Audi puts LMP1, DTM cars up for sale

Audi is offering LMP1 prototype and DTM touring car machinery from its back catalogue for sale to collectors in full running condition for the first time.

The newly created ‘racing legends project team’ within Audi Sport is restoring cars formerly raced under the German manufacturer’s factory racing programmes that the new owners can drive in anger on the circuit.

It will offer full technical support, including the supply of spares, to allow the cars to run.

The new venture was launched at Audi Sport headquarters at Neuburg an der Donau on Wednesday with the presentation of the first two cars prepared for a return to the race track.

They are a second-generation Audi R18 e-tron quattro LMP1 from 2012 and a 2015 RS5 DTM tin-top.

The launch marks the beginning of what Audi is describing as the sales phase for its racing legends programme, which will continue with the appearances for the R18 and the RS5 at a round of historic events including the Le Mans Classic and Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.

Audi Sport managing director Rolf Michl said: “We are rebuilding these chassis together with reconditioned parts from that time into racing cars according to strict standards and with a high level of expertise.

“The Audi R18 e-tron quattro and the RS5 DTM are two of the fastest racing cars we have ever built.

Timo Scheider, Audi Sport Team Phoenix Audi RS 5 DTM

“Customers can look forward not only to extremely sought-after racing cars, but also to a firework display of driving emotions.”

The restored R18 is chassis #207 in which Romain Dumas, Loic Duval and Marc Gene took a debut victory for the RP2 version of the car at round two of the 2012 World Endurance Championship at Spa in May.

Audi had also won the inaugural round of the reborn WEC, the Sebring 12 Hours in March, but opted to use the 2011 version of the car known as the R18 TDI at the US enduro.

The restored DTM car, chassis #107, also has race-winning pedigree: it triumphed at the 2015 DTM finale with Timo Scheider at the wheel.

Deliveries of the first cars from Audi Sport’s new department are expected to start in the summer.

Audi is following the lead of Ferrari which sells and prepares Formula 1 machinery at its F1 Clienti department for select customers to drive at the special event it lays on.

The expansion into the sale and preparation of historic vehicles by Audi Sport comes at a time when its customer racing department is being wound down.

It has ended production of GT3, GT2 and GT4 versions of the R8 coupe and the RS3-based TCR tin-top.

The final R8 GT3 racer, the 310th built over two generations of the car since 2009, was delivered in November last year.