Published March 19, 2024 | Last update December 11, 2025 | 19 models online
The Audi R8 was the dominant sport car in the beginning of this century. The Joest cars – the official works entry – were the most successful and best known. An overview of these can be found here. A limited number of customer teams that were often supported by local Audi distributors, received a one year old Audi R8. When Joest stopped racing the R8 at Le Mans and the American Le Mans Series, these teams took over. Below we give an overview per team.
Stefan Johansson – Gulf
2001 Le Mans 24h, Johansson Audi R8. Joest Audi entered two cars for the 2001 Le Mans race and offered two year one year old cars to selected teams. One of them is Stefan Johansson‘s in the famous Gulf Livery, who raced the entire European Le Mans Series with it with technical support from Arena Racing. At Le Mans, the car retired after electric problems.
#4 Stefan Johansson (S) / Tom Coronel (NL) / Patrick Lemarie (F) – DNF
Arena Audi R8 (2000) – 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #403
- IXO Modern Le Mans & GT Cars LMM004 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
2001 Petit Le Mans, Johansson Audi R8. The Johansson / Arena Motorsport Audi also competed in the Petit Le Mans. They finished in 2nd place, 3 laps down on the Joest Audi.
#18 Stefan Johansson (S) / Patrick Lemarie (F) – 2nd
Arena Audi R8 (2000) – 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #403
- MINICHAMPS MC400 010918 limited to 1440 pcs (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
Champion Racing – Audi Sport North America
2001 Le Mans 24h, Champion Racing Audi R8. American Champion Racing was one of the first customer teams from Audi. They had a very strong international driver line-up and a great recognizable livery. Unfortunately the car retired with a broken engine, very rare for the usually reliable Audi R8s.
#3 Johnny Herbert (GB) / Ralf Kelleners (D) / Didier Theys (B) – DNF
Champion Audi R8 (2000) – 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #405
- IXO Modern Le Mans & GT Cars LMM003 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 2 STARS
2001 Petit Le Mans, Champion Racing Audi R8. Johnny Herbert was accompanied by the experienced Andy Wallace in the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. The couple finished 3rd, behind the Joest and Johansson Audis.
#38 Johnny Herbert (GB) / Andy Wallace (GB) – 3rd
Champion Audi R8 (2000) – 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #405
- MINICHAMPS MC400 010938 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
2003 Le Mans 24h, Champion Racing Audi R8. The customer Audi’s from Team Audi UK, Champion Racing and Team Goh were underdogs in this year’s Le Mans. Bentley was favorite to win, and to do so they received the better Michelin tires. This Champion / Audi North America Audi finished 3rd in front of the Audi Japan sister car.
#6 J.J. Lehto (FIN) / Stefan Johansson (S) / Emanuele Pirro (I) – 3rd
Champion Audi R8 (2001) – 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #505
- IXO Modern Le Mans & GT Cars LMM050 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 2 STARS
2005 Sebring 12h, Champion racing Audi R8
The only competition that the Audi North America / Champion Racing Audi’s had was from their own teammates. Since Joest isn’t participating, all the works drivers includingTom Kristensen now drive for Champion. The #1 is the winning car, their teammates finished less than 7 seconds behind. The advantage on the third placed Lola was no less than 20 laps.
Champion Racing #1: Tom Kristensen (DK) / J.J. Lehto (FIN) / Marco Werner (D)
Results: Start-grid 1st / time 1:49.723 / race 1st – 361 laps
#2 Allan McNish (GB) / Frank Biela (D) / Emanuele Pirro (I) – 2nd
Audi R8 (2002) – LMP1: Powered by 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #605
- MINICHAMPS MC400 051301 limited 1008 pcs & MC400 051302 limited 1008 pcs (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
2005 Le Mans 24h, Champion Racing Audi R8
The new aerodynamic rules penalized the Audi’s and now they had stiff competition from the Pescarolos which profited more from the new rules. But in the end it were Audi and #3 that won. The second Champion Audi had to settle for 3rd place as one of the Pescarolo’s slipped to second.
Champion Racing #3: Tom Kristensen (DK) / J.J. Lehto (FIN) / Marco Werner (D)
Results: Start-grid 8th / time 3:38.988 / race 1st – 370 laps
#2 Allan McNish (GB) / Frank Biela (D) / Emanuele Pirro (I) – 3rd
Audi R8 (2002) – LMP1: Powered by 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #605
- IXO Le Mans winners LM2005 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
- SPARK Audi Collection S0671 (resin)
- Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
Below are all Champion Racing cars including the Porsche GT2 #74 Daytona 1995, Porsche 911 GT1-evo #38 Daytona 2001 and Lola-Porsche B2K/10 #38 Daytona 2001.
Goh Racing – Audi Japan
2002 Le Mans 24h, Team Goh Audi R8. The customer Audi from Team Goh finished 7th. Well behind the factory cars from Joest that won Le Mans for the 3rd time in a row. The Joest Audi’s used the new direct injection FSI engine. while the old car used by Team Goh had to use the older engine.
