2001 Audi R8 LMP 900
This Le Mans veteran Audi R8 LMP 900 was constructed for the works team in 2001; her race history includes a debut victory with the legendary Tom Kristensen, the most successful driver in Le Mans history, and a strong 7th place overall finish at the 2002 Le Mans 24 Hours in the hands of Japanese privateers Audi Sport Team Goh.
One of the most flawless and triumphant competition designs ever, the legendary Audi R8 launched the Audi era in endurance racing. Charging to five Le Mans victories from 2000-2005, Audi’s R8s secured multiple series championships for the works and privateers alike in the European Le Mans Series, Le Mans Endurance Series, and American Le Mans Series. Astonishingly, the Audi R8s were victorious at 63 of their 79 races starts, making the R8 one of the most dominant racing cars ever. Audi works drivers Tom Kristensen, Frank Biela, and Emanuele Pirro famously became the first crew to earn three consecutive Le Mans victories in 2000, 2001 and 2002. with their hat trick for the works team. “Mr. Le Mans” himself, with his nine career victories at la Sarthe, Kristensen had been recruited to Audi at the end of 1999 by head of motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ulrich, bringing along R8 drawings to the history-altering meeting.
Designed with chassis by Wolfgang Appel, aero by Michael Pfadenhauer, and the 3.6L twin turbo V-8 developed by Ulrich Baretzky, and with a Ricardo 6-speed gearbox, the R8 LMPs were built under contract by Dallara. With Appel reputedly starting work the morning after the predecessor R8R and R8C returned from Le Mans 1999, the R8 featured outstandingly modular “repairability” including the possibility to swap the complete rear end (gearbox suspension and ancillaries) in under 5 minutes – a practice later banned.
Chassis 501 was constructed for the works team in 2001 and had a victorious debut for Audi Sport Team Joest at Spain’s Jarama circuit in the European Le Mans Series. Running a later specification series 4 engine but with the new direct injection, she was piloted by the legendary Tom Kristensen and teammate Rinaldo (Dindo) Capello, who joined Audi with racing experience in Italian touring cars. Over eight years Capello proved his mettle alongside his Danish teammate, described by Kristensen as becoming “just as much a hero” with a deep desire to win. 501 was then shipped over to the USA to take part in the American Le Mans Series, where it secured another overall win at Sears Point, contributing to Audi’s championship win that year.
With the works fielding a new team of R8s for 2002, chassis 501 was purchased by Japanese privateers Audi Sport Team Goh, part of the team’s ultimately triumphant three-year program for Le Mans and other endurance events. R8 501 made a successful start with Team Goh at the 2002 Le Mans Test where she secured a creditable 11th. At the 2002 Le Mans 24 Hours, chassis 501 placed 7th overall and 6th in the LMP class, with drivers Hiroki Katou, Frenchman Yannick Dalmas (a four-time Le Mans winner) and Seiji Ara. A final triumph saw 501 achieve the fastest lap at Suzuka 1,000 km race in 2002 before retiring. After a 4th at Le Mans for Team Goh in 2003, Seiji Ara was to share in the Japanese team’s eventual triumph at the 2004 Le Mans, with a victory alongside Dindo Capello and Tom Kristensen.
After her frontline career, she was acquired in 2008 by New York racer and collector Aaron Hsu (living with R8 chassis 403 and the 2001 Bentley Speed 8 LMP roadster 002-3), competing in select American events and being supported by LMP experts Kettler Motor Werks. In 2010 she passed (with the Bentley) to renowned Shelby American collector and restorer George Stauffer (owner of the 1966 Le Mans winning GT40), who again competed in Road America events. Offered via a major public auction in 2012, lately she has been held in a private collection.
This R8 is offered having been recently run by UK experts Progressive Motorsport Ltd., whose founders (Dave Ward & Howden Haynes) have years of experience with the R8 and other racing programs including most directly with Audi Sport Team Joest, Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx, and Team Bentley for the Speed 8 Le Mans program.
As an example of one of the most effective and victorious racing designs in history, this R8 LMP 900 represents a tremendous opportunity to acquire one of the 16 Audi R8s and would be a welcome addition to any outstanding collection. Suitably prepared for a fortunate new owner, she could be a top contender for historic racing events such as Peter Auto’s popular Endurance Racing Legends series, Le Mans Classic and The Silverstone Festival.
