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GRAND-AM
GRAND-AM: Inside The Audi R8 LMS
SPEED.com explores the technical differences to the new GRAND-AM specific Audi R8 LMS and what led to the most successful GT3 car’s new-found home in America...
Audi's ultra-successful R8 LMS is headed to America, having been approved for GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series competition beginning in 2012. (Photo: John Dagys)
In just a few short years, Audi’s R8 LMS has become the most successful GT3 car worldwide, having claimed over 100 victories in over a dozen championships around the globe since its debut in 2009.
While the mid-engined sportscar has no doubt made a mark for itself in some of the world’s toughest endurance races, including the Nurburgring 24 Hours and its recent overall victory in the 24 Hours of Spa, the popular customer-based program had yet to impact one of Audi’s most important markets, until now.
After over a year of speculation on whether the R8 LMS would find a home in an American sportscar championship came confirmation earlier this month that Audi would build a modified version of its GT3 car for the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series.
The news obviously came well received to both fans in the U.S. that have been patiently waiting to see the R8 LMS in action, but also to both Audi and GRAND-AM, which had been in negotiations for close to two years on the best way to bring the car into Rolex Series GT competition.
As Romolo Liebchen, head of customer racing for Audi quattro GmbH explains in a SPEED.com exclusive, there was a clear focus on the U.S. market early on, but no logical way to have the R8 LMS compete in one of the major American championships until now.
“When we got the decision by the board to start the customer racing business, starting with the R8 which led us to calling it the R8 LMS, it was clear that this [program] was not just focused on Germany or Europe but... to sell this car all around the world,” Liebchen said. “Of course the U.S. market is one of the most important markets for the brand. We started to look for a solution.”
First contact between Audi and GRAND-AM came in early 2010 when VP of competition Dave Spitzer made a visit to Sebring International Raceway to see the R8 LMS testing in America for the first time.
Turning the clock back some 20 months, Spitzer recalls the initial struggles, more importantly, a difference of visions, on how the R8 LMS could be integrated into Rolex GT series from a technical perspective.
“The distance was very wide from the perspective of Audi and the perspective of GRAND-AM,” Spitzer said. “We knew we [both] wanted to be here. I’ve made five or six visits to the shops in Germany, spent some time looking over every detail of the car, back and forth with discussions.
“The process with Audi is difficult,” Spitzer added. “They have a lot of very experienced people and a fantastic reputation. They set a high standard for themselves in engineering and in business. So these decisions are not taken lightly. Sometimes I was frustrated and sometimes I wanted to go faster and sometimes I didn’t know what to say. But Romolo was a good partner through all of it.”
GRAND-AM and Audi nearly came to an agreement at the beginning of this year but Spitzer was faced with another hurdle as Audi shifted its customer programs entirely over to subsidiary quattro GmbH, and was had to report to a new set of board members. But a few months later, everything was set for the car’s homologation for the highly competitive GT category.
“Finally we ended up with a solution where it was possible to do it because we know we can only sell a few cars to GRAND-AM,” Liebchen said. “Now you have to calculate and need a budget to make future development to the car. After a certain time, I think we matched that stage technical-wise and said, 'OK, now we could do it.'”
"In the end, it's very gratifying to see the response of the fans inside our paddock. And there's excitement building within Audi too, I think," Spitzer added.
Adapting the Audi R8 LMS to GRAND-AM specification was arguably the most challenging aspect of the project, given the car’s distinct differences to the majority of the Rolex GT Series competitors. Producing in upwards of 520 hp and featuring sophisticated ABS and traction-control systems, the standard FIA version of the car had to be adjusted to GRAND-AM’s specifications.
Some of the major changes include: a smaller splitter, revised cooling system, new diffuser from the production R8, and the GRAND-AM-spec Crawford rear wing.
But perhaps the biggest transformation has come with an all-new thicker roll-cage that’s compliant to the series’ increased safety requirements, aimed primarily around the added risks of racing on the Daytona high banks.
The GRAND-AM-spec R8 LMS also does not feature ABS or traction-control and sees a 50-70 horsepower reduction through the use of air restrictors. The 5.0-liter V10 powerplant, along with its electronics, will be put on the dyno at NASCAR’s R&D facility in Concord, N.C. later this year in order to come to a starting point for the 2012 season.
