Audi race preps the R8 with new GT3 model

(Credit: Audi Sport)

As fast as Audi's R8 is, there will always be someone who wants to go faster. According to Audi, the company has been inundated with requests for a race-prepped version of its halo car. Come fall 2009, Audi will deliver in the form of an Audi Sport-developed racing sports car specifically developed for customer use: the GT3 version of the Audi R8.

The GT3 R8 eschews Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system in favor of a GT regulation rear-wheel drive transmission. The R8's 500-plus horsepower is delivered via a newly developed six-speed, sequential, sports gearbox. A modified front end and an extra large GT-style rear-wing keep the race model glued to the track.

Notably, Audi claims that the suspension almost exclusively uses components from the production line. As amazing as this sounds, consider that the standard R8 is in fact a supercar, already based on race technology.

Audi hasn't published a price, but for what we assume will be a limited-quantity GT3 level full-race car, you can expect to pay handsomely over the R8's already lofty $109,000 MSRP.

(Credit: Audi Sport)