By Johan Laubscher
This is part 5 of our How to spot an Audi R16 article series. Part 5
focuses on the differences between the 2014 Audi R8 LMS GTD Version and the
2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra. All six articles within this series, covering all six versions of the Audi R16, can be seen via the six links listed below:
How to spot an Audi R16: Part 1: Introduction
How to spot an Audi R16: Part 2: Original Audi R8 LMS and 2012 Audi R8 LMS ultra
How to spot an Audi R16: Part 4: 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultraHow to spot an Audi R16: Part 2: Original Audi R8 LMS and 2012 Audi R8 LMS ultra
How to spot an Audi R16: Part 5: 2014 Audi R8 LMS GTD Version
How to spot an Audi R16: Part 6: 2015 Audi R8 LMS GTD Version
How to spot an Audi R16: Part 5: 2014 Audi R8 LMS GTD Version
2014 sees a new era beginning in North America, with the merger of the
Rolex GRAND-AM Series and the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), to form the new
TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. The Rolex GRAND-AM GT class was
transferred to the new TUSC and called the GT Daytona (GTD) class. Audi debuted
an Audi R16 version for the Rolex GRAND-AM GT class in 2012, which was also
used in 2013, the Audi R8 GRAND-AM.
Heading into the new TUSC the car is now known as the GTD version of the Audi R8 LMS. The Audi R8 GRAND-AM and the Audi R8 LMS GTD Version are virtually identical visually, but there have been a few changes.
Heading into the new TUSC the car is now known as the GTD version of the Audi R8 LMS. The Audi R8 GRAND-AM and the Audi R8 LMS GTD Version are virtually identical visually, but there have been a few changes.
We have included two comparisons below. The first compares the 2013
Audi R8 GRAND-AM to the 2014 Audi R8 LMS GTD Version and the second compares
the 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra to the 2014 Audi R8 LMS GTD Version.
2013 Audi R8 GRAND-AM versus 2014 Audi R8 LMS GTD Version
Rear View
1. The biggest difference between the two North American Audi R16 models is the addition of the original 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra rear layout on the 2014 GTD version, that with the original more aggressive rear diffuser and the centralised exhaust outlets. Note: This rear layout was allowed on the Audi R8 GRAND-AM cars during the final two rounds of the 2013 Rolex GRAND-AM season, at Laguna Seca and Lime Rock.
2. The 2014 Audi R8 LMS GTD Version has straight rear wing mounting
arms, in line with the standard R8 LMS mounting points on the bodywork. The
older R8 GRAND-AM cars used this same rear wing, however the mounting points on
the rear wing were narrower than that of the bodywork mountings, thus the rear wing mounting
arms had a bend in their profile. Note: Some of the older R8 GRAND-AM cars that
have been converted to run in GTD still have this bent profile, as the rear
wings are the same.
Note: The roll cage in the Audi R8 GRAND-AM was thicker. This was a requirement of the GRAND-AM rules for increased safety, due to the speeds and the banking which the cars experience when running at tracks like Daytona. The new GTD Version is allowed to run the thinner roll cage, which is also found on the Audi R8 LMS ultra, as this has now been allowed within the rules. The older R8 GRAND-AM cars that have been converted to run in GTD still have the thicker and heavier roll cage.
Note: The roll cage in the Audi R8 GRAND-AM was thicker. This was a requirement of the GRAND-AM rules for increased safety, due to the speeds and the banking which the cars experience when running at tracks like Daytona. The new GTD Version is allowed to run the thinner roll cage, which is also found on the Audi R8 LMS ultra, as this has now been allowed within the rules. The older R8 GRAND-AM cars that have been converted to run in GTD still have the thicker and heavier roll cage.
Side View
Click on the photo for larger image
3. The 2014 Audi R8 LMS GTD version also has closed side windows, whereas the Audi R8 GRAND-AM had the mandatory open windows. The GTD has the same side windows as the Audi R8 LMS ultra. These windows are fixed, but there is a sliding opening on the driver’s side of the car.
4. From the side the different rear layout is visible with the
protruding rear diffuser and the centralised exhaust outlets.
2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra versus 2014 Audi R8 LMS GTD Version
Front View
5. The windscreen of the Audi R8 LMS GTD Version has three support bars/struts for added protection, as per the rules. The FIA GT3 specification Audi R16 cars, which includes all of the R8 LMS and ultra versions, do not have these bars.
