Audi R8 GT Spyder – One of 333 made, 33 UK cars

[SPORTZ N TOURING]

Hi, I'm new around here... So thought I'd introduce myself by sharing one of my cars in this section of the forum.

The R8 GT is the Speciale or Superleggera of the R8s – lighter, sharper, rawer and rarer. Only 333 numbered R8 GT Spyders were made, with only 33 made for the UK in 2012. Weight saving alterations from regular gen 1 R8s range from a magnesium engine frame, carbon fibre panels in various places, fixed bucket seats, thinner windscreen glass and many more changes – too many to list. The result is an 85kg reduction in weight on the Spyder.

Handling is sharpened thanks to changes to the chassis, geometry and the height adjustable Bilstein coilovers that came as standard. To complement this it comes with the 560PS tune of the 5.2L V10 – a little more than the gen 1 R8s of the time. It has additional aero, including a more aggressive rear diffuser, front splitter, canards and a rear spoiler all in satin carbon. Mine has the additional carbon interior pack and the carbon windscreen surround.

Having driven a few R8s, this feels very different – it's not your daily-drivable R8. It's sharper, stiffer and noticeably more raw (how I prefer my cars). Why the Spyder? Honestly, I've never been into convertibles – this is my first... But once I drove it with the roof down and heard the V10 howl in a way you can't with the coupé – I was sold. Sure, the coupé is another 100kg lighter but honestly for the experience the lack of a roof provides, it was worth it (for me)!

I've had an uprated geometry added by RE Performance that makes it even sharper – dialling out what was left of the conservative understeer, making the handling all the more playful.







EDIT: More photos added as requested

Edited by SPORTZ N TOURING on Wednesday 5th January 14:52

[SiT]

This is beautiful and needs more pics! I am a massive fan of the Gen 1 R8 and think it presents a very shrewd buy right now. This is something else and would love to see some more pics of details.

I totally get your convertible comment - although I have always been a fan - for the exact you reason you specify. It makes it such a more visceral experience each and everytime.

Currently have a 911 cab and yes it’s not the tin top classic Porsche but oh how the driving experience changes when you drop that roof!

Congrats - I notice you say ‘one of my cars’ are there more…..

Si

[Jonmx]

I'm not an R8 fan personally, but that does look rather good. And welcome to PH

[Gnevans]

Very nice. What number is your’s? Mine is a white coupe. A great car. So far I’ve only seen white, Suzuka grey, orange, black and an iridescent purple (spyder). Has anyone seen any other colours?

[SPORTZ N TOURING]

SiT said:

This is beautiful and needs more pics! I am a massive fan of the Gen 1 R8 and think it presents a very shrewd buy right now. This is something else and would love to see some more pics of details.

I totally get your convertible comment - although I have always been a fan - for the exact you reason you specify. It makes it such a more visceral experience each and everytime.

Currently have a 911 cab and yes it’s not the tin top classic Porsche but oh how the driving experience changes when you drop that roof!

Congrats - I notice you say ‘one of my cars’ are there more…..

Si

Thank you!
I'm happy to share more pics soon. There's a playlist – via my website link in my PH profile – including a cinematic showcase I made.
(I don't want to get into trouble posting external links to my own content).

I'm glad I'm not the only one who appreciates that roof down experience!

My other car is a 2018 370Z Nismo. That's a bit of a project and has had a few things done to it but I've kept it quite clean. I'll post that up another day :-)

[SPORTZ N TOURING]

Jonmx said:

I'm not an R8 fan personally, but that does look rather good. And welcome to PH

You know, neither was I. Honestly, I don't think I'd have gone for the regular R8. It's a great car but a little too 'soft' for my preferences. The GT really is something else...

When I saw this and researched it, I had to drive it... Then, it was all over after that lol

Thanks for the warm welcome.

[SPORTZ N TOURING]

Gnevans said:

Very nice. What number is your’s? Mine is a white coupe. A great car. So far I’ve only seen white, Suzuka grey, orange, black and an iridescent purple (spyder). Has anyone seen any other colours?

