Born on the track and built for the road, the R8 is more than just an Audi production model; it is a powerful legend that made its debut 15 years ago. With a strong racing heritage and 50 percent shared parts with the R8 GT3 LMS race car, the Audi R8 Coupe is truly a thoroughbred.
During Monterey Car Week, each R8 will showcase its motorsports legacy and unique personality with a special individual vehicle wrap. Crafted by Frank Lamberty, the exterior designer of the first-generation Audi R8, these wraps celebrate the R8’s essence of being born on the track while acknowledging its prowess on the road. Starting as an ordinary road car at the front and transitioning into designs inspired by R8 GT3 race car liveries, the wraps are an artistic tribute. As an homage to the R8’s last laps at Laguna Seca, each wrap also features a line drawing of the renowned road course on the roof.
To continue its rich tradition of thrilling automotive enthusiasts, Audi will be present at the renowned Monterey Car Week. At Legends of the Autobahn on Thursday, Aug. 17, Audi will showcase the past and reveal the future, displaying two R8 V10 performance Coupes, including an RWD model, alongside the impressive Audi e-Tron lineup. Additionally, the R8s will be part of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca on Saturday, Aug. 19, where guests can witness the iconic car taking its final laps around the track, guided by the legendary nine-time Le Mans winner, Tom Kristensen, in an Audi RS e-tron GT pace car. Don’t miss the chance to meet the brilliant mind behind the R8’s design, Frank Lamberty, at both events.
Motorsport is deeply ingrained in the Audi DNA, and the R8 embodies this connection, boasting the same naturally aspirated V10 engine found in the R8 LMS race car. When it comes to racing, no other Audi model shares a closer bond. The upcoming 2023 R8 V10 performance model, equipped with a 5.2-liter FSI V10 engine, harnesses an astonishing 602 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque (or 532 horsepower and 398 lb-ft for the RWD variant). With each generation, the R8 brings racetrack expertise and Audi endurance racing legacy to the road.
Looking forward, Audi is ready to embrace a new era of motorsport as it gears up for Formula 1. The forthcoming regulations starting in 2026 will open doors for greater sustainability and electrification in this exciting racing discipline. Stay tuned as Audi takes on this new challenge.
This story originally appeared on Upscalelivingmag
