AUDI SPORT RS 3 LMS MAKES U.S. RACING DEBUT AT VIR IN THE PIRELLI WORLD
Audi Sport customer racing’s Audi RS 3 LMS USA Clubsport is now available for purchase in the U.S. Four of the race cars will make their U.S. racing debut at Virginia International Raceway in the Pirelli World Challenge TC class this weekend in Alton, Virginia.
The Audi RS 3 LMS is a race-specific version of the RS 3 that made its world debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. Developed by Audi Sport customer racing for the new global TCR category, the Audi RS 3 LMS USA Clubsport version will also compete in the TC class of the 2017 Pirelli World Challenge.
“Audi Sport customer racing continues the tradition of producing quality products in motorsport that directly relate to the road cars,” said Tristan Herbert, manager of Audi Sport customer racing North America. “The entry-level Audi RS 3 LMS emulates the attention to detail associated with our production vehicles and is the perfect car for race competition or for amateur weekend track events.”
The Audi RS 3 LMS starts at $135,000 and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in about 4.5 seconds, achieving a top speed of about 240 km/h. In TCR trim, the proven four-cylinder two-liter TFSI engine delivers 243 kW (330 hp).
The safety package includes an FIA-conformant safety fuel tank, a racing safety cell, the PS-3 safety seat, FIA safety nets on both sides of the seat and a rescue hatch in the roof identical to the one used in the Audi R8 LMS.
2017 Pirelli World Challenge TC class events
| Date | Track | Location | Where to watch |
| APR 28-30 | Virginia International Raceway | Alton, Va. | Live-Stream MotorTrendOnDemand.com
CBS Sports Network – SUN 14 MAY 2017 04:00PM ET |
| MAY 19-21 | Canadian Tire Motorsport Park | Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada | Live-Stream MotorTrendOnDemand.com
CBS Sports Network – TBD |
| MAY 26-27 | Lime Rock Park | Lakeville, Conn. | Live-Stream MotorTrendOnDemand.com
CBS Sports Network – WED 07 JUN 2017 08:00PM ET |
| AUG 11-13 | Utah Motorsports Campus | Grantsville, Utah | Live-Stream MotorTrendOnDemand.com
CBS Sports Network – WED 23 AUG 2017 08:00PM ET |
| SEP 01-03 | Circuit of the Americas (COTA) | Austin, Texas | Live-Stream MotorTrendOnDemand.com
CBS Sports Network – TBD |
| OCT 13-15 | Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (With SRO International GT Challenge) – TCR Eligible |
Salinas, Calif. | Live-Stream MotorTrendOnDemand.com
CBS Sports Network – TBD |
2017 RS 3 LMS TECHNICAL DATA
| VEHICLE | |
| Type | Sportscar |
| Eligible for | TCR series worldwide, VLN, International Endurance Series, STCC, Clubsport |
| ENGINE | |
| Type | 2.0 L, straight-four engine with turbocharger and intercooling, transversally mounted in front of the front axle |
| Output torque | 243 kW (330 hp) at 6,200 rpm |
| Bore / stroke | 410 Nm at 2,500 rpm 82.5 mm / 92.8 mm |
| ECU | Continental SIMOS |
| POWER TRANSMISSION | |
| Transmission | Front wheel drive |
| Gearbox SEQ / clutch | Six-speed sequential gearbox, mechanical differential, preload adjustable; multi-disk sintered clutch |
| Gearbox DSG / clutch | Direct-shift gearbox (DSG), differential: VAQ electro-hydraulic; standard clutch |
| CHASSIS | |
| Front axle | McPherson struts; height, track and camber of chassis can be adjusted; anti-roll bar can be adjusted in three stages |
| Rear axle | Multilink axle; height, track and camber of chassis can be adjusted; anti-roll bar can be adjusted in three stages |
| Steering | Electrical rack-and-pinion steering with modified software and hardware |
| Braking system | Front: disc brakes with all-around inside ventilation (378 x 34 mm) Rear: disc brakes (272 x 12 mm), aluminum brake calipers (six pistons at front, two pistons at rear) |
| Wheels / tires | Strengthened production steel body with welded steel roll-cage |
| Chassis | 10 x 18 inch; 27 / 65 x 18 |
| BODY | |
| Bodywork | Parts from steel panel, CFC and GFC |
| DIMENSIONS / WEIGHT | |
| Length / width / height | 4,589 / 1,950 / 1,340 mm |
| Wheel base | 2,665 mm |
| Weight empty | 1,180 kg (TCR SEQ) / 1,215 kg (TCR DSG) |
| Minimum weight | 1,285 kg (incl. driver) |
| EQUIPMENT AND SAFETY | |
| Controls | Height and length adjustable steering column with shift paddles on steering wheel |
| Acquisition system | AIM – MXG 28 channels + 8 analog |
| Diagnostics | Auto-diagnosis OBDII / DiagRA-LE |
| Speed limiter | 60 km/h |
| Airjack system | 3 airjacks (Ø 50 mm) |
| Rescue hatch | Allows the driver’s helmet to be lifted |
| Seat | Audi Sport customer racing seat PS-3 (FIA GT3 safety seat) |
| Fuel tank | FIA FT3 fuel tank, capacity 100 L |
| Fire extinguisher | OMP |
| PERFORMANCE | |
| Acceleration | 0–100 km/h in approx. 4.5 seconds |
| Top speed | Approx. 240 km/h |
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