The 611bhp R8 GT RWD is audisport's final V10-powered model, and DickieMeaden's put it through its paces -
Unfortunately we’re not driving the RWD GT on the road, but we are lapping the excellent Monteblanco circuit, near Seville in Spain, together with a session on a dedicated drift area to get to grips – or rather, slips – with the trick new Torque Rear traction control system.The RWD GT certainly looks the part. Traditionally R8s have always been somewhat demure, but this limited edition is far more explicit.
The new forged 20in wheels in particular have a real motorsport vibe, especially with their small red ‘Audi Sport’ flashes on each rim. Behind the ten gloss black spokes sit massive red brake callipers gripping 380mm front and 356mm rear carbon ceramic discs. Another nice touch are the V10’s black crackle-finish cam covers, which are unique to the GT.The cars we’ll be lapping in are fitted with optional Michelin Pilot Cup 2 tyres and coilover suspension kit.
Like all these systems it takes a few minutes to feel your way, but once you’ve broken traction it’s amazing how natural and responsive the Torque Rear system feels. The trick is to not play too much with the throttle, instead finding a happy medium of steering correction and throttle opening that has the R8 balanced. By the time you get to stage 7 you really wouldn’t know there’s any intervention at all, such are the angles you can reach and the throttle you can apply.
Powering out of the pit lane onto Monteblanco’s start-finish straight is both a reminder of how special this V10 is and an immediate discovery that those revised gear ratios are noticeably punchier. The ‘box is snappier and more positive in terms of shift speed and positive feel, too.It takes the first full-blooded sprint through the gears, a hard haul on the carbon ceramic brakes and a dive into the first corner apex to understand the GT RWD is a major step on from the RWD Performance.