Audi rolled out its all-new R8 LMS Ultra GT3 car alongside the road going version of second-generation R8 at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month. The updated R8 GT3 racer was first seen testing at the Nurburgring last year, however its recently been spotted putting some laps in at the historic German racetrack without its camouflage as Audi gets ready for the car’s first racing season next year.
When Audi announced the car in Geneva, they directed our attention towards the new R8 LMS Ultra’s lighter weight and enhanced driver safety. They modified the front structure and inserted special carbon fiber reinforced plastic element in the rear of the car for enhanced strength, and also inserted a rescue hatch in the roof allowing the driver to exit the car easier in the event of a crash. These enhancements added weight, but Audi was still able to strip 25 kg from the LMS Ultra over the outgoing model.
Apart from the fancy carbon fiber reinforced plastic and aluminum elements, the new R8 LMS isn’t all that different from the last car. It still has Audi’s 5.2-liter V10 engine, which is still located behind the driver and sending its power to the rear wheels through a six-speed paddle shift transmission.
The R8 LMS Ultra won’t debut until next year, with the existing model serving Audi’s factory and customer race teams for the last time this year. Check out the brief clip of it testing in the video below for a sneak peak at the car before its FIA premiere in early 2016.
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