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World premiere: this is the 340 hp Audi RS 3 LMS!

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World premiere: this is the 340 hp Audi RS 3 LMS!

Audi Sport customer racing will present the successor to its successful RS 2021 LMS model in January 3. The second generation of the entry-level touring car will first go through a test season before going into production at the end of 2021 and being ready for customers. The model, which has been improved in many areas, is intended to continue a sporty as well as commercially great success of the first generation in international TCR touring car racing. The focus during development was always on optimal customer benefit.

2021 Audi RS3 LMS!

The Audi RS 2016 LMS, which has been available since the end of 3, stands for records in the Audi Sport customer racing program. No other model has been produced as frequently in a single vehicle generation as the 180 copies of the RS 3 LMS. And there is no model with the four rings that customers around the world currently use more frequently in racing than the compact four-door. By the end of 2020, the model had been used in a total of 1.051 races around the globe in its previous life cycle of 3.105. On average, there were almost three Audi RS 3 LMS on each starting grid. A remarkable success in a category that is exclusively intended for customers and in which Audi has not been involved at the factory with the exception of a two-year program in the FIA ​​WTCR 2018 and 2019.

World premiere: this is the 340 hp Audi RS 3 LMS!

In the four years since it was launched, the racing car has achieved a total of 764 podiums in Africa, North and South America, Asia, Australia and Europe, including 279 victories. This corresponds to a victory rate of 26,5 percent in an extremely tough competitive environment in which the TCR racing cars from up to 14 manufacturers meet. 16 drivers' titles, 38 further championship wins and a total of five class wins in 24-hour races characterize the sporting balance of the entry-level model, which in 2018 was the worldwide "TCR Model of the Year".

"Our new Audi RS 3 LMS is thus taking on a great and responsible legacy“, Says Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. "The focus of our development goals for our latest model was the customer. Whether it's about running times or coordination options, about safety or ergonomics in the cockpit: we want to offer the teams a car that is even more racing cars than before, that has many practical advantages in everyday life and that can be operated economically thanks to long running times.“Customers all over the world benefit from a comprehensive service network, a reliable parts supply and the constant further development of the racing car over the course of its model cycle.

The TCR category offers beginners as well as gentleman drivers, but also touring car professionals, inexpensive racing with near-series models. The WSC organization has currently licensed 24 national, regional and international TCR racing series and classes worldwide, in most of them the Audi RS 3 LMS has been firmly established in the starting field for a long time. In addition, teams in many regions use the racing car for other programs, primarily in the long-distance segment in mixed sports and touring car series. The TCR touring cars have long been firmly established in classic racing nations as well as in emerging countries. Hardly any other category is so widespread in global motorsport.

With the second generation of the RS 3 LMS, Audi is committed to the continuity of an entry-level model in its vehicle range, an inexpensive discipline in racing, customer sport as a central pillar in this class, as well as predictability and consistency towards a globally loyal customer base. Various examples show that the Audi racing car is also ideally suited for national trade organizations, and even individual dealers, in order to sharpen their own profile in the market in a cheap and popular racing category. In the basic design of its body, but also in the many characteristic accents of its design from the radiator grille to the titanium-gray rims, the new Audi RS 3 LMS is closely based on the high-performance models from Audi Sport. It is the perfect link between a fast model family for everyday life and fascinating touring car racing on the racetrack.

"Commitment to touring car racing"

You presented the second generation of the globally successful Audi RS 3 LMS. What are your expectations? This is a clear commitment from our brand to cost-efficient touring car racing in customer hands. From the first generation, 180 racing cars have been built for teams all over the world. You have a wealth of successes and many hundreds of trophies. We believe in the global future of the TCR class and expect to continue to occupy a leading market position with our new model.

World premiere: this is the 340 hp Audi RS 3 LMS!

What development goals were the focus of the new generation? With its new transmission, the advanced chassis and many other solutions, the RS 3 LMS has an even stronger racing car character than before. The focus was always on specific customer benefits. We have come up with a lot of ideas that the privateers benefit from in everyday racing. Individual changes to the chassis kinematics can now be made in a matter of minutes and give the teams an advantage under time pressure, for example in qualifying. A more ergonomic cockpit supports the driver even better. The car is even more racing car than it used to be, more robust and even safer.

