It had to happen…Audi simply couldn’t sit back idly as BMW and Mercedes bashed out such lightweight track specials as the M3 GT and Black Series cars, especially when the company had a hand in creating Lamborghini’s line of powerful-yet-waif-like Superleggera models. So privateers and well-heeled racing enthusiasts rejoice…the R8 GT has arrived.
Among the R8 GT’s weight-shedding features are a lighter fixed rear wing in lieu of the electrically-raised item on the standard car, thinner glass and the extensive use of Carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) for such elements as the rear, hatch, bumper and those signature side blades. The result is a kerb weight of 1 525 kg, 100 kg lighter than the standard R8 V10.
Audi has also meted out a number of functional aesthetic treatments to its most focused R8. The grille frame and intake slats are finished in titanium grey, the front splitter is crafted from carbon-fibre and features a double-lip layout. This feature augments the nose canards to generate greater levels of downforce without impacting on the car’s already impressive 0,36 drag coefficient.
Audi has tweaked the 5,2-litre V10’s ECU to up the outputs from 386 kW and 530 N.m to 412 kW and 540 N.m. Audi’s 6-speed R-Tronic sequential manual transmission channels power to all four corners via the company’s Quattro all-wheel drive system. Audi claims a 0-100 km/h time of just 3,6 seconds and a top speed of 320 km/h.
The gearbox features an electronic management system featuring Normal, Sport and two manual presets controlled by gearlever or steering wheel-mounted paddles. There’s also the prerequisite launch control module, which winds the engine speed up before slamming in the clutch with minimum wheel slip when taking-off.
As befits the R8 GT’s exclusive nature, just 333 examples will be built in a single production run and will be offered in a choice of four colours: Samoa Orange metallic, Suzuka Grey metallic, Ice Silver metallic and Phantom Black pearl effect.