We tested the Audi R8 GT on the circuit and still haven’t got it (we’re not talking about the price of 245,000 euros)

Stepping into an Audi R8 GT or RS 3 LMS is certainly something to behold. To celebrate 40 years of Audi Sport, we got this chance and we have to admit that it was pretty amazing. Before we tell you about this amazing event, let’s do a little history. 2023 is a milestone for Audi Sport as it celebrates four decades of sport and innovation. Bright time for the brand and ring, which is preparing to open a new chapter. On the one hand with its arrival in the Prime Minister category, F1 in 2026, and on the other hand in front of the electronic advertising of future models, always guided by competition.

It was in the 1980s that Audi’s sports subsidiary joined the world rally championship. At that time, the ringed brand released two models that have been popular ever since: the Audi Quattro Group A2 and the S1 Quattro Group B. Two cars that launched a five-cylinder engine and the essential quattro all-wheel drive. And if these technologies were born in competition, later they will come to prepare production models, a tradition that continues today, and 11 million cars are equipped with the Quattro transmission in the world.

Audi Sport, 40 years of history and legendary cars

After withdrawing from the rally, Audi Sport then focused on the DTM in the 90s. The German championship in which the brand won no less than 15 titles, and which was the origin of the Customer Racing program in 2009 with racing models like the Audi RS 3 LMS and Audi R8 LMS GT4 that we were able to get behind the wheel of. Suits, hats and gloves, we first slipped, without any worries, into the second seat at the starting line of the Pau circuit. With your foot on the brake, pressing the Start button activates the 5.2-liter V10 that develops 495 hp at the rear axle. However, we will not hide from you that if the experience is exciting, especially in the braking phases where you have to commit to crushing the brake pedal with all your weight, we are far from using the power of the beast that it is. it’s certainly not one of the fastest cars out there but it still has a lot under the hood.