Who needs the R8 LMS anyways?
When looking for an aftermarket tuning company, customers normally prefer to take their business to a company that has some racing heritage and a background in motorsports. The knowledge gained from racing translates to road cars, and that is especially true in the performance realm. German tuning company, Racing One, has unveiled their new Audi R8 5.2 packed with motorsports goodies as not just a car to showcase their products, but as a car to train drivers and help organize races and track days.
Currently, Racing One is heavily involved in motorsports. The team was an integral part of the Ferrari 458 Challenge’s Endurance Package development in the Long Distance Championship Nürburgring (VLN). Knowledge gained here, along with other races, has translated into a winning formula when it comes to customer cars.
The Racing One R8 is an example of the company’s racing prowess. The V-10 engine has been reworked to boost output up from the standard 525 horsepower to 610 horsepower through the use of upgraded engine hardware, software tuning, and new components that are capable of handling the extreme stresses endured at the racetrack. Spitting out a ferocious sound is a lightweight Akrapovic titanium exhaust system with naturally-controlled flaps.
With more power than any of the Audi R8 LMS race cars sitting behind the driver’s seat, the Racing One R8 is already on its way to being the ultimate racing version of the super car. To ensure that it was unquestionably the best, the team installed a new Bilstein Motorsport two-way MDS damper system to allow for different setups depending on the track. The standard brakes were also upgraded with new pads from Performance Friction Brakes, and a revised brake cooling system similar to that used in race cars. For maximum grip, the factory R8 5.2 wheels were fitted with semi-slick tires.
The Racing One R8 doesn’t wear any new spoilers, diffusers, or splitters, but does wear a new Cam Shaft Premium Wrapping skin. The entire exterior was given a new wrap by the German car foiling specialists in a bright green with black accents throughout the exterior. The standard wheels were finished in black paint with a matching green stripe while the front intakes, rear fins, and fuel cap were given red highlights.
Just like any race car, Racing One fitted the Audi R8 5.2 with special bucket seats for better lateral support along with six-point harnesses for safety. Special interior braces and a fire extinguisher were also included to ensure the safety of both the driver and passenger.
The Racing One R8 can be used to teach new drivers performance training and is outfitted with cameras and data recording to further improve skills after each run. The German company can also provide a number of different race-prepped performance cars from Porsche and Ferrari for customers or corporate clients that wish to organize races or track days.
Racing One can upgrade customer cars with the same treatment as their featured R8 5.2. The equipment shown on the R8 5.2 costs approximately 26,000 Euro depending on specific options.
Racing One R8 Specifications
Engine:
Displacement: 5.2 liters
Number of Cylinders: V-10
Aspiration: Naturally Aspirated
Maximum Horsepower: 610
-Retuned ECU
-Motorsports upgrades
-Akrapovic titanium exhaust with flaps
Wheels, Tires, Suspension, and Brakes:
Wheels: Factory R8 5.2 wheels with glossy black finish and green stripe
Tires: Semi-slick
Suspension: Bilstein two-way MDS dampers
Brakes: Upgraded racing cooling system and new pads from Performance Friction Brakes
Exterior:
-Cam Shaft Premium Car Wrapping green foiling
-Red highlights on the front and rear gills, and fuel cap
-Black accents
Interior:
-Racing bucket seats
-Six-point harness
-Upgraded interior bracing
-Fire Extinguisher
Racing One R8 Gallery
[Source: Racing One]
Would you rather have the 610 HP Racing One R8 or an Audi R8 LMS? Leave a comment and let us know!
