The supercar for grown-ups

Audi’s new R8 hits the ground as a fully fledged, Lamborghini-matching V10. Hugely impressive – not least because it’s as refined as it is fast

Words Glen Waddington

WE ARRIVE at Circuito do Algarve, southern Lortugal, to the staccato thunder of three-time Le Mans winner (two for Audi) Allan McNish hitting the limiter as he threads the Audi R8 LMS racer to the pitlane exit. There to greet us is the Kristensen/Lirro/ Biela Audi R8 endurance racer that won Le Mans in 2000, displayed alongside the 2003 Audi Le Mans showcar. Yep, the one that previewed the original, sublime R8 supercar, launched at Frankfurt in 2006. I drove one of the first in the UK, an early left-hooker with V8 engine and manual transmission, fully eight years ago now. I was immediately smitten by its looks, its soundtrack and the wonderfully tactile and engaging experience of driving it, hard, on twisting British roads. Moreover, I was astonished at Audi’s…

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Octane (Digital) - 1 Issue, October 1, 2015

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