'Brian would be who I would have cage it. Race seat, whatever kind of CF unobtainium one to fit your butt. I have a Sparco Circuit in my racecar, great for slim builds.

[harrison]

The R 8 is just plain 'ol HEAVY. Great experience to gain, tracking one though.It will make you REALLY appeciate a better horsepower to weight ratio car. And you look real good/rich doing it. Ridiculous to some and mind boggling to others who think you must be a Millionaire tracking a really nice looking car!!. For me it is a "run what you brung" sitiation. Today at the track my buddies supercharged GT40 started making a loud squeel .He pulled off the track. Was towed to pits. Where the rescue tow driver (A COMPLETE IDIOT) yanked the front tow hook AND bumper off of the beauty. GT 40 Owner hit without frowning. \"/

[Bodhii]

I would plan on doubling the 20K figure for the first year. 20k a year after that sounds about right. And that would not include any forced induction engine systems.

Personally I am not sure where a dedicated track car would differ from a race car. There functions are the same, except that the race car has a certain race class to provide a more certain design/build definition.

The R8 is an exceptional track car right out of the box. You sound like you have a lot of track time. In comparing to a Porsche GT3, I suggest try driving each on a track with the computer stability systems turned off. ( You will be limited in the amount you can actually turn off the PSM system in a 997 GT3.) The R8 will blow you away in what a natural, great handling car it really is. The GT3 will give you significantly less confidence. Both are great, great hi performance sports cars. As I am sure you know, the Porsche is something that many many race tuners are very knowledgeable about everywhere. Unfortunately there have been no Audi factory R8 LMS, or Clubsports cars released or imported to the USA or Canada, and I know of no Audi R8's planning to race anywhere in North America this next year.

What you decide to do to properly define your own dedicated track R8, is really up to you. The list of things provided with the two Creventic BV race cars, can maybe help you see more of the possibilities.
http://www.cr-8.com/

The R8 is still very much a work in progress. I do hope your good idea on making a R8 track car, comes true. I'm sure this will help provide us all with more and more important R8 info. Let me know if I can help.

I wish you bon chance, and happy driving.

My Favorite R8 track car

[harrison]

A freind of mine cured the idiosynchrosies of the 997GT3 by replacing the differential gears. Computer doesn't mess up the tracking abilities any more. Car is now "GOLDEN"

[musicom@yahoo.com]

I've tracked my R8 for two summers and really enjoyed it. I drive with two guys with GT3s, a Turbo and a Cayman S. I can take everyone of them and am fairly even with one of the GT3s (guy has a lot more seat time than me). I've upgraded the exhaust (with a Stasis system) and just got Padgid yellow pads and replaced the OE rotors with the same (they seem generally well made with the exception of a direction on one side...there must be a zillion posts on this site about this issue). The stock brakes are generally very good. I found that the tires would slide/skip a little on very hard braking so that may be the bigger issue (though I'm curious to take some air out of the tires, per harrison's recent post).Also planning to change the springs as some other members have done and seem to have had good results from lowering the car.

I've got the camber about as aggressive as you can without a major change and I'm not quite where you'd want to be (by a few degrees!).

Check out madaudidesign for some add-ons, which you can also find around the web: a fixed rear wing, larger air intakes for the slideblades...

My car has been super reliable and loads of fun but everything for it is expensive...but what the hell we only live once! Enjoy!

[kmarshall]

Dedicated? Naw... just buy something light weight and cheaper for dedicated. To really get the R8 fast you'd need to gut hundreds upon hundreds of pounds, then completely go through the front suspension to change the geometry and by the time you are done, you have a fun, expensive car that has AWD so it'll not be comparable to a RWD Porsche or Ferrari in the hands of a capable driver. Go build up a Lotus... the Stradale and the R8 rarely see the track since I bought a used Exige S and turned it into a dedicated track race car... gobs more fun for a dedicated. And you'll go through a ton less tire and brakes.

[javelin]

Thanks, for the feedback, I have tried the Radicals and Stohrs and they are load of fun but I hate having to tow stuff to the track and all the hassle. I do that with my Track bike but I'd hate riding that 200K to the track more than towing it.

By dedicated I mean that I don't drive the car anywhere but to and from the track.

A perfect track car for me is something I can grudgingly drive to the track.
Any modifications I do would be primarily to prolong the life of the consumables i.e. Camber. I keep an extra set of wheels on the roofrack or at a shop near the track.


My latest set up is a Cayman S, The mods are Stuts, strut hats, Lower control arms, toe links, Anti roll bars front n rear, roll cage Seats, belts and Pagid Yelllows. All of this cost me less than 12K. I tend to leave engines alone and replace the track cars before the engine warranty runs out.

I could go with a 997 GT3 as some on here have suggested but I'd like to stay mid engined. I have been talking a lot of **** about engine placement and my track buds won't let me get off easy If go back to a rear engined car.

I have a local fella selling a low mile R8 for under 120K CAD. Do you really think struts and LCA's Antiroll bars and links, roll bar would put me north of 20K ? If yes, I'm sticking with Porsche.


I was hoping to find others who have been this route before so I could copy them rather than pioneer :-)


Bodhii, thanks for your help, you on p-9 under same name ?