THE Audi R8 LMS GT3 race car that won the first Bathurst 12 Hour run to GT3 regulations in 2011 has been found – and its new owners would like it to find its way back to Australia.
The car, driven to victory by Darryl O’Young, Marc Basseng and Christopher Mies, completed 292 laps and led home a 1-2 finish for the Audi Race Experience Team Joest squad that started a new era for what has become Australia’s true international endurance race.
The victory was also the first international long distance race win for the Audi R8 LMS.
The satin black #8 Audi led home the sister #7 car driven by locals Craig Lowndes, Warren Luff and Mark Eddy, however the winning car’s identity as a Bathurst 12 Hour-winning car has largely flown under the radar – until now.
Every Bathurst 12 Hour car from 2011 to 2020, including the 2011 race-winning Audi, is featured in our ‘Bathurst: Going Global’ hardcover book, order your copy here now from the V8 Sleuth Superstore.
The car, chassis 274, was built in 2010 and was by no means a customer car, rather run by Audi’s works race team, Joest Racing.
The Bathurst-winning car also competed as a works car in races including the Nurburgring 24 Hour and VLN Series at the legendary track, below left, with drivers including multiple Le Mans 24 Hour winner Marco Werner.
In addition to its works racing history, it also served as a test and VIP guest ride car and was invited to run at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2010 as part of the factory Audi line-up.
This special R8 was later run by the Audi-affiliated MTM Team in Germany where it went onto claim overall victory in the 2013 International GT Sprint Championship, above right, making it both an international long-distance race-winner and championship winner.
In early 2014 MTM even broke the road legal Sachsenring lap record with the car on Michelin Sport Cup tyres.
MTM then sold the car to America, and it lived on the East Coast from 2014 until recently.
It has been sold to the United Kingdom, where it will be returned to its exact 2011 Bathurst 12 Hour-winning livery. The car’s original Audi seat is still in the car too!
The new owners, who wish to not have their identify revealed just yet, have confirmed to V8 Sleuth that they will be open to offers for the car and willing to sell it, opening the door for a savvy buyer ‘Down Under’ to secure a special piece of Bathurst 12 Hour history.
The new owners told V8 Sleuth they would really like the car to return to Australia rather than find a home anywhere else in the world.
Interested parties can contact V8 Sleuth to register their interest here.
Watch the highlights of the 2011 Bathurst 12 Hour here:
