All Conquering Audi Racer Wows The Crowds On Motor Sport Day

Audi wheeled out its awesome 200mph R8 Le Mans racer at the Motor Show.

The actual car powered to victory by drivers Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Tom Kristensen at this June's French 24 hour classic was on display on the company's stand. In contrast to other gleaming racing and rally cars, the R8 was covered in the scars of battle, scuffs and road dirt, making it all the more authentic to the gruelling endurance racing experience. The R8 has established itself as one of the most successful sports racing cars of the last few years, both at Le Mans and in American motor sports series. Not only did it score a hat-trick at the 2002 Le Mans, but the R8, which is powered by a twin-turbo V8 engine developing more than 600 horsepower, also clinched the victor's laurels with a one-two at 2001's event, and another hat-trick in 2000. And in the American Le Mans series, it has claimed the winning manufacturer honours for team and drivers three years in a row. Plans for the R8's race campaign in 2003 have yet to be officially announced.