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

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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

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