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Audi Customer Racing Australia is aiming to import examples of the new R8 GT4 machine before the end of the year as the GT4 class continues to enjoy a global boom.
The German manufacturer launched its first GT4 weapon in April this year joining a string of marques to construct cars for the growing category.
GT4 is a class earmarked for gentleman drivers with cars several seconds a lap slower than its bigger brother GT3 machines.
At half the cost of GT3 cars, the class is booming in Europe with interest now starting to trickle into Australia, with a handful of GT4 specification cars already in the country.
The R8 GT4, which made its racing debut at last weekend’s Nurburgring 24 Hours, features a 5.2 litre V10 engine producing 364 kW (495 horsepower), while sharing almost 60 percent of its components with the road car.
The first two cars off the production line are expected to be earmarked for Audi Customer Racing Australia and set to arrive in December.
However, the cars are currently only eligible to compete in the GT4 class of the Australian GT Trophy Series and as an invitational entry in the Australian Endurance Championship.
“GT4 is the main focus now so we would like to get customer spec cars built and get them here before the end of the year,” Audi Customer Racing Australia boss Troy Russell told Speedcafe.com.
“I have had two or three customers that are half keen on it.
“To me GT4 cars are a gentleman only class, you cannot have a pro. The idea is you sell them to a gentlemen driver, do some trackdays and get them through state racing and to national level.
“Audi won’t take orders yet but I have two guys that will probably buy them straight away.”
Alongside the GT4, Audi Australia has imported an example of the marque’s new TCR specification touring car, which was on display at last weekend’s Australian Endurance Championship round at Phillip Island.
TCR is relatively new global touring car formula established in 2015 as the brainchild of former World Touring Car Championship boss Marcello Lotti.
Regional series utilising the 330hp two-litre turbocharged TCR touring cars have emerged in China, Italy, Portugal, America, Thailand, Germany and Scandinavia.
The RS 3 LMS is set to conduct demonstrations all over the country until November.
Currently there isn’t a category for it to contest in Australia, but Russell admits he could be keen to pursue further projects with the car overseas if there is sufficient interest.
“It has definitely created a lot of interest. It has only been brought here by Audi Australia to do some promotional events and see what interest there is and it created heaps,” he added.
“At this stage there is nowhere for it to race and that is the problem.
“I don’t think another category in Australia is needed. There are already way too many categories.
“I’m definitely not pushing to start my own category or anything like that. If it could join another category that is an option.
“It is a good opportunity but I’m not sure where it is going to go in Australia. It is already big in Asia so maybe we will go over there with it.”
