Two of the most accomplished Audi race cars are now up for grabs—and the marque will even provide trackside support for the buyers. It’s the first time the car maker has sold prototypes from its factory racing program, according to the brand.
An Audi R18 E-Tron Quattro and RS 5 DTM are on offer, Audi said last week. Delivery of the first car to its new owner will occur sometime this summer or fall. The cars are actually rebuilt versions of the original race cars, but each is built with an original chassis.
“We are rebuilding these chassis together with reconditioned parts from that time into racing cars according to strict standards and with a high level of expertise,” Rolf Michl, managing director of Audi Sport, said in a statement. “In some cases, even the developers from that era are involved in the current projects. The Audi R18 e-tron quattro and the RS 5 DTM are two of the fastest racing cars we have ever built.”
Possible buyers were first shown the R18 E-Tron Quattro and RS 5 DTM offered for sale on April 2 in Germany. The R18 E-Tron Quattro was a winner in 2012 at the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC at Spa-Francorchamps, while the RS 5 DTM nabbed a victory in 2015 in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters in Hockenheim.
Audi is planning three more shows to possible buyers: in Germany this May, as well as in France and England two months later, including at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The car maker did not disclose a price but did say that ownership would include track support, which means, “regular technical inspections, the offer of repairs, but also a spare parts service and expert advice from former developers,” it said.
Audi can make your 2010s niche racing dreams come true, in other words, which is probably a better way to spend the money burning a hole in your pocket than buying yet another supercar that will sit in a garage to be admired. These Audis are meant to be owned as they lived: on the track, at something approaching the limit. With all the help on hand, you won’t even have an excuse not to go fast—for better or worse.
Click here for more photos of the Audi R18 E-Tron Quattro and RS 5 DTM.