When will you start delivering the new model? Here, too, customer satisfaction comes first. For this reason, the car will go through an intensive development process. In the second half of the year, we will then deliver it to our customers fully developed and fully developed.

World premiere: this is the 340 hp Audi RS 3 LMS!

What does the TCR class stand for in international motorsport? The aim is to make inexpensive and exciting motorsport possible for private teams. As a manufacturer, it is our duty to make a correspondingly attractive technical and commercial offer. Audi is committed to the TCR class of the promoter WSC and that this sport is aimed at privateers. At the same time, we expect promoters to remain true to the spirit of the TCR. Technical excesses push this class to its limits just as quickly as the associated financial escalation. We are doing everything we can to prevent this.

Even greater customer benefit, even more racing car character

The second generation of the Audi RS 3 LMS presents itself in all areas with new developments that serve two goals: to make the near-series entry-level model an even better racing car and to optimize customer benefits in all areas. Nevertheless, the model remains inexpensive to purchase and to maintain, offers an even higher level of safety and, with up to 250 kW (340 hp), is a lot of driving pleasure.

World premiere: this is the 340 hp Audi RS 3 LMS!

The appearance of the second generation of the new Audi RS 3 LMS already differs significantly from its predecessor. At 1,95 meters, the model continues to achieve the maximum width defined in the regulations, but the body extensions are more harmoniously and aerodynamically integrated into the vehicle contours than before. The front apron contains the air inlets as part of a significantly revised cooling concept for the engine and brakes. The rear wing, suspended from the rear for the first time, completes the optimized aerodynamics of the TCR racing car. For the first time, the engineers have completely calculated the aerodynamic components without wind tunnel work using the flow simulation, called Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), on the computer. The body shell comes from Ingolstadt, the two-liter turbo engine comes from the Győr plant in Hungary. As before, the racing car will be assembled at the Martorell site in Spain. The group has continued to pool all synergies in building its TCR racing cars there. Many valuable detailed solutions, for example in the chassis area, make it easier to quickly adapt the model to the requirements of the often hectic everyday racing. And once again Audi is setting standards in terms of safety.

New generation of engines

In the new Audi RS 3 LMS, the fourth generation of the two-liter four-cylinder engine known as the EA888 replaces the previous series. Furthermore, the engine block and cylinder head, crank drive, valve train, intake tract, injection and the new turbocharger in the racing car remain absolutely standard. Only the valve cover ventilation with its oil separator differs from the standard component, as does the exhaust system. The takeover of the engine from mass production has proven its worth in TCR racing. In many cases, the Audi engines already achieved several tens of thousands of racing kilometers in the previous generation of vehicles in customer operation. The standard motor control from Magneti Marelli specified by the regulations is new.

World premiere: this is the 340 hp Audi RS 3 LMS!

It required a lot of development effort. The maps are programmed manufacturer-specifically and stored with the promoters of the racing series. Together with the standardized hardware, this guarantees transparency and equal opportunities for all manufacturers. Audi has optimized the cooling of the unit in the areas of coolant and charge air. The two water coolers, which are arranged horizontally one above the other, are now separate, spring-mounted units in silent blocks, which are significantly less sensitive to vertical impacts, such as those that can occur when riding off-road on rough ground.

Optimized power transmission

Audi Sport customer racing has renewed the power transmission for the second generation of its TCR racing car in all areas. The two-disc racing clutch now weighs 800 grams less than in the previous model and thus reduces the rotational masses as well as the mass inertia. The new pneumatically actuated six-speed transmission from Hewland is particularly robust and can be operated sequentially using paddles on the steering wheel. The mechanics can adjust the locking effect of the newly developed multi-disc limited-slip differential with its twelve friction surfaces easily and quickly from the outside. For their part, stronger drive shafts make a contribution to higher mileage and an improved cost balance.

World premiere: this is the 340 hp Audi RS 3 LMS!

