2019 Audi R8 LMS GT3 breaks cover

Mid-life update time for Audi's flagship customer racer, and would you just look at it?!

At the launch of the current R8 in 2015, Audi went to great lengths to highlight just how much co-development there had been between road and LMS race car. The motorsport engine was built on the same line as the road car, and it was able to travel 20,000 race kilometres between rebuilds. Given the success of the original, it was no surprise to learn Audi had notched up 200 LMS sales by 2016 - now, just two years after that, we have the next update.

Shown ahead of the facelifted R8 road car - expect that early next year - the LMS GT3 is described by Audi as "tailored closely to the customer requirements regarding technology and operating costs." With no factory supported GT3 effort, Audi has to prioritise the customer teams that run the cars; if a new version is cheaper (all things being relative) to run, it means those outfits are likely to stick with the R8 rather than switch to an alternative GT3 car. Goodness knows there are plenty of other options out there...

As such this R8 LMS boasts longer service intervals for the clutch and transmission, Audi saying the change "represents sensible investments promising success in racing and optimally support amateurs." In addition the technical base is said to be better, aero and cooling reworked to deliver "greater consistency under various dynamic driving conditions." We'd read that as the car being more approachable for amateurs than ever, the car being aimed at (and as successful with) gentleman racers as much as it is seasoned pros.

As for the incredible new look, Audi hasn't paid it much mind in the press release, though it's worth pointing out the new corporate grille (like an A1, in fact), the more aggressive aero flics and what appears to be an even more massive rear wing.

The price? 398,000 euros, since you're asking, with first deliveries due in November and first races - Audi confidently stating the cars will be "battling internationally for points victories and titles" - from January. Finally, if you're one of those customer racers with a second gen R8 LMS already, the car can be upgraded to this 2019 evolution spec for 28,000 euros. Can you afford not to?