#5 Yannick Dalmas (F) / Seiji Ara (J) / Hiroki Katoh (J) – 7th
Goh Audi R8 (2001) – 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #501
- IXO Modern Le Mans & GT Cars LMM036 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
2003 Le Mans 24h, Team Goh Audi R8
In 2003, the Joest Audi’s didn’t compete as the Audi-daughter Bentley was supposed to win. The customer Audi teams played second fiddle.
Audi Japan Team Goh #5: Seiji Ara (J) / Jan Magnussen (DK) / Marco Werner (D)
Results: Start-grid 5th / time 3:36.418 / race 4th – 370 laps
Audi R8 (2002) – LMP 900: Powered by 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #602
- IXO Modern Le Mans & GT Cars LMM049 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
- Also appears in #109 Canon
2003 Spa-Francorchamps 1000km – Audi R8
Team Goh participated under the flag of Audi Belgian in this race.Tom Kristensen joined the Japanese team and won this combined FIA Sports Car Championship and British GT Championship race with ease.
Audi Sport Japan (Team Goh) #25: Tom Kristensen (DK) / Seiji Ara (J)
Results: Start-grid 1st / time 2:14.889 / race 1st – 144 laps
Audi R8 (2002) –LMP900: Powered by 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #602
- MINICHAMPS MC430 031325 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
2004 Le Mans 24h, Team Goh Audi R8
The semi-works Audi’s from Team Veloqx, Champion Racing and Team Goh were the favorites in this year’s Le Mans. One of the Veloqx cars crashed, so did the Champion car. The battle went on between the remaining Veloqx Audi and this Audi Japan car, in whichTom Kristensen won his 6th Le Mans.
Audi Sport Japan Team Goh #5: Tom Kristensen (DK) / Seiji Ara (J) / Rinaldo Capello (I)
Results: Start-grid 4th / time 3:34.038 / race 1st – 379 laps
Audi R8 (2002) – LMP1: Powered by 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #602
- IXO Le Mans winners LM2004 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
Veloqx – Audi Sport UK
2003 Sebring 12h, Audi Sport UK Audi R8
The all new Bentley was the car to beat this year. In the first race of the year this is exactly what Audi did, the Joest entered car won the 12 hour race of Sebring. This Audi UK entry only managed 6th, behind two Audi’s and the Bentley’s, they even had to give way to a Panoz.
Audi Sport UK (Veloqx) #9: Perry McCarthy (GB) / Mika Salo (FIN) / Johnny Kane (GB)
Results: Start-grid 4th / time 1:49.581 / race 6th – 351 laps
Audi R8 (2002) – LMP 900: Powered by 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #603
- IXO Modern Le Mans & GT Cars LMM051 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
- Also appears in #109 Canon
2003 Le Mans 24h, Audi Sport UK Audi R8
Audi was the underdog, but this was the fastest of the Audi’s. The team retired early in the race because Biela missed the entrance of the pit lane and was forced to do another 9 mile lap, which he couldn’t complete ….
Audi Sport UK (Veloqx) #10: Frank Biela (D) / Perry McCarthy (GB) / Mika Salo (FIN)
Results: Start-grid 3rd / time 3:35.745 / race DNF out of fuel – 28 laps
Audi R8 (2002) – LMP 900: Powered by 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #603
- MINICHAMPS MC400 031399 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
- Also appears in #109 Canon
2004 Sebring 12h Audi Sport UK Audi R8. At Sebring, the two Veloqx Audis battled with the Champion Audi for the win and all three stood on the podium. In the end the #28 Audi won with a five lap advantage over the Champion car.
#28 Allan McNish (GB) / Frank Biela (D) / Pierre Kaffer (D) – 1st
Veloqx Audi R8 (2002) – 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #603
- MINICHAMPS MC 400 041328 limited 1344 pcs (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
2004 Le Mans 24h, Audi Sport UK Audi R8
The semi-works Audi’s from Team Veloqx were among the favourites. The fastest Audi UK car finished in 2nd place 35 seconds behind the winning Goh Audi. McNish crashed his car and his teammates had to drive it after repairs to the finish together because McNish was not able to continue. They managed to finish in 5th spot after all.
Audi Sport UK (Veloqx) #8: Allan McNish (GB) / Frank Biela (D) / Pierre Kaffer (D)
Results: Start-grid 2nd / time 3:33.233 / race 5th – 350 laps
Audi Sport UK (Veloqx) #88: Johnny Herbert (GB) / Guy Smith (GB) / Jamie Davies (GB)
Results: Start-grid 1st / time 3:32.838 / race 2nd – 379 laps
Audi R8 (2002) – LMP1: Powered by 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #603 and #604
- IXO Modern Le Mans & GT Cars LMM059 & LMM060 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
- Also appears in #109 Canon
Oreca – Audi France
2005 Le Mans 24h, Oreca Audi R8
Audi France entered an Audi R8 also for this year’s Le Mans. Last year’s Veloqx car was now raced by the experienced Oreca Team. The all French line-up couldn’t fight for the win but finished in a decent 4th place.
Oreca #4:Franck Montagny (F) / Stéphane Ortelli (MC) / Jean-Marc Gounon (F)
Results: Start-grid 5th / time 3:38.281 / race 4th – 362 laps
Audi R8 (2002) – LMP1: Powered by 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #603
- SPARK Audi Collection S0673 (resin)
- Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
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