Audi opens sales of its fastest race cars
By ForGeeks Audi is doing something motorsport fans never dared to dream of: beginning to sell its legendary prototypes that have competed in endurance racing and the DTM championship. Private collectors now have the unique opportunity to acquire the R18 LMP1 Hybrid, which won Le Mans three times, and the RS5 DTM, one of the fastest cars in the German Touring Car Championship.
R18 LMP1: the diesel hybrid ahead of its time
The flagship prototype of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro is not just a racing car, but a technological marvel. Equipped with all-wheel drive, a diesel engine and a hybrid energy recovery system, it dominated the Le Mans in 2012, 2013 and 2014, leaving rivals far behind.
Audi was the first to introduce the chassis #207, which won a stage at Spa in 2012, finished fifth at Le Mans and finished on the podium at every other WEC round. There’s no word yet on the sale of other R18s – especially those that won at Le Mans – but the fact that sales have opened is sensational.
It’s important to understand: The R18 requires a great deal of technical knowledge to drive and is virtually impossible to maintain without the help of Audi Sport specialists. This car is still faster than modern hypercars, and it needs a professional driver, not just a driver.
RS5 DTM: a monster in the guise of a sports coupe
The second model on offer is the Audi RS5 DTM, chassis #107, which won the 2015 season finale at the Hockenheimring. Despite the appearance of a road coupe, what we have before us is a purebred prototype, compliant with the regulations of the Class 1 DTM.
Beneath the hood is a 2.0-liter turbo engine with about 600 hp, and the body is packed with aerodynamic solutions that allow this car to be much faster than any GT3 model. The RS5 DTM is not a hybrid, but its engineering and dynamics are on par with the best of the LMP class.
Service and support from Audi Sport
Audi says the first deliveries to customers will begin as early as summer 2025. Buyers will receive not only the car, but also a full service package from the Audi Sport racing legends team. It includes:
- Regular technical inspection and maintenance
- Possible repair and supply of original spare parts
- Consultation from engineers and former developers
- On-track support during events
This is a full-fledged support program, similar to Ferrari Corse Clienti and McLaren’s programs for old F1 cars and track hypercars. But Audi is going further – for the first time in history, it is offering a LMP1 steerable hybrid, one of the most sophisticated and advanced prototypes ever built by man, to a private customer.
The technological legacy of an era that’s gone
And both LMP1 and Class 1 DTM are the era of no limits, when automakers literally didn’t count on budgets to reach the limits of technology. Today’s regulations, by contrast, strictly limit development, and the DTM has moved entirely to the GT3 platform.
Even after more than a decade, technically these cars are superior to almost everything except modern Formula 1 cars. Their purchase is not just an investment, but a entry ticket to a closed club of motorsport history.
