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  Audi R8      

  Article Image gallery (24) Specifications User Comments (20)  
Click here to open the Audi R8 gallery   
Country of origin:Germany
Produced in:2002
Author:Wouter Melissen
Last updated:Before December 1st, 2004
Download: All images

Add your comments on the Audi R8

 2002 R8  
sssssssss
02-05-2008
The 2002 R8 was the very fastest LMP1 car ever built. On the 2002-2006 configuration of the Le Mans circuit, the car set a qualifying lap of 3:29.905 - about 3 seconds faster than the Bentley of 2003 (the fastest Bentley) and a bit faster even than the 1999 Toyota GT-One (3:29.930, and on a slightly shorter and faster version of the track). On the same track configuration, the Audi R10 2006 went 3:30.466, the Bentley Speed 8 2003 - 3:32.843. On slightly faster track configurations, the BMW V12 LMR went 3:31.207, the Mercedes CLR 3:31.541. There's no LMP1 to beat the 2002 version of the R8 on overall lap times. Additionally, the R8 2002 hit 340 km/h on the Mulsanne in practice, which is faster even than the 2007 R10 and Peugeot 908, although the Tetre Rouge modification of 2007 allows for 10 additional km/h at the top speed point of the track. On the 2002-2006 configuration, the great R10 itself only hit 329 km/h.
 Audi - Bentley  
RenesisEvo
04-09-2005
Both Audi and Bentley are owned by the VAG Group (Volkswagen-Audi Group) hence there is no surprise in some similarities between the R8 and the Speed 8. The 2001 Speed 8 even ran with the 4litre engine from the R8, but it won with a 3.4 twin-turbo of Bentley's own making. The Bentley was far more than an R8 with a roof, taking influences from the R9C and Toyota GT-One to make a beautiful and supremely quick car. The only comparison to be made with the Bentley and the Audi is that both are LM prototypes... they differ in detail in every other aspect. The R8 has seen lots of success; its a shame the Bentley has gone and not challenged the R8.
 oh, christ! damn be Bentley!!!!  
LoudSilence
11-7-2003
hey guys, i heard at supercars.net that Bentley speed 8 is actually a clone of R8,and they won LeMans!!!! you see,the air pods&vents are placed in almost similar position with that on R8! is this my brain that needs surgery or what! has england got all sick!? how could they do that maybe VW AG should kick bentley out since they're stealing partner's design to win a race the attempt to place a competition for audi R8 has broke into nightmarish thing,it become sadistic,caniballist unhealthy competition i like R8 from the beginning,it doesn't have the best engine but its aerodynamics is a level with what people called land-jet or F-1 car (sorry for all bentley fans)
 Technical Info  
MattC
5-3-2003
i'm a student and i'm hoping to write a report on basically why the Audi R8 is such a great car. if anyone knows of anywhere that could help me or if you could give me then i'd be really, really grateful. contact me at: [email protected] with the subject line: AUDI R8 INFO. cheers
 A Truely Great Car  
Spanky_Murphy
21-2-2003
Three LeMans wins in succession, need I say more? The Audi R8, is a Great Lokking car, It is very Quick, and it has awesome reliability, 1-2-3 last year, sound's reliable to me! But I must agree with the bloke who said they have no one to compete against. He's dead right about Bentley, and Remember the BMW LMR V12? It couldn't beat that could it? But that is not to say the R8 is not a good car, on the contrary it is a GREAT car, but not by any meants the greatest. I believe the BMW could have beaten it, I belive that the Toyota GT1, The Mazda 787B, and the Nissan R390 could have all beaten it. But Audi were in the right place at the right time and that, plus a bit of Luck is what a great car needs to win LeMans. Toyota showed us that in 1999 with the GT1 - such a sad end to it's carear.
 Real racing please!  
stuart
11-2-2003
Firstly, i don't dispute that the Audi R8 is a fantastic racing car, and its reliability record is outstanding. BUT, cars are generally pretty reliable things when they are not put under maximum pressure. And let's face it, udi hasn't really had anyone to race against for the last 3 years. Bentley cannot be considered true opposition, as both companies are under the control of VW, who ultimately decide how much money (and therefore how much success) goes to each team. It was Audi's turn for 3 years, now it goes to Bentley. Remember the late 1990s, when we had factory teams from Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, McLaren, Toyota, Nissan as well as Audi? That was what Le Mans was all about.
 A fantastic car run by a fantastic team  
Balance
6-2-2003
Audi were VERY wise to pick Reinhold Joest's team to develop and run the R8s. Even back in the Group C days his cars would sometimes beat the mighty factory Porsches with customer 956s. His more recent Le Mans wins with the TWR/Porsche prototypes are further testament to Joesty's meticulous car preparation and development. So it shouldn't come as any surprise that, in four Le Mans starts, NOT ONE factory Audi failed to finish. The 1-2-3s in 2000 and 2002 and the 1-2 in 2001 are just icing on the cake!! I cannot get over how quickly they could change gearboxes in those things!!
