The first-generation Audi R8 LMS, introduced in 2009, was based on the original Type 42 R8 road car and accumulated a strong customer racing record through the early 2010s. Production of the Type 42 road car ended in August 2015, and the second-generation R8 Type 4S, based on the Modular Sports System platform shared with the Lamborghini Huracán, debuted at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. Audi Sport used this new platform as the basis for the second-generation R8 LMS, also launched in 2015, to maintain the R8 LMS programme's competitiveness under evolving FIA GT3 regulations.
The second-generation R8 LMS is powered by a race-specification V10 engine developing a peak output of 430 kW (577 hp). Despite the road car adopting the Huracán platform and sharing many components with its Lamborghini sibling, the racing car's V10 engine was developed to a separate race specification to meet GT3 performance regulations and Balance of Performance requirements.
The car adopted rear-wheel drive in place of the road car's quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system, a change made to reduce weight and comply with GT3 class norms. The chassis combined aluminium elements within an Audi Space Frame (ASF) structure, carbon-fibre reinforced structural components, and a steel roll cage, with the chassis itself weighing approximately 252 kg — around 30 kg lighter than the road car's equivalent structure. Torsional stiffness increased by 39 percent compared to the prior generation. Total car weight was approximately 1,225 kg.
Safety features included a modified spaceframe structure at the front and a carbon-fibre crash element at the rear. The driver was accommodated in the PS1 racing seat sourced from the Audi R18 e-Tron Quattro LMP1 programme, connected directly to the chassis for maximum rigidity. A height- and length-adjustable steering column and adjustable foot lever system allowed adaptation to different drivers. A rescue opening in the roof, borrowing a concept from DTM touring cars, was incorporated into the design — at the time described as a first for any GT3 car, enabling the driver's helmet to be lifted after an accident without straining the spine.
The aerodynamic concept introduced for the second generation included a fully lined underfloor and an integrated rear diffuser for the first time. The rear wing dimensions were reduced without increasing drag. Wheel arch openings were enlarged rearward to improve airflow, and the radiator's airflow rate and cooling area at the front increased by ten percent. Cockpit fresh air circulation was improved, delivering 250 litres per second at 200 km/h.
Manufacturing of both the road car and the race car was integrated at a facility at the Bollinger Höfe industrial park in Heilbronn, operated by Quattro GmbH (later renamed Audi Sport GmbH). The racing chassis progressed through the same early production steps as the road car — including roof assembly and cathodic dip painting — before being separated for race-specific completion in Heilbronn-Biberach.
In 2018, ahead of the 2019 season, Audi Sport unveiled the R8 LMS Evo, which introduced new bodywork including a revised front splitter for improved downforce, and an upgraded gearbox. The Evo was available for purchase as a complete new car or as an upgrade kit for existing second-generation R8 LMS cars.
In 2021, Audi Sport revealed the R8 LMS Evo II, bringing further aerodynamic improvements, revised engine characteristics, upgraded air conditioning, revised suspension geometry, and refined traction control systems. The Evo II was likewise offered as a new car or as an upgrade kit.
The second-generation R8 LMS entered competition from 2015 and was campaigned by Audi customer teams across GT3 series globally, including the Blancpain GT Series, IMSA SportsCar Championship, ADAC GT Masters, Australian GT Championship, and the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. A notable result was the overall victory at the 2018 Bathurst 12 Hour.
The 2015-generation R8 LMS represented a step change in GT3 car development, integrating advanced safety features, a substantially lighter and stiffer chassis, and aerodynamic technology that borrowed from Audi's LMP prototype programme. Its long production life, extended through successive Evo updates into the early 2020s, confirmed the platform's underlying strength. A GT4 variant of the second-generation R8 LMS was introduced at the 2017 New York International Auto Show, and a GT2 variant was unveiled at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed, further extending the model's reach across class-based GT racing.
Gallery · 4 related images