6. The R8 LMS GTD Version has a much smaller front splitter, which does
not extend far outwards from the bodywork and follows the rounded contour of
the front nose. The 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra splitter extends far out from the
bodywork and has aggressively squared off edges and a virtually flat underside.
7. The small side front splitter of the 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra is a
single and very large unit. The Audi R8 LMS GTD Version side splitter is also a
single unit, but much smaller.
8. The Audi R8 LMS GTD Version has a standard issue rear wing, which is
much smaller than that of the 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra. These standardised rear
wings are provided by the series organisers and they are the same standard rear wings that were used in the Rolex GRAND-AM GT Class.
9. The Audi R8 LMS GTD Version has the older R8 LMS side rear view
mirrors, the 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra has the more triangular shaped rear view
mirrors.
10. The Audi R8 LMS GTD Version shares the same general 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra
bodywork, including the bonnet vents.
Side View
11. The front splitter of the 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra has a side-plate, often in a wood colour, on the side of the splitter. This plate is not present on the Audi R8 LMS GTD Version. This wooden side-plate is fitted to the R8 LMS ultra to protect the large splitter when the car bottoms out. The wooden plate wears out, protecting the expensive carbon splitter.
12. The rear wing positions of the two cars differ as per the
requirements of the specific rules for each car. The Audi R8 LMS GTD Version
has a standard issue rear wing, which is much smaller than that of the 2013 Audi
R8 LMS ultra.
13. The 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra has as swan-neck mountings for its rear wing,
whereas the GTD wing is mounted with fittings below the wing.
14. The Audi R8 LMS GTD Version has the older R8 LMS side rear view
mirrors, the 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra has the more triangular shaped rear view
mirrors.
15. The Audi R8 LMS GTD Version has the original aggressive 2013 Audi
R8 LMS ultra rear end layout, that with the original more aggressive rear
diffuser and the centralised exhaust outlets. The 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra originally also had this layout, but the rear diffuser was disallowed during the
final 2013 homologation, thus the 2013 R8 LMS ultra has the centralised exhaust
layout, but must use the older less aggressive R8 LMS/R8 LMS ultra rear
diffuser.
16. Both the 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra and the 2014 Audi R8 LMS GTD Version
have the same closed windows. The R8 LMS GTD Version render pictured above has
open windows, but the actual cars have the closed windows, as shown in point 3.
17. The small side front splitter of the 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra is a
single and very large unit. The Audi R8 LMS GTD Version side splitter is also a
single unit, but much smaller.
18. The fuel filler locations also differ on the two cars. The 2013
Audi R8 LMS ultra fuel filler is located on the right side, whereas the 2014
Audi R8 LMS GTD Version has its fuel filler on the left.
Rear View
19. The Audi R8 LMS GTD Version rear wing is not as wide as that of the 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra, which extends the entire width of the vehicle.
20. From the rear the differences between the diffusers are evident.
The more aggressive rear diffuser is fitted to the Audi R8 LMS GTD Version and
the Audi R8 LMS ultra has the older less aggressive version.
This was part 5 of our How to spot an Audi R16 article series. Part 5 focused on the differences between the 2014 Audi R8 LMS GTD Version and the 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra. All six articles within this series, covering all six versions of the Audi R16, can be seen via the six links listed below:
This was part 5 of our How to spot an Audi R16 article series. Part 5 focused on the differences between the 2014 Audi R8 LMS GTD Version and the 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra. All six articles within this series, covering all six versions of the Audi R16, can be seen via the six links listed below:
Article links:
How to spot an Audi R16: Part 5: 2014 Audi R8 LMS GTD Version
How to spot an Audi R16: Part 6: 2015 Audi R8 LMS GTD Version
How to spot an Audi R16: Part 1: Introduction
How to spot an Audi R16: Part 2: Original Audi R8 LMS and 2012 Audi R8 LMS ultra
How to spot an Audi R16: Part 4: 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultraHow to spot an Audi R16: Part 2: Original Audi R8 LMS and 2012 Audi R8 LMS ultra
How to spot an Audi R16: Part 5: 2014 Audi R8 LMS GTD Version
How to spot an Audi R16: Part 6: 2015 Audi R8 LMS GTD Version
Photo credit:
Audi Communications - Motorsport