Incidentally, Audi’s production ECU on the R8 LMS will remain unchanged.
Liebchen confirmed that Audi will initially build four GRAND-AM specific models for 2012, priced at $438,000 each, with the option of extending the build the following year depending on the level of interest.
While the mid-engined sportscar has no doubt made a mark for itself in some of the world’s toughest endurance races, including the Nurburgring 24 Hours and its recent overall victory in the 24 Hours of Spa, the popular customer-based program had yet to impact one of Audi’s most important markets, until now.
After over a year of speculation on whether the R8 LMS would find a home in an American sportscar championship came confirmation earlier this month that Audi would build a modified version of its GT3 car for the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series.
The news obviously came well received to both fans in the U.S. that have been patiently waiting to see the R8 LMS in action, but also to both Audi and GRAND-AM, which had been in negotiations for close to two years on the best way to bring the car into Rolex Series GT competition.
As Romolo Liebchen, head of customer racing for Audi quattro GmbH explains in a SPEED.com exclusive, there was a clear focus on the U.S. market early on, but no logical way to have the R8 LMS compete in one of the major American championships until now.
“When we got the decision by the board to start the customer racing business, starting with the R8 which led us to calling it the R8 LMS, it was clear that this [program] was not just focused on Germany or Europe but... to sell this car all around the world,” Liebchen said. “Of course the U.S. market is one of the most important markets for the brand. We started to look for a solution.”
First contact between Audi and GRAND-AM came in early 2010 when VP of competition Dave Spitzer made a visit to Sebring International Raceway to see the R8 LMS testing in America for the first time.
Turning the clock back some 20 months, Spitzer recalls the initial struggles, more importantly, a difference of visions, on how the R8 LMS could be integrated into Rolex GT series from a technical perspective.
“The distance was very wide from the perspective of Audi and the perspective of GRAND-AM,” Spitzer said. “We knew we [both] wanted to be here. I’ve made five or six visits to the shops in Germany, spent some time looking over every detail of the car, back and forth with discussions.
“The process with Audi is difficult,” Spitzer added. “They have a lot of very experienced people and a fantastic reputation. They set a high standard for themselves in engineering and in business. So these decisions are not taken lightly. Sometimes I was frustrated and sometimes I wanted to go faster and sometimes I didn’t know what to say. But Romolo was a good partner through all of it.”
GRAND-AM and Audi nearly came to an agreement at the beginning of this year but Spitzer was faced with another hurdle as Audi shifted its customer programs entirely over to subsidiary quattro GmbH, and was had to report to a new set of board members. But a few months later, everything was set for the car’s homologation for the highly competitive GT category.
“Finally we ended up with a solution where it was possible to do it because we know we can only sell a few cars to GRAND-AM,” Liebchen said. “Now you have to calculate and need a budget to make future development to the car. After a certain time, I think we matched that stage technical-wise and said, 'OK, now we could do it.'”
"In the end, it's very gratifying to see the response of the fans inside our paddock. And there's excitement building within Audi too, I think," Spitzer added.
Adapting the Audi R8 LMS to GRAND-AM specification was arguably the most challenging aspect of the project, given the car’s distinct differences to the majority of the Rolex GT Series competitors. Producing in upwards of 520 hp and featuring sophisticated ABS and traction-control systems, the standard FIA version of the car had to be adjusted to GRAND-AM’s specifications.
Some of the major changes include: a smaller splitter, revised cooling system, new diffuser from the production R8, and the GRAND-AM-spec Crawford rear wing.
But perhaps the biggest transformation has come with an all-new thicker roll-cage that’s compliant to the series’ increased safety requirements, aimed primarily around the added risks of racing on the Daytona high banks.
The GRAND-AM-spec R8 LMS also does not feature ABS or traction-control and sees a 50-70 horsepower reduction through the use of air restrictors. The 5.0-liter V10 powerplant, along with its electronics, will be put on the dyno at NASCAR’s R&D facility in Concord, N.C. later this year in order to come to a starting point for the 2012 season.
Incidentally, Audi’s production ECU on the R8 LMS will remain unchanged.
Liebchen confirmed that Audi will initially build four GRAND-AM specific models for 2012, priced at $438,000 each, with the option of extending the build the following year depending on the level of interest.
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