Standards of safety

No other TCR touring car offers as many optional safety components as are standard on the Audi RS 3 LMS. The roll cage consists of steel tubes, which add up to a length of almost 25,8 meters. A six-point seat belt serves as a restraint system for the driver. The Audi Sport Protection Seat, which is unique in the TCR class, with its robust construction and lavish upholstery offers maximum accident safety. For better occupant protection in the event of a side impact, it has been moved closer to the center of the vehicle. Optionally available safety nets wrapping around the seat on the right and left provide additional protection for the driver. The standard roof hatch makes it easier to rescue the driver after an accident. It allows the helmet to be gently removed upwards and, if necessary, a rescue corset ("Kendrick Extrication Device") to be inserted vertically from above to stabilize the driver's spine. For the first time in every Audi RS 3 LMS, the rear window is made of polycarbonate at no extra charge. This material lowers the weight and is extremely shock-resistant. Foreign bodies can only break through this pane with difficulty in the event of an accident. The safety fuel tank according to FIA-FT3 regulations has a volume of 100 liters. A fire extinguishing system completes the safety equipment.

World premiere: this is the 340 hp Audi RS 3 LMS!

Improved ergonomics in the new cockpit

The cockpit is even more focused on the driver and easier to use. The steering wheel has a TCR-specific control panel. In the center console, twelve functions are grouped in an ergonomically optimal and functionally logical way in a clear keypad. Ignition and various light functions can be activated there, as can the fan in the cockpit or the optional heating of the windshield. The brake balance and, if the worst comes to the worst, the fire extinguishing function are also within easy reach below the center console and are easy to identify. The new on-board network developed for motorsport with six decentralized fuseboxes reduces weight and cable complexity and offers targeted redundancies. This means that any electrical malfunctions in individual subsystems have less of an impact on the entire network. The pedal box can be adjusted mechanically after loosening a screw connection and thus adapted to different driver sizes within a few minutes.

Adaptable chassis and stable brakes

Audi Sport customer racing is breaking new ground when it comes to setting the chassis. The McPherson construction on the front axle allows changes to the kinematics to be implemented faster than ever before. While the previous screw connection always required a wheel alignment when making changes, spacer components, so-called shims, can now be inserted in the wishbone and tie rod in a matter of minutes. In four different thicknesses from 1,2 to 10 millimeters on the wishbone, they can be combined so that camber changes of 2 to 7 degrees on the front axle can be variably adjusted. Without wheel alignment, the respective session can be continued on the race weekend - an unbeatable advantage, for example, when changing the set-up in qualifying at short notice. The Audi RS 3 LMS also has tie rods on the four-link rear axle as standard in order to achieve bump-steer effects.

World premiere: this is the 340 hp Audi RS 3 LMS!

They support the agility of the racing car when turning. Other parameters of the chassis kinematics such as anti-dive and anti-lift, the height of roll centers, the caster or the distance between the subframes and the body when the stand height is changed offer all the options that a team could wish for when coordinating. For the first time, the stabilizers have a quick-release fastener and can therefore be replaced at short notice. This gives the technicians even more freedom: there are a total of nine stabilizer settings on the front and six on the rear axle. Different springs and two-way adjustable dampers complete the options for setting up the suspension. The size of the brakes, which are limited by the regulations, work in the new model in a more favorable thermal window. In addition to the discs, ventilation also includes the highly stressed six-piston brake calipers on the front axle for the first time. With all these innovations, the Audi RS 3 LMS offers more racing car feeling than ever before.

World premiere: this is the 340 hp Audi RS 3 LMS!

Photos: Audi

World premiere: this is the 340 hp Audi RS 3 LMS!

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World premiere: this is the 340 hp Audi RS 3 LMS!

World premiere: this is the 340 hp Audi RS 3 LMS!

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About Thomas Wachsmuth

Thomas Wachsmuth - He has been an integral part of tuningblog.eu since 2013. His passion for cars is so intense that he invests every available penny in them. While he dreams of a BMW E31 850CSI and a Hennessey 6x6 Ford F-150, he currently drives a rather inconspicuous BMW 540i (G31/LCI). His collection of books, magazines and brochures on the subject of car tuning has now reached such proportions that he himself has become a walking reference work for the tuning scene.  More about Thomas

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