Another car class is slowly filling out with the 2002 Audi R8 LMP900 confirmed for Project Motor Racing, joining the Panoz LMP1 Roadster S, and third car yet to be announced by Straight4 Studios.
Originally introduced in 2002, it’s one of the most successful sports cars in motorsport history. Successes include five Le Mans wins in the six years between 2000 and 2005, including all three podium sports in 2000, 2001 and 2002. It also won the American Le Mans Series championship six times in a row across the same years. It also took the European Le Mans Series title in 2001 and the Le Mans Series championship in 2004, before being eventually replaced by the R10 TDI.
The Audi R8 LMP900 was powered by a 3.6 litre, 90 degree twin-turbo V8 officially claimed at 610hp and 700Nm of torque, but potentially boosted to 670hp by the twin ram-air intakes at speeds over 150mph, and featuring the Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) system to give a better throttle response, increase fuel economy and cut pit stop times. The carbon-fibre and alumnium honeycomb monocoque chassis helped it to weigh just 900kg to meet the class rules, and hit a top speed of 210mph on the Mulsanne straight.
And if the performance wasn’t enough, the R8 also used a modular design to enable anything to be changed quickly. For example, replacing a rear transaxle would normally take hours, but on the Audi, the Joest pit crew was able to do the job in three minutes and 16 seconds.
The success of the Audi R8 led to race organisers ACO updating the series rules to restrict the car, and privateer teams running it from 2003 onwards. That didn’t stop the car winning, including a final 2005 Le Mans victory, which was Tom Kristensen’s fifth en route to a record nine wins in total.
Keep up with the latest Project Motor Racing news and updates here, along with the Project Motor Racing car list and track list so far.
Leave a Reply