Audi R8 LMS Starring at the 2010 Race of Champions

With the Race of Champions returning to Europe to be hosted by Germany on November 27 and 28, Audi will be part of the action too. Audi R8 LMS is one of the cars in which motorsport legends like Tom Kristensen, Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost, Sebastian Vettel and others will compete against each other.

The R8 LMS made quite a name for itself in GT3 competitions with a track record of 60 victories and five titles in two years. Sunday, 28 November, the Esprit-Arena in Dusseldorf will host two GT3-spec Audi R8 LMS cars that will be fielded by Phoenix Racing in Dusseldorf.

The car is powered by a 5.2-liter engine producing 525 hp and over 500 Nm (370 lb·ft), coupled to a six-speed pneumatic-activated sport gearbox with a paddle-shifter, and weighs only 1,340 kg (2,954 lbs)

Audi has been connected to the Race of Champions since Michele Mouton, who was the runner-up in the 1982 World Rally Championship, came up with the idea of the event together with Fredrik Johnsson. Audi took part in the inaugural race in 1988 with the spectacular Sport quattro S1 at Montlhery in France. A year later, the Group B car took part in the second edition of the Race of Champions, which was held at the Nurburgring. 21 years later, the Race of Champions returns to Germany.

“We’re happy that the world’s best race and rally drivers will also be seen in the Audi R8 LMS,” said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “In the hands of our customers the GT3 sports car has proved its racing capabilities by clinching 60 victories and five title wins in just 24 months."

"The model has also provided the expected commercial impulses. The customer sport program has long become the desired third pillar of Audi’s motorsport strategy. That such an illustrious driver line-up and the Audi R8 LMS can now be watched together will be a spectacular culmination of the year for motorsport fans in Germany.”