Two seasons after Audi officially stopped the works support for the Audi R8s, the four-ringed prototype racer again proved to be the car to beat in 2004. In the previous season, the R8 played second fiddle in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race to the then works supported Bentley Speed 8s, but after a successful three year campaign the British team retired from racing again.
For the 2004 season some minor modifications were carried through on the successful package, mostly to comply with new LMP1 and LMP2 regulations. The rear wing was decreased in width from the original 2 metres to 1.8 metres. To balance out the loss of rear downforce, the front was slightly modified as well, just behind the front fender. At 80 litres, the fuel tank was 10 litres smaller than the previously used tanks.
A total of four cars lined up for the 2004 24 Hours of Le Mans race, entered by three teams. Audi Sport UK entered two cars, and Champion Racing and Team Goh both entered one R8. Team Goh had already driven their R8 to the victory in the November 2003 Le Mans 1000km race. In qualifying the Audis proved to be on winning pace, by occupying four of the five places on the grid.
In the race the Team Goh and one of the British Audis had a trouble-free run and finished first and second respectively. The two others were involved in an early accident and spent the rest of the race fighting back to top of the field and eventually finished third and fifth, underlining the the R8's dominance.
Article by Wouter Melissen, last updated before 12 / 01 / 2004
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Two seasons after Audi officially stopped the works support for the Audi R8s, the four-ringed prototype racer again proved to be the car to beat in 2004. In the previous season, the R8 played second fiddle in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race to the then works supported Bentley Speed 8s, but after a successful three year campaign the British team retired from racing again.
