Audi Customer Racing Program Stops At Virginia International

Audi's customer racing program lands at the Virginia International Speedway this weekend as four owner/racers pit themselves and their vehicles against the pros on the Pirelli circuit.

Since the first cars nosed their way onto dirt cart paths of small town America and the cobblestoned streets of cities like New York or San Francisco, an “independent racer” tradition was born. Racers would take their cars; find a patch of winding road that circled back onto itself, set up some interesting corners, and they were off.

A tradition as old as cars themselves

It is a tradition that has been carried on since the days of Curved-Dash Oldsmobile and other early brasses.

One of today’s iterations is Audi’s Clubsport program. Indeed, when the flag drops at Virginia International Raceway next weekend, four of the race cars involved in this program will take part in the TC class of the Pirelli World Challenge.

Developed by Audi’s Sports customer racing program, the four RS 3 LMS race cars are part of the new global TCR Program.The marques debuted at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. “Audi Sports customer racing continues the tradition of producing quality products in motorsport that directly relate to the road cars,” said Tristan Herbert, manager of Audi Sports customer racing, North America. “The entry-level Audi RS3 LMS emulates the attention to detail associated with our production vehicles and is the perfect car for race competition for an amateur weekend track event.” Vehicle Production Values the Same

0 to 100 kph in 4.5 seconds; 330 horsepower

The Audi RS 3 LMS starts at $135,000 and moves out from there. The RS 3 LMS zips from 0 to 100 km/h in about 4.5 seconds. Its top end speed is 240 km/h. In a TCR trim, the two-liter, turbocharged four turns out 330 horsepower.

As you would expect, Audi takes safety seriously. The safety package includes an FIA-conforming fuel tank, a racing safety cell, a PS-3 safety seat, FIA safety nets on both sides of the seat and a rescue hatch in the roof identical to the one used on Audi R8 LMS.

Source: Audi