How to spot an Audi R16: Part 1: Introduction

By Johan Laubscher

2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra and R8 GRAND-AM

The Audi “R16” was the code name given to the race car projects based on the Audi R8 road car. The first version of the R16 was launched into competition during 2009 as the original Audi R8 LMS. The car achieved much success in the years that followed. In 2012 an updated version of the R16 was launched, based on the original R8 LMS, called the Audi R8 LMS ultra. The new ultra version received a number of updates. The cars do have an overall similar appearance, however there are distinct differences. It has been the case that many people have found it difficult to distinguish between these two versions, thus during 2012 we at Audi Motorsport Blog published an article to help with the identification process. The article discussed and highlighted the differences between the Audi R8 LMS and the Audi R8 LMS ultra. That article can be seen HERE. 

This new series of articles that you are currently reading aims to be an updated version of the article mentioned above, and includes all five of the Audi R16 versions to date. During 2012 another Audi R16 was launched, the Audi R8 GRAND-AM. It was based on the Audi R8 LMS ultra, but with more significant differences to comply with the Grand-Am GT rules. Along with this third R16 version a fourth version was released, the updated 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra. At the beginning of 2014 the GTD version of the Audi R8 LMS became the fifth version of the R16. We will discuss all five of the versions with a tutorial on how to spot the differences and identify the cars correctly.

You can click on the three links below (Parts 2-5) to head to the specific article featuring the cars mentioned in the title.

Article links: 

How to spot an Audi R16: Part 1: Introduction
How to spot an Audi R16: Part 2: Original Audi R8 LMS and 2012 Audi R8 LMS ultra

How to spot an Audi R16: Part 3: Audi R8 GRAND-AM

How to spot an Audi R16: Part 4: 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra
How to spot an Audi R16: Part 5: Audi R8 LMS GTD Version 

Photo credits:

Audi Sport Media