Why I Love the Audi R8 LMS & R8 LMS Evo (And Why You Probably Will Too!)
Written by Samuel Feinberg
If you’ve spent any amount of time racing with me, you’ll already know there’s one manufacturer I’ll almost always have a soft spot for…
Audi.
More specifically, the Audi R8 LMS and the 2019 Audi R8 LMS Evo.
I’ve represented Audi in the Gran Turismo Sport and Gran Turismo 7 GTWS Manufacturer Series numerous times over the years, so I’ve spent hundreds of hours driving these two incredible machines. I’ve tested them at just about every circuit imaginable, in every weather condition, with countless Balance of Performance updates.
And honestly?
I still get excited every time I jump back into one.
❤️ It Just Feels… Right
Some Gr.3 cars immediately click with you.
The Audi was one of those cars for me.
The first thing you’ll notice is how natural everything feels. You turn the wheel… the car turns. You lean on the brakes… it stays composed. You squeeze the throttle… it puts the power down beautifully.
There’s no constant battle trying to convince the car to behave.
Instead, it feels like the car is working with you.
That’s something I’ve always loved.
The Original R8 LMS
The original LMS already had an excellent balance.
The mid-engine layout gave it fantastic rotation through slower corners while still feeling reassuringly stable at high speed.
One of my favourite things was how confidence-inspiring it became once you learned its personality.
It wasn’t trying to catch you out every lap.
It rewarded smooth driving.
Drive it nicely, and it’ll usually return the favour.
Then Came the Evo…
When Audi introduced the 2019 R8 LMS Evo, they didn’t reinvent the car.
They polished it.
And you can genuinely feel it.
Everything became just that little bit calmer.
A little bit more predictable.
A little bit more forgiving.
Those tiny improvements make a surprisingly big difference when you’re halfway through a long online race and your tyres have seen better days.
That Incredible V10 😍
Let’s be honest…
Part of the reason we all love the Audi is because of that glorious 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10.
It sounds absolutely fantastic.
Even after all these years, I still think it’s one of the best-sounding GT3 cars ever built.
Every gear change.
Every downshift.
Every run down a long straight…
It never gets old.
GTWS… And Why So Many People Pick Audi
If you’ve watched plenty of GTWS Manufacturer Series racing, you’ve probably noticed something…
There always seems to be a lot of Audis.
That’s not a coincidence.
Across many GT7 seasons and Balance of Performance updates, the Audi R8 LMS Evo has earned a reputation as one of the strongest all-round manufacturer choices. It combines speed with consistency, which is incredibly valuable in championship racing. The exact competitive balance changes as BoP is updated, but Audi has repeatedly remained a popular choice among experienced drivers.
It’s quick.
It’s stable.
It’s kind on its tyres.
And perhaps most importantly…
It gives you confidence.
When you’re racing some of the fastest players in the world, confidence is worth an awful lot.
What I Love Most
For me, it isn’t even the outright pace.
It’s how relaxing the Audi is to drive.
Some Gr.3 cars constantly make you feel like you’re hanging on by your fingertips.
The Audi doesn’t.
You can attack kerbs.
Brake deep.
Trust the rear.
Get on the throttle confidently.
Lap after lap, it just keeps delivering.
That consistency is exactly why I’ve kept coming back to it over the years.
If You’re New to Audi…
Here’s my biggest piece of advice.
Don’t try to force the car.
Be smooth.
Brake in a straight line.
Carry good momentum.
Feed the throttle in progressively.
The Audi absolutely loves clean driving.
Once you stop fighting it and start flowing with it, you’ll understand why so many people refuse to drive anything else.
Final Thoughts
I’ve driven plenty of Gr.3 cars over the years.
Some are faster at certain tracks.
The original LMS is significantly heavier than the Evo so you might struggle a bit if you’re not as fast as me on track.
Weight transfer when using a wheel can be brutal for beginners
Be careful of rear tyre wear because of the 58% weight to the rear
If you love the V10 roar, this car is for you! Easily the best sounding V10 in the game.
Some suit particular driving styles.
But if someone asked me to recommend one manufacturer that can do almost everything well…
I’d still point them towards Audi.
The R8 LMS and especially the R8 LMS Evo have been fantastic companions throughout my GTWS journey, and they’ve helped me produce some of my most enjoyable races in both Gran Turismo Sport and Gran Turismo 7.
If you’ve never really given them a chance, I genuinely recommend taking one out for a few laps.
Who knows…
You might end up becoming an Audi fan too.
See you on the track! 🏁
Written by Samuel Feinberg
Leave a Reply