Audi R8 LMS GT4: the racing version derived from the new R8 V10 RWD

Alongside its new rear-wheel-drive Audi R8, the brand with the four rings has unveiled the competition version, the new R8 LMS GT4.

With 17 titles won in different competitions around the world since 2018, the Audi R8 LMS GT4 is one of the most successful cars in its class. Now, Audi is presenting the updated version, in parallel with the model it derives from, the new Audi R8 V10 RWD.

The two models, the road car and the competition car, have far more in common than it seems. In fact, they share nearly 60 percent of their parts. And both come off the same production line at Böllinger Höfe, at Audi Sport‘s facilities in Neckarsulm, where the Audi R8 is largely assembled using artisanal processes.

Aesthetically, the new R8 LMS GT4 still looks fierce. Even more so now, as it inherits the most aggressive lines of the new Audi R8 range. The main bodywork differences from the road version include the large additional air intake on the bonnet that channels airflow to the brakes, the large rear spoiler, the central exhaust outlet, the rear diffuser and the huge splitter on the front bumper.

V8 FSI engine, dual-clutch gearbox

Beneath the rear window sits the naturally aspirated 5-litre V10 FSI, which produces 495 CV, compared with 540 in the road version. This power limitation is required by regulations. The gearbox is a seven-speed dual-clutch unit. And power, as in the R8 RWD, is sent to the rear wheels.

Inside, stripped of any element that could add weight, the R8 LMS GT4 reveals the tubes of its roll cage. The driver faces the digital instrumentation and a steering wheel taken from the R8 GT2, which includes an important novelty. For the first time on the R8 LMS, it is possible to adjust the stability control and anti-lock braking system independently, across eight available modes.

Drivers can thus select a custom setup depending on the moment, the condition of the track or the tyres, or the weather. They do so using individual controls on the steering wheel itself, an advantage that is especially useful, for example, in races where several drivers share a car, which is common in this category.

The Audi R8 LMS GT4 will once again compete for victories in the 27 opportunities available to private drivers to take part in GT4 racing series around the world, both through a full season and in renowned endurance events such as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and the 24 Hours of Dubai.