one man & his Audi R8 LMS

4re Nut · Mar 29, 2012

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/29/an-inside-look-at-the-audi-r8-lms-and-its-future-of-racing-in-th/

...One of the places the R8 LMS hasn't had a big impact, though, is here in the United States. For 2012, Audi did finally homologate a version of the race car for Grand-Am, but it's a version that's significantly changed from the model that competes in the European GT3 series. The aerodynamics of the car are less aggressive to meet Grand-Am standards, the 5.2-liter V10 is detuned by around 75 horsepower, and driver aids like ABS and traction control have been removed.

With the R8's success in motorsports internationally, Audi has hinted that it is currently looking at expending the car's presence to other racing series stateside. One man, James Sofronas, isn't waiting around for the good folks at Ingolstadt to take action, though. He got his hands on a pair of GT3-spec R8 LMS race cars and is in the process of homologating them for a racing series here in the United States. He recently invited us to take a closer look at the R8 LMS and learn more about the car's domestic racing future...

"The Grand-Am versions frankly are muted versions of these," he told us. "They are restricted, they have less aero on the car, they have less clutch on the car, and they can't run ABS or traction control. It's a shame because together with all that the car is pretty impressive."

With no wish to compete in the Grand-Am series with the R8 LMS, Sofronas is looking to the same race series that he competes in with his Porsche. "We are in the process of negotiating with SCCA to find a home for this car in the Pirelli World Challenge series. They are a little more restrictive than FIA GT3, but they are broader than Grand-Am."...
Click to expand...

gallery
Image Unavailable, Please Login

GuyIncognito · Mar 29, 2012

that's an incredibly expensive machine to go up against Corvettes and 911 Cup cars...

but, WC has a diverse field and great action, so good for him.

PCA Hack · Mar 29, 2012

GuyIncognito said: ↑

that's an incredibly expensive machine to go up against Corvettes and 911 Cup cars...

but, WC has a diverse field and great action, so good for him.
Click to expand...

That's an incredibly expensive machine to own when you don't have a guaranteed series to run it!

GuyIncognito · Mar 29, 2012

PCA Hack said: ↑

That's an incredibly expensive machine to own when you don't have a guaranteed series to run it!
Click to expand...

touche.

4re Nut · Mar 29, 2012

GuyIncognito said: ↑

that's an incredibly expensive machine to go up against Corvettes and 911 Cup cars...

PCA Hack said: ↑

That's an incredibly expensive machine to own when you don't have a guaranteed series to run it!
Click to expand...

Click to expand...

...Sofronas' success in World Challenge has been with Porsche and the 911 GT3 Cup...
Click to expand...

Pcar drivers aren't known for their rational behavior.

Nuvolari · Mar 29, 2012

The R8 has a surprisingly low operating cost compared to other cars in the Grand Am field. I suspect the cost savings would be similar in World Challenge. If of course there is a World Challenge; a series which makes no sense to me when compared to Grand Am. Then again that is another conversation all together.

GuyIncognito · Mar 30, 2012

Nuvolari said: ↑

The R8 has a surprisingly low operating cost compared to other cars in the Grand Am field. I suspect the cost savings would be similar in World Challenge. If of course there is a World Challenge; a series which makes no sense to me when compared to Grand Am. Then again that is another conversation all together.
Click to expand...

WC had 50 cars on the grid at St. Pete...

Conversations

Alerts

one man & his Audi R8 LMS

4re Nut F1 World Champ

GuyIncognito Nine Time F1 World Champ
Silver Subscribed

PCA Hack Formula Junior

GuyIncognito Nine Time F1 World Champ
Silver Subscribed

4re Nut F1 World Champ

Nuvolari F1 Veteran
Owner Silver Subscribed

GuyIncognito Nine Time F1 World Champ
Silver Subscribed

Share This Page

one man & his Audi R8 LMS

4re Nut F1 World Champ

GuyIncognito Nine Time F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

PCA Hack Formula Junior

GuyIncognito Nine Time F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

4re Nut F1 World Champ

Nuvolari F1 Veteran Owner Silver Subscribed

GuyIncognito Nine Time F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

Share This Page

GuyIncognito Nine Time F1 World Champ
Silver Subscribed

GuyIncognito Nine Time F1 World Champ
Silver Subscribed

Nuvolari F1 Veteran
Owner Silver Subscribed

GuyIncognito Nine Time F1 World Champ
Silver Subscribed