 Whats going on 2003  
Armstrong33
23-12-2002
I heard from a guy i met at Mosport Int. raceway that owns a Porsche 911 GT1(the same one that gets raced at Dayton every year). He told me that this year coming up that Lemans is trying to put together a GT1 class. He said that was mostlikely going to happen cause he had already been to a meeting they had. So if they do have this class with some good teams i think this may be the end of Audi's 3 year domination. Cause well GT1 ones are much faster and aerodynamic, which in turn will make them faster on the straits at Lemans. Plus the GT1's out qualified the LMPS in '98 and on.
 audi has one very close rival..............  
motorhead
23-12-2002
the porsche GT1. It has a even better record the the r8 has never retired in any race. LE mans actually kicked porsche out because the gt1 was so good and was winning everything! Porsche is planning to return to le mans very soon and that would add tention to audi!! But now the best racer is deffinately the audi R8, no doubt
 R8 best lemans racer ever?  
bigsevs
23-12-2002
The R8 has been amazing, seeing as how they have won three times at le mans in a row. However, do they have any real competition? Consider the Peugeot 905, Toyota TS010 and TS020, and Sauber-Mercedes C9, these cars were all seriously contested. I don't know if the Audi's could compete with cars like these in terms of speed, but Audi is number one in dependability.
 watch out for bentley  
bigsevs
23-12-2002
watch out for bentley at le mans in 2003... their closed top exp speed 8 is going to have some changes, this was just a developmental year, and next year they are going to make a run for 1st place overall.. i dont know if it can last with the audi's though
 R8- THE BEST  
DFF77
3-10-2002
I don't have words for this car, and for the pilots. Audi R8 with Pirro, Biela, Kristensen, don't have for anyone car. Audi and R8, just one thing: I love you too. Audi Sport: Congradulations, you have the best mechanics. If I had money, fortunately I'll buy a R8 R8 means: Win, Win, Win, Win.........
 Porsche GT1  
Faz|e3
19-9-2002
Next you ask? I think the Porsche 911 GT1. This car was sooooo fantastic in its debut season that before the next season started, the organizers had to change the rules of the whole LeMans competition just so that this car couldn't take part in any race. Anyway Porsche holds the record for the most number of race finishes in LeMans. So it would be quite tough to beat this one...
 the circle of life  
ralliart77
6-9-2002
true the Audi R8 is the best car this year. But think about it...Its been Lemans history...MClaren F1 beats competition, Benz CLK-LM beats Mclaren F1, BMw beats Bena, The R8 beats BMW...whos next?
 Fast now  
GT3
26-8-2002
The Audi R8 is fastest car in LeMans today but porsche is not in LeMans this year. Porsche has won LeMans more than any outher team. Porsche is coming out with a Porsche racing team in 2006 and might put the Audi R8 for its money.
 Audi R8 - AMAZING  
Cale 29
2-8-2002
The Audi R8 is one of the best LeMans racers ever. Incredible aerodynanic styling paired with a strong & reliable V8 make this car near perfect. Audi done a great job and will probably continue to dominate in the future. One thing I would like to see changed is a bit more torque to get off those street circuit corners a bit faster because Panoz is better in that area.
 the best la mans racer ever??  
motorhead
2-8-2002
oh hell yeah this is the best racer ever in the history of le mans. Look at it. It's design is absolutely brilliant and the technology of the direct inject fuel engine is brilliant too. The prove in how good the engine is that they have never retired in a single race before. Great Job Audi.
 A great LeMans competitor  
RedSnapper
24-6-2002
I think it is the best LeMans race car in styling. Small wheel arch like Toyota GT-One, sleek model, powerful engine (what else do you expect from AUDI?). Anyway, this is one of the best LeMans Race Car. -ReD $n4pPer-
 Possibly the Best Le Mans Car Ever  
RacingManiac
17-6-2002
With 3 victories and all 3 under completely dominating circumstances, plus ZERO retirement under the management of Joest Racing in their 4 year of Le Mans. This R8 is probably THE best Le Mans car ever built, in terms of design, reliability and pace. Every detail is so carefully thought through that there are no missing piece on Audi's shining armor. Simply amazing.
 Nothing Less.......Encore!!!  
Bovario
17-6-2002
The crafty engineers at the Auto Union have constatntly stunned the world with exciting street cars, of course their racers are going to be superb ( as past Le Mans races have manifested)..........encore!!

  Article Image gallery (24) Specifications User Comments (20)