After it was first shown to the public at the
Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Audi R8 LMS GT2 will cross the Atlantic to
participate at the Monterey Car Week this weekend, marking its debut in the
United States.
Furthermore, it will officially be put through its
paces in the new GT2 category that will be introduced next year, making its
first stop at the Virginia International Raceway on June 6-7, followed by the
events at Sonoma Raceway, Road America, Watkins Glen and Indianapolis.
The new R8 LMS GT2 is already available to order,
with a US$ 398,000 price tag and customer deliveries set to begin in January.
Compared to the street-legal R8, it has a wider body kit, new bumpers and a
huge rear wing. Like all GT2 racers, it also produces less downforce than GT3
ones due to class regulations. The 5.2-liter, naturally aspirated V10 has
received a few updates and new exhaust, which help it kick out 630 HP.
Aside from the GT2, Audi will also present the R8
V10 Performance Spyder at the same event. The model is the pinnacle of the
brand and uses the same engine as the R8 LMS GT2, albeit in a milder state of
tune with 611 HP. It gets from nought to 0-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and
maxs out at 328 km/h.
