The new Audi R8 Grand-Am was fine-tuned at the Daytona race track during its final shake-down last week, and can now be delivered to the teams competing in the Grand-Am series, with debut date set for the next 24 hours of Daytona (January 26-29). The model is based on is based on the successful Audi R8 LMS, that scored more than 110 victories and 13 titles during its racing history. However, this model is slightly different from the GT3 as Grand-Am regulations forced the engineers to modify its bodywork resulting in a 70-80% loss of its aerodynamic down-force. The car will also use some bits (i.e. an optimized radiator package) lifted from the recently unveiled R8 LMS Ultra.

In Daytona the car also had the chance to have a first taste of the tires provided by Continental, the only supplier of the series. Also the standard powertrain had to undergo some restriction, with a particular air-renstrictor and re-calibrated electronics that reduced the output of its 5.2-litre V10 engine to 450-470 hp.

via | MotorAuthority

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Audi presents the R8 LMS Ultra 2012, the new racing version of Audi R8 that will replace the current R8 LMS, the very successful model that waved the 4 rings flag on the circuits around the world for the past three years scoring 115 wins and 12 national and international titles in the process.

The ‘Ultra’ tag (used for the R18 TDI as well) indicates the kind of innovations that were applied to the car to make it even more performing: new doors made of CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) with high-energy absorbing new crash foams, updated transmission, larger coolers for engine oil and transmission fluids, enlarged side vents for increased air flow, a new exhaust with race catalytic converters, revised Bilstein dampers, new hood, larger rear spoiler and new PS1 racing seats. Audi R8 LMS Ultra’s engine is still a 5.2-liter V10 unit delivering 570 hp (419 kW), based on the production unit.

The car now sits 12″ wheels fitted with Michelin specifically developed tyres. The brake cooling at the front wheels has been optimized in an attempt to improve durability while the rubber of the suspension transverse control arms has joined in uniball arrangement. Audi R8 LMS Ultra will be available from March 2012 with a price tag of 329.900 € (before taxes) and an upgrade package will also be made available for the 40 existing model of the previous generation.

View the full Audi R8 LMS Ultra photo gallery

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