The Grand Am-specific version of Audi’s successful R8 LMS completed its first full-speed tests at Daytona International Speedway last week. The R8 Grand Am, designed specifically to race in the Rolex Sports Car Series, is based on the highly successful GT3 R8 LMS which has earned more than 110 victories and 13 championships in international competition.
In the hands of factory driver Frank Stippler, the new car completed more than 600 miles of high-speed tests at the Speedway where, it will make its competition debut at the 50th Anniversary Grand Am Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona January 28–29, 2012.
“We successfully tested all the modifications at Daytona,” said Romolo Liebchen, Head of Customer Sport at quattro GmbH, in a press statement. “With Frank Stippler we developed a sound and solid set-up for our customers and also gathered valuable findings in the endurance tests.”
The R8 Grand Am is much less exotic than its GT3 counterpart—much closer to the street-legal R8 sold at dealers. The Grand Am car with its nearly stock bodywork makes much less downforce, which necessitated a complete suspension retune.
“The lower aerodynamic forces also require modified damper characteristics and softer spring rates,” said Armin Plietsch, Head of Engineering Customer Sport at quattro GmbH.
Like the road car and the GT3 model, the Grand Am Audi uses a 5.2-liter V10 engine, which will be detuned to meet Grand Am specifications, which have yet to be finalized.
Grand Am Continental Tire series veteran APR Motorsport was the first team to sign on to race the new Audi in the Rolex series; three other teams are in negotiations. Audi will only make four cars available, to ensure that the factory can offer complete technical support to every team running Audi’s newest GT racer.
