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Audi to Reveal Grand-Am R8 LMS at 2012 Daytona 24 Hours

Customer racers wanting to race a face Audi under the Grand-Am regulations now have something to look forward to for next year, as Audi Motorsport has promised to unveiled a fresh model that meets Grand-Am US racing regulations at next year’s Daytona 24 Hours in July. The US unveil is timed to coincide with the 50th running of the Daytona 24 Hours.
Since its GT3 class car was introduced, Audi has stacked up 100 trophies in Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. Yet their R8 LMS wouldn’t meet the requirements set by the North American market, a chink in its armor, both from an image point of view and financially.

Changes will be made to the outside of the vehicle, where a new new front splitter, rear diffuser and Grand-Am-spec rear wing will be installed. The race car is already down compared to the production version, and air restrictions will make it even less powerful. Audi says the total output could drop from the current 490 hp to a lower level of about 450 to 470 horsepower. The onboard electronics are also to blame for this, and restrictions are also placed on the fuel tanks, whose capacity is limited to 83.3 liters.

The Grand-Am-spec car will also have to do without its standard anti-lock system and traction control that are considered to be driver aids in the USA.

"We’re convinced that we’re making a very attractive offer to our customers in the USA that will meet with great response," says Romolo Liebchen, Head of customer racing at quattro GmbH. "The anniversary event of the Daytona 24 Hours is a perfect occasion for the debut of the U.S. version of the new Audi R8 LMS."
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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