Chris Reinke: Audi focused on reliability and cost reduction

Succeeding the R8 LMS Ultra, then the current R8 LMS will not be easy for the R8 LMS GT3 2019 version, unveiled yesterday as part of the Paris Motor Show.

Audi Sport presented its latest weapon, which according to Chris Reinke, boss of Audi Sport Customer Racing, was the subject of intense work, aiming above all at reliability and cost control. On the menu, aerodynamic redesign, particularly on the front part with a new hood, mechanics at the transmission level, or even improvement in brake cooling.

“We have accumulated the test kilometers on very diverse tracks, and with different teams and with gentlemen, the manager told us. For us it was important to entrust it to a very varied clientele, on different slopes, in different conditions.

We looked at areas that could be optimized, and the interval between revisions was increased by 25%. The costs are really reduced from this point of view. »

GT platform suits Audi

With a GT3 category now established on almost all continents, Audi Sport finds in the formula a major outlet for its productions. And the launch of the Blancpain GT World Challenge by SRO Motorsports in 2019 is in line with the global approach sought by the brand with the rings.

“One of the elements of the success of the customer competition program is that we have the same formula all around the world,” explains Chris Reinke. If you have to start taking into account regulatory changes, BoP, it becomes complicated and expensive. Having a stable overall formula is in our interest. »

Stéphane Ratel defends Audi's philosophy

Présent lors de la conférence Audi Sport, Stéphane Ratel, patron de SRO Motorsports, voit ainsi une nouvelle concurrente rejoindre le plateau GT3 en 2019, aux côtés des nouvelles Porsche 911, Aston Martin Vantage, Lamborghini Huracan or McLaren 720S.

“The car is beautiful and from what I have heard the development goals were to make it easier for non-professional drivers, reminded us of the boss of the Blancpain GT Series. This is going in the right direction, because we must keep GT3 as a category that mixes Pro and Am.

What is also important is that the cost remains entirely reasonable, under €400 and the kit also remains affordable (€000). To those who say that the GT28 is becoming too expensive and that it will be a disaster, this Audi demonstrates that this is not true. »