Audi has officially announced that they’ll offer a new sports car, based on they’re Audi R8 hit. The ‘racing’ R8 conforms to the production- based GT3 regulations and it will be available from autumn 2009. “The R8 is the first production Audi bearing the name and genes of a successful racing sportscar and is therefore an excellent base from which to build up our first big customer sport program,” explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. The new R8 will offer more than 500 horsepower and adds things like a rear wing, full roll cage, heat extractors over the engine bay, a longer spoiler. Built on a rear-wheel-drive architecture the Audi R8 GT3 transfers power to the wheels via a new 6-speed sequential sports gearbox with suspension components taken from the regular production R8. First test races are scheduled for the 2009 season with deliveries to start next Autumn.
More photos after the jump.
Photo Gallery: Audi R8 GT3
Source: TopSpeed
