When it’s your first time on stage, you definitely want to have a good performance, lest you never live it down—that must be why the Audi R8 LMS decided to make the rounds of the various winners circles this race season. Starting with a win at the Rolex 24 Hours At Dayton and podium finishes throughout, Audi captured its first IMSA WeatherTech Manufacturer’s Championship in the GTD category. But it definitely wasn’t done….
Audi R8 LMS Cup in Taiwan, a number of titles, podiums & more ???? for the Audi teams in GT racing this past wknd https://t.co/m9za5qJvJV #GT3 pic.twitter.com/snIVmYOQcr
— Audi Sport (@audisport) October 17, 2016
The Audi R8 LMS then went on to a strong showing at Road Atlanta, grabbing up enough points to win the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Championship, which is quite a way to end a break-out year. Something curious about the LMS version of the Audi R8: it shares 50% of its parts with the road-legal production R8 model, so you’re 50% to a championship title just by climbing inside…sort of.
“Congratulations to Audi on winning the IMSA GTD Manufacturers Championship,” said Johnny Stevenson, Stevenson Motorsports team owner. "We are proud to have been a part of their great season, and hopefully we can take everything we learned this year and come back even stronger in 2017. The whole Audi Sport customer racing group did a great job supporting us, and we are already looking forward to next season.”
—from a 10.04.16 Audi Press Release
”Finishing the 2016 season with the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Championship is a great way to close the year,” said John Potter, team owner and driver of the #44 Magnus Racing Audi R8 LMS. “The cornerstone of the series is endurance racing, so to walk away with the championship in our first season with Audi is absolutely incredible. As both the team owner and one of the drivers, a big part of my satisfaction comes in the teamwork.” —from a 10.04.16 Audi Press Release
You might not have a racetrack of your own, but that’s okay, because the production version of the Audi R8 is street-legal! Despite sharing half its parts with the LMS track version, you can still put in work at the circuit, then drive it home and park in the garage afterwards. Ready to turn your dreams into a reality? Come see us at Audi Warrington; we’ll answer any lingering questions and get you strapped in for one heck of a test drive!