Audi R8 (LMP)

The Audi R8 (LMP) is a Le Mans Prototype sports prototype race car that Audi introduced in 2000, a redevelopment of its 1999 Audi R8R open top car and Audi R8C closed top car. Audi Motorsport and Joest Racing developed it, and it debuted by winning the 2000 12 Hours of Sebring. It went on to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005, five of the six years it competed. Its structure and body are carbon fibre, and a 3.6 litre Audi V8 with Fuel Stratified Injection, officially listed at about 610 hp (455 kW) from 2000 to 2002, sent power to the rear wheels through a Ricardo six speed sequential transmission. The transmission, rear suspension and rear subframe were built as one unit, so a damaged transaxle could be changed in as little as three minutes and sixteen seconds. A total of 16 chassis were built, and the petrol powered R8 was replaced in 2006 by the diesel Audi R10 TDI.