Audi to let customers go racing with the big dogs
By Mark Atkinson, MSN Autos
Racing has always been about who pays the bills. Other than a very select group of racers at the very top of their game, seats in racecars are virtually all filled with paying drivers. Sometimes that’s by bringing personal sponsors on board to cover the costs, other times it’s cold hard cash. That’s not to say that some of those who race aren’t competitive with the rest of the field – some championship-winning drivers have done so while paying to be there. This isn’t really a secret, but it’s not trumpeted from the windows either...
Well, cue the Audi-branded horns...
The company now plans to offer a never-before-attempted plan to allow paying customers to drive its cars in full-blown competition. Using the GT3-class R8 LMS sportscar and the legendary Le Mans-winning Joest Racing team as support, Audi plans to open up seats to those willing to stump up the cash.
“For the first time, the Audi race experience offers customers the opportunity to participate in a race with a professional Audi ‘factory’ team without having to enter into a long-term commitment or to make a high financial investment,” explains Klaus Demel, who is in charge of the Audi driving experience. “I’m very happy that we’ve been able to win Audi Sport and Reinhold Joest’s team as partners for this project.”
Sounds like the folks at Joest had to be convinced it would work...
“Actually, the idea of letting customers contest races with a high-caliber sports car like the R8 LMS could only have come from Audi,” says Ralf Jüttner, Managing Director of Joest Racing GmbH. “Although this is an unusual task for us it is, no doubt, a very interesting one as well.”
Customers can choose from races at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, or other unannounced tracks. Joest will also be running sessions at a German training facility where customers can get their racing licences.
No word on cost, but this cannot be an inexpensive proposition. Shared ‘seats’ in something like the SPEED World Challenge or the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge range from $10,000 in a mid-pack car to $30,000 for something competitive. And that’s only for one weekend of racing...
For more information, visit Audi's website.
Posted by: Doug | 2010-03-06 2:05:56 PM
Wow... can anyone lend me $30,000!!!
Actually wouldn't a racing school be better? I forget the name of the school but they let you drive Vipers, and the class below F1. I think they're pricing is cheaper, and the course is longer than a weekend. Also, (I know this isn't racing) but in Toronto there is a car rental company that has a dream pakage for under $10,000. This features the rental of about 5 or 6 high end cars, such as a Lamborghini, Viper, Corvette, Mercedes, and a few other really nice cars... and this is a weekend event.
I don't know Audi, sounds like a nice idea, but there are better alternatives out there.
Posted by: Rickedy | 2010-03-06 3:57:34 PM
Sounds like fun. Expensive fun. haha
Aslo sounds like there are going to be a few bent cars after the dust settles.
Takes a lot of practice to be safe out there and a lot of the guys that have the money to do it don't have the expirience but they have the bucks. Should be interesting.
Most likely a guy will have to pass some kind of test to drive. But even the best drivers out there had to start somewhere. It may be a good thing.
Posted by: Devil's Advocate | 2010-03-07 7:56:59 AM
Sounds like a great idea for wealthy thrill-seekers, but accidents are common at Nürburgring-Nordschleife. I'm sure that amateur racers will only be allowed to drive an R8 LMS if they sign a waiver first. Not only the obligatory "Death & Dismemberment" Waiver but also the "You scratched it, You bought it" Waiver. Odds are that you WILL at least scratch it.
I think this is a clever marketing scheme to increase sales. These cars cost approximately €262,000, or about $333,000 US (base price for a regular R8 is about €107,000.) No sane luxury car company would think of wrecking a fleet of these beauties for a mere $30,000 rental fee. A waiver would ensure a full $333,000 sale.
Audi salesmen will be wringing their hands as the customers "PILE UP"!
Posted by: Death Race | 2011-05-19 12:08:13 AM
Yeah I agree !
It's really an expensive one. I thought this is all about the fun but the money spend by the racers are more shocking.