Audi RS3 LMS – TCR class race car, 2.0 TFSI, 330 hp

You’ve seen the new Audi RS3 Sedan, now drool over its race car sister. Audi Sport customer racing has unveiled the Audi RS3 LMS that will hit the tracks in 2017, broadening its race car range.

“Audi has been active in motorsport on the highest level for generations. With the Audi R8 LMS, Audi Sport customer racing, in a very short time, managed to build a successful customer sport program alongside the factory commitments in the WEC and the DTM. The R8 LMS has since become the market leader in its segment. We have the same plans for the RS3 LMS, which offers customers an attractive opportunity to get started in fascinating Audi racing,” said Stephan Winkelmann, MD at Audi Sport.

The Audi RS3 LMS is being developed for the TCR category which is relatively new. In addition to an international TCR series, with some of its races being held as part of the F1 support programme, more and more national racing series for TCR touring cars are being founded. Even major endurance events such as the 24 Hours of Nurburgring now include TCR classes.

“The TCR market has even larger potential than that of the GT3 category. In 2016, there were ten TCR series with races in 18 countries, and more and more series are being added. With the TCR version of the RS3 we’re also reaching countries where no GT3 races are held,” said Chris Reinke, head of Audi Sport customer racing.

“The costs for a TCR race car are very low. In terms of support and parts supply, they’ll benefit from the experiences we’ve been gathering with the Audi R8 LMS since 2009, which our GT3 customers have come to appreciate,” he added.

You wouldn’t have guessed, but the RS3 LMS has less power than the road car, and is slower too. No 2.5L five-pot here as it’s powered by the group’s proven and race-ready 2.0 TFSI engine, tuned to make 330 hp here. 0-100 km/h is completed in 4.5 seconds and top speed is around 240 km/h.

The race car’s extensive safety package includes an FIA-conformant safety fuel tank, a racing safety cell, the PS3 safety seat, FIA safety nets on both sides of the seat and a rescue hatch in the roof like the one used in the Audi R8 LMS.

Audi Sport customer racing will start delivering the first RS3 LMS cars to customers this December, before the major TCR racing series open in 2017. It’s priced at 129,000 euros (RM599,312) including VAT for the TCR version with a sequential six-speed racing transmission and 99,000 euros (RM459,906) for a clubsport version.

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