autoevolution
 

Audi RS3 Gets Racing Version, Becomes Audi RS3 LMS

Audi Sport has revealed the racing version of the RS3, which has been showcased at this year’s Paris Motor Show at the same time as the production model that it is based.
Audi RS3 LMS 22 photos
Photo: Stefan Baldauf/Guido ten Brink
Audi RS3 LMSAudi RS3 LMSAudi RS3 LMSAudi RS3 LMSAudi RS3 LMSAudi RS3 LMSAudi RS3 LMSAudi RS3 LMSAudi RS3 LMSAudi RS3 LMSAudi RS3 LMSAudi RS3 LMSAudi RS3 LMSAudi RS3 LMSAudi RS3 LMSAudi RS3 LMSAudi RS3 LMSAudi RS3 LMSAudi RS3 LMSAudi RS3 LMSAudi RS3 LMS
Audi’s latest creation for motorsport is called RS3 LMS, and it has been developed for the company’s customer racing program. The intention was to provide a car that will race in the TCR category, which is relatively new.

The RS3 LMS will run in FIA-sanctioned competitions that will take place in the 2017 season. The 2016 season had ten TCR series that had races in 18 countries, and the list for next year is even bigger.

A few national racing series based on the TCR class have also been announced, and Audi clients will have the chance to race in those if they desire.

The same class is also eligible for competitions like the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, so there are many options if you have the right FIA-approved license and your financial situation is adequate for racing.

Audi Sport’s director of the customer racing department, Chris Reinke, says that this class has an even bigger potential than the GT3 category because it has reached countries where no GT3 races were held.

Furthermore, the costs for a TCR race car are lower than other branches, especially when considering factory racing programs designed for customers.

Do not expect the RS3 LMS to be dirt cheap, as the club sport version starts at 99,000 euros plus VAT, while the TCR variant with a six-speed sequential transmission costs 129,000 euros plus VAT in Germany.

From there, customers will have to pay for delivery, and also ensure the distinct maintenance reserved for vehicles meant for racing. Remember that this is a class with lower costs, but not a low-cost series.

Audi says that the RS3 LMS can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in about 4.5 seconds, and its top speed will be about 240 km/h (149 mph). Both TCR and club sport versions come with a two-liter TFSI unit with four cylinders, which delivers 330 HP in the TCR specification.

Audi’s latest race car for customer programs comes with a PS3 safety seat, FIA safety nets on both sides of the seat, a rescue hatch in the roof, an FIA-compliant safety fuel tank, and a racing safety cell (roll cage). There are also other safety features, as mandated by FIA regulations.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
press release
About the author: Sebastian Toma
Sebastian Toma profile photo

Sebastian's love for cars began at a young age. Little did he know that a career would emerge from this passion (and that it would not, sadly, involve being a professional racecar driver). In over fourteen years, he got behind the wheel of several hundred vehicles and in the offices of the most important car publications in his homeland.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories