Monday 15th June 2015

Lap of Le Mans in the new R8: PH Blog

PH contributor Mike Duff gets a parade lap round Le Mans in the R8; things quickly get out of hand

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Sitting in the driver’s seat the all-new Audi R8 and waiting to go on track at Le Mans is a genuine pinch yourself moment, especially as it is happening nearly a month ahead of the car’s official launch. But there’s no time to daydream – a marshal is gesturing for me to go with a rolled-up flag and seconds later I’m bumping through an emergency gate onto the circuit proper.

"Guys, it was meant to be a parade lap..."

Somewhere up ahead Tom Kristensen is meant to be setting the pace in the R8 LMS racer, but by the time the supposedly chasing pack of journos has got onto the circuit he’s long since disappeared into the distance. I’m still reasonably star-struck to be following Nurburgring legend Horst von Saurma of Sport Auto Super Test fame. Being more important than I am he’s been given a fully liveried R8 pace car complete with flashing lights…

This is definitely a limited opportunity rather than a full dynamic assessment – we’ve got just one lap. So 8.5 miles, give or take, which is meant to be done at a gentle demonstration speed. Predictably this falls apart almost immediately when it becomes clear everyone is determined to do their own thing. Horst sets off at a cracking pace and I try to keep up.

Horst von Saurma gets flashing lights

It’s certainly brisk, this new R8. There’s no longer a V8 option – the manual gearbox has gone too – with the 5.2-litre V10 now available with either 540hp or, in the ‘Plus’, 610hp. Naturally we’ve been put in Pluses and the engine pulls with howling enthusiasm to the 8,500rpm redline, the colour of the instrument panel changing as the limiter approaches. Gearchanges are brutally fast, too with a noticeable torque bump as the next ratio arrives.

Things get silly as we pass the main grandstands. One of the R8s unexpectedly slows down so its driver can wave to the (mostly uninterested) crowds, meaning some big stops further back in the chain. Confirmation the carbon fibre brakes work well, although the pedal is characteristically Audi-light.

The rest of the lap passes in something of a blur. In some areas the marshals are furiously waving yellows to try and slow us down, in others they’re waving encouragement for us to speed up. The digital speedo reports 260km/h (160mph) before braking for the first chicane on the Mulsanne, achieved without much effort. The claimed 205mph top speed sounds eminently feasible.

Obvious comparisons with related Huracan

On first impressions it feels very like the Huracan – unsurprising given the two cars share most of their sub-surface structure and have identical carbon floors and rear bulkheads. And yes, that does mean the same springy-feeling over-light steering, it’s direct and the front end is keen to turn but by the end of my sole lap I’ve not built up much rapport with the helm. The Pirelli P-Zeros generate huge grip on the track’s mostly beautiful surface. The new R8 feels far more neutral under power at low speeds than its sometimes oversteery predecessor, likely proof that the electronically controlled clutch that diverts torque to the front when required works far more quickly than the old car’s viscous coupling.

And full credit to Audi for such a great way to introduce its new car, and one I definitely won’t be forgetting any time soon. But strange though it sounds I’m also really looking forward to a chance for a proper go on roads with speed limits and bumps.

Mike

[Gandahar]

"The new R8 feels far more neutral under power at low speeds than its sometimes oversteery predecessor, likely proof that the electronically controlled clutch that diverts torque to the front when required works far more quickly than the old car’s viscous coupling."

Is that a good thing though? I'd rather be doing a bit of oversteer at low speeds than at high due to the fact I'm not a superb helmsman and rather self preservation conscious.

I'd rather it be more neutral at high speeds when confidence is important.

[MIP1983]

Not growing on me yet, still prefer the looks of the previous shape.

[sealtt]

They made this one look just like a larger version of the new TT!

The previous gen definitely has the edge in the looks department, this has made the car look much more ordinary, sports car looks rather than super car looks the first one was styled as.

I wonder why they chose to do that.

[muchacho]

My thoughts too sealtt. I saw it playing Safety Car for Le Mans and, especially with the starkly high ride height, I thought I was looking at the new TT.

[thelawnet1]

And your lap time was?

[fathomfive]

Well it's certainly lost its looks.

[sh33n]

Why no v8 version? Seems odd that they are no longer pitching this against most of the 911 range, just the turbo perhaps.

[stephen300o]

Hmm, Porsche for the win me thinks.

[PhantomPH]

The most concerning (if that's the right word) thing about this, is that an article about a 610hp NA V10 powered car, makes it sound so utterly dull.

I should want this car like I want Kate Beckinsale in my bed when I wake up...but I don't. And nothing I've read so far has changed that.

It's a sad day when a 610hp V10 is mentioned and gone in only one sentence.

[Mike Duff]

thelawnet1 said:

And your lap time was?

At least six minutes. Although as I only crossed the start-finish line once, technically I'm probably still out there...

[Jam12321]

Agreed, old car looked better than this one. To me the R8 and the TT have got worse looking each generation that comes out.

[turbobungle]

Sounds like the car has gone backwards in terms of enjoyment as well as in (in my opinion) the looks department! And why no manual??? The old car's manual 'box was universally praised by every test I ever read. Such a shame.

[JsyM3]

"Confirmation the carbon fibre brakes work well"

I'd prefer carbon ceramic...

[mattf93]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

As far as I am aware the Naturally Aspirated v8 has been dropped completely from the audi line up. You can no longer order the RS5 or RS4 avant, and these were both the only v8s left in the line up so now a discontinued engine, they could possibly put in a twin turbo v8 from the s6/rs6 etc into it, or possibly hybrid. But theres been no indication they will reintroduce that v8 I'm afraid - or manual for that matter.

Agree on styling of r8 prefer old shape, however interior is a good step on but again the step up isn't enough from a tt to this. I guess audi do make the best mass market interiors though imo. Although new S class interior is pretty special (completely different car I know)

[R400TVR]

Is it just me or does the second picture remind anyone else of the Noble M600? Long rear deck, short nose, small side windows and very similar intakes?
A shame that Audi has abandoned the only decent drivers car it made, and abandoned the Sideblades.

[RoverP6B]

Good riddance to the hideous side-blades - but I'm concerned at the loss of the manual and the V8, given that almost everyone seemed to agree that the best R8 was the base-model manual V8.