Mine is No. 96.

A friend of mine has a coupé in Silver – No. 82. He's jonathan.r8gt on instagram.

There's a funny story behind that... I tell it in a video on my channel with both our cars but the short version is, I didn't know him before but on the day I bought mine, I was in central London meeting some friends, saw a silver GT drive past randomly... I was surprised because the GT is so rare... Then, he saw my car on instagram, we got chatting via insta and turns out it was him who drove past me that day (I had it on video)... Turns out he lives just a few roads away from me. Anyway, been friends since and been out in the cars together a couple of times. Small world!

[Court_S]

That’s very cool.

Big fan of the early R8’s. I think they’ve aged really well and make the later cars look a bit fussy and over designed. A drop top with that engine will be a hell of an experience.

[Macron]

Oof, that looks fantastic! More please! Much more!!

[Its Just Adz]

Big fan of these, I used to work for Audi and the V10 is a cracking car.
Didn't the GT have laser lights?

[SPORTZ N TOURING]

Its Just Adz said:

Big fan of these, I used to work for Audi and the V10 is a cracking car.
Didn't the GT have laser lights?

No, laser lights came out on the even more limited run LMX that followed the GT.
The GT really is an amazing car. So different to the stock R8s.

[Gnevans]

There must be plenty of crashed ones judging by YouTube & Google. I wonder hw many are left worldwide?

[F1GTRUeno]

Having driven a Gallardo and a V8 R8, I would love a go in one of these.

That sound is to die for and the chassis is very good.

Lovely thing.

[Its Just Adz]

SPORTZ N TOURING said:

No, laser lights came out on the even more limited run LMX that followed the GT.
The GT really is an amazing car. So different to the stock R8s.

You're right, it was the LMX. My mistake.
Are you considering an aftermarket exhaust for yours?

[SPORTZ N TOURING]

Gnevans said:

There must be plenty of crashed ones judging by YouTube & Google. I wonder hw many are left worldwide?

Really?! I guess there's likely a few that's been crashed... I don't know how many are now left but would also be interested in knowing.
According to HowManyLeft in the UK there's still 33. Around a third are SORN'd (registered as off the road).

[SPORTZ N TOURING]

Its Just Adz said:

You're right, it was the LMX. My mistake.
Are you considering an aftermarket exhaust for yours?

Mine has a Milltek Race Exhaust. You can hear it via the video playlist on the channel link on my PH profile.
(Apparently PH is very strict on linking off site so I won't add any links here).

There's plenty of videos that give you a good idea of the sound

[SPORTZ N TOURING]

F1GTRUeno said:

Having driven a Gallardo and a V8 R8, I would love a go in one of these.

That sound is to die for and the chassis is very good.

Lovely thing.

It really is! I've driven the V8 manual – lots of fun (I actually made a video driving a V8 and the GT back to back on my channel – that was fun)...

I've not driven a Gallardo, only been in a friend's one... But the Gallardo has a 90mm shorter wheelbase and just from the passenger seat I could feel it was a bit more twitchy than the R8... The GT is a better car than both according to my friend who's reviewed them all.

[SPORTZ N TOURING]

Macron said:

Oof, that looks fantastic! More please! Much more!!

Photos added to the original post. There's more on my instagram @sportzntouring

[SPORTZ N TOURING]

SiT said:

This is beautiful and needs more pics! I am a massive fan of the Gen 1 R8 and think it presents a very shrewd buy right now. This is something else and would love to see some more pics of details.

I totally get your convertible comment - although I have always been a fan - for the exact you reason you specify. It makes it such a more visceral experience each and everytime.

Currently have a 911 cab and yes it’s not the tin top classic Porsche but oh how the driving experience changes when you drop that roof!

Congrats - I notice you say ‘one of my cars’ are there more…..

Si

Done! Photos added to the original post

[Gnevans]

24 coupes and a full compliment of 33 spyders on how many left.