The Audi R8 continues to write motorsport history: The most successful Le Mans prototype of all time celebrated its 50th victory at the 1000 kilometre race at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend. This milestone is particularly impressive because it was achieved over a mere four year period and in only 60 races.
Since its debut at the 12-hour race at Sebring in March 2000, the Audi R8 has been considered the sports-prototype to beat. The R8 has already won the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans four times. With its five victories in succession at Sebring, it remains, up till now, unbeaten, just as it does in "Petit Le Mans" at Road Atlanta. R8 drivers have won the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) five times in a row. And the R8 was also in a class of its own from the off in the Le Mans Endurance Series (LMES) held for the first time in 2004.
The R8 development, overseen by Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich as well as both Wolfgang Appel (Vehicle Engineering) and Ulrich Baretzky (Engine Technology) has not only set new standards as far as performance is concerned in sports car races. Quite literally its reliability: There has not been a single engine failure in a race to this day.
Since the 2001 season, the Audi R8 V8-engine has been using the worldwide unique combination of FSI and turbo technology. In the meantime it is also successfully used in the new A3 and A4 2.0T models. The advantage of this technology in motorsport is the same as in every day life: reduced fuel consumption coupled with simultaneously improved initial throttle response.
The Audi engineers also demonstrated "Vorsprung durch Technik" in many other areas in the R8 project. The R8 was the first Le Mans prototype with a pneumatic gear-shift. Audi developed also a unique system that allowed the complete gearbox and suspension unit to be changed in a little over four minutes - a fascinating spectacle that the regulations have forbidden in the meantime.
Other regulation changes targeted the performance of Le Mans prototypes. That’s why the Audi R8 must now, in the intervening period, manage with less power (approximately 550 instead of the original 610 hp) and a narrower rear wing. Nonetheless, the Audi R8 is still in a class of its own particularly over the race distance.
The importance of the model designation "R8" was puzzled over for a long time. The explanation is simple: Since the legendary original quattro, Audi has numbered all internal vehicle projects consecutively. With the R8, the project name also became the official vehicle name and is now synonymous for the world’s most successful Le Mans prototype.
All 50 victories of the Audi R8
20001 Sebring (USA) Frank Biela / Tom Kristensen / Emanuele Pirro2 24h Le Mans (F) Frank Biela / Tom Kristensen / Emanuele Pirro3 Sears Point (USA) Rinaldo Capello / Allan McNish4 Mosport (CDN) Rinaldo Capello / Allan McNish5 Dallas (USA) Frank Biela / Emanuele Pirro6 Portland (USA) Rinaldo Capello / Allan McNish7 Petit Le Mans (USA) Michele Alboreto / Rinaldo Capello / Allan McNish8 Laguna Seca (USA) Rinaldo Capello / Allan McNish9 Las Vegas (USA) Frank Biela / Emanuele Pirro10 Adelaide (AUS) Rinaldo Capello / Allan McNish200111 Dallas (USA) Rinaldo Capello / Tom Kristensen12 Sebring (USA) Laurent Aiello / Michele Alboreto / Rinaldo Capello13 Donington (GB) Rinaldo Capello / Tom Kristensen14 Jarama (E) Rinaldo Capello / Tom Kristensen15 24h Le Mans (F) Frank Biela / Tom Kristensen / Emanuele Pirro16 Sears Point (USA) Rinaldo Capello / Tom Kristensen17 Most (CZ) Stefan Johansson / Patrick Lemarie18 Mosport (CDN) Frank Biela / Emanuele Pirro19 Laguna Seca (USA) Frank Biela / Emanuele Pirro20 Petit Le Mans (USA) Frank Biela / Emanuele Pirro200221 Sebring (USA) Rinaldo Capello / Johnny Herbert / Christian Pescatori22 24h Le Mans (F) Frank Biela / Tom Kristensen / Emanuele Pirro23 Mid-Ohio (USA) Frank Biela / Emanuele Pirro24 Road America (USA) Rinaldo Capello / Tom Kristensen25 Trois-Rivières (CDN) Rinaldo Capello / Tom Kristensen26 Mosport (CDN) Rinaldo Capello / Tom Kristensen27 Laguna Seca (USA) Frank Biela / Emanuele Pirro28 Miami (USA) Frank Biela / Emanuele Pirro29 Petit Le Mans (USA) Rinaldo Capello / Tom Kristensen200330 Sebring (USA) Frank Biela / Philipp Peter / Marco Werner31 Road Atlanta (USA) Johnny Herbert / JJ Lehto32 Trois-Rivières (CDN) Frank Biela / Marco Werner33 Mosport (CDN) Frank Biela / Marco Werner34 Road America (USA) Johnny Herbert / JJ Lehto35 Spa (B) Seiji Ara / Tom Kristensen36 Laguna Seca (USA) Frank Biela / Marco Werner37 Miami (USA) Johnny Herbert / JJ Lehto38 Petit Le Mans (USA) Johnny Herbert / JJ Lehto39 Le Mans (F) Seiji Ara / Tom Kristensen200440 Sebring (USA) Frank Biela / Pierre Kaffer / Allan McNish41 Monza (I) Jamie Davies / Johnny Herbert42 24h Le Mans (F) Seiji Ara / Rinaldo Capello / Tom Kristensen43 Mid-Ohio (USA) JJ Lehto / Marco Werner44 Nürburgring (D) Pierre Kaffer / Allan McNish45 Lime Rock (USA) JJ Lehto / Marco Werner46 Infineon Raceway (USA) JJ Lehto / Marco Werner47 Portland (USA) JJ Lehto / Marco Werner48 Silverstone (GB) Pierre Kaffer / Allan McNish49 Road America (USA) JJ Lehto / Marco Werner50 Spa (B) Jamie Davies / Johnny Herbert
Technical Data Audi R8 (2004)
Vehicle typeLe Mans Prototype (LMP 900) ChassisCarbon fibre monocoque, crash structure ACO and FIA approved, CFK rollbars front and rear, carbon fibre body EngineV8 engine, turbo charged, 90 degree cylinder angle, 4 valves per cylinder, 2 Garrett turbo charges, to comply with the rules 2 x 30.7 mm air restrictors and boost pressure restriction to 1.67 bars absolute, direct fuel injection FSIEngine management: Bosch MS 2.9 Engine lubrication: Dry sump, Shell lubricants Displacement: 3600 ccOutput: about 550 hpTorque: more than 700 Nm Transmission: Rear wheel driveClutch: CFK clutch GearboxSequential 6-speed sports gearbox, partner Ricardo, pneumatic gear-shift DifferentialMultiple-disc limited-slip differentialDriveshaftsConstant-velocity plunging tripod jointsSteeringRack-and-pinion power steeringSuspensionIndependent suspension front and rear, double-wishbone suspension, pushrod system with spring/damper unit, adjustable gas-filled shock absorbersBrakesHydraulic dual-circuit brake system, monobloc light-alloy brake calipers, ventilated carbon fibre brake discs at front and rear, brake balance adjustable by driverRimsO.Z. forged magnesium rims,front: 13.5 x 18 inches, rear 14.5 x 18 inches TyresMichelin Radial, front: 33/65-18, rear: 37/71-18 DimensionsLength: 4650 mm Width: 2000 mm Height: 1080 mm Minimum weight: 900 kgsFuel tank capacity: Le Mans/LMES: 80, ALMS: 90 ltrs
