Audi Sport RS 3 LMS makes U.S. racing debut at VIR in the Pirelli World

Audi Sport customer racing’s Audi RS 3 LMS USA Clubsport is now available for purchase in the U.S. Four of the race cars will make their U.S. racing debut at Virginia International Raceway in the Pirelli World Challenge TC class this weekend in Alton, Virginia.

The Audi RS 3 LMS is a race-specific version of the RS 3 that made its world debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. Developed by Audi Sport customer racing for the new global TCR category, the Audi RS 3 LMS USA Clubsport version will also compete in the TC class of the 2017 Pirelli World Challenge.

“Audi Sport customer racing continues the tradition of producing quality products in motorsport that directly relate to the road cars,” said Tristan Herbert, manager of Audi Sport customer racing North America. “The entry-level Audi RS 3 LMS emulates the attention to detail associated with our production vehicles and is the perfect car for race competition or for amateur weekend track events.”

The Audi RS 3 LMS starts at $135,000 and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in about 4.5 seconds, achieving a top speed of about 240 km/h. In TCR trim, the proven four-cylinder two-liter TFSI engine delivers 243 kW (330 hp).

The safety package includes an FIA-conformant safety fuel tank, a racing safety cell, the PS-3 safety seat, FIA safety nets on both sides of the seat and a rescue hatch in the roof identical to the one used in the Audi R8 LMS.

2017 Pirelli World Challenge TC class events

Date Track Location Where to watch APR 28-30 Virginia International Raceway Alton, Va. Live-Stream MotorTrendOnDemand.com CBS Sports Network – SUN 14 MAY 2017 04:00PM ET MAY 19-21 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada Live-Stream MotorTrendOnDemand.com CBS Sports Network – TBD MAY 26-27 Lime Rock Park Lakeville, Conn. Live-Stream MotorTrendOnDemand.com CBS Sports Network – WED 07 JUN 2017 08:00PM ET AUG 11-13 Utah Motorsports Campus Grantsville, Utah Live-Stream MotorTrendOnDemand.com CBS Sports Network – WED 23 AUG 2017 08:00PM ET SEP 01-03 Circuit of the Americas (COTA) Austin, Texas Live-Stream MotorTrendOnDemand.com CBS Sports Network – TBD OCT 13-15 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

(With SRO International GT Challenge) – TCR Eligible Salinas, Calif. Live-Stream MotorTrendOnDemand.com CBS Sports Network – TBD

2017 RS 3 LMS TECHNICAL DATA

VEHICLE Type Sportscar Eligible for TCR series worldwide, VLN, International Endurance Series, STCC, Clubsport ENGINE Type 2.0 L, straight-four engine with turbocharger and intercooling, transversally mounted in front of the front axle Output torque 243 kW (330 hp) at 6,200 rpm Bore / stroke 410 Nm at 2,500 rpm

82.5 mm / 92.8 mm ECU Continental SIMOS POWER TRANSMISSION Transmission Front wheel drive Gearbox SEQ / clutch Six-speed sequential gearbox, mechanical differential, preload adjustable; multi-disk sintered clutch Gearbox DSG / clutch Direct-shift gearbox (DSG), differential: VAQ electro-hydraulic; standard clutch CHASSIS Front axle McPherson struts; height, track and camber of chassis can be adjusted; anti-roll bar can be adjusted in three stages Rear axle Multilink axle; height, track and camber of chassis can be adjusted; anti-roll bar can be adjusted in three stages Steering Electrical rack-and-pinion steering with modified software and hardware Braking system Front: disc brakes with all-around inside ventilation (378 x 34 mm) Rear: disc brakes (272 x 12 mm), aluminum brake calipers (six pistons at front, two pistons at rear) Wheels / tires Strengthened production steel body with welded steel roll-cage Chassis 10 x 18 inch; 27 / 65 x 18 BODY Bodywork Parts from steel panel, CFC and GFC DIMENSIONS / WEIGHT Length / width / height 4,589 / 1,950 / 1,340 mm Wheel base 2,665 mm Weight empty 1,180 kg (TCR SEQ) / 1,215 kg (TCR DSG) Minimum weight 1,285 kg (incl. driver) EQUIPMENT AND SAFETY Controls Height and length adjustable steering column with shift paddles on steering wheel Acquisition system AIM – MXG 28 channels + 8 analog Diagnostics Auto-diagnosis OBDII / DiagRA-LE Speed limiter 60 km/h Airjack system 3 airjacks (Ø 50 mm) Rescue hatch Allows the driver’s helmet to be lifted Seat Audi Sport customer racing seat PS-3 (FIA GT3 safety seat) Fuel tank FIA FT3 fuel tank, capacity 100 L Fire extinguisher OMP PERFORMANCE Acceleration 0–100 km/h in approx. 4.5 seconds Top speed Approx. 240 km/h