I’ll always remember the primary time I laid eyes on an Audi R8. It wasn’t on an auto present stand or parked at a dealership, it was on the Regal Barn Plaza in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, watching the primary Iron Man film with my buddies in center college. Seeing Robert Downey Jr. driving that automotive made an prompt, unwavering connection in my mind that also exists to today. 15 years later, nicely into my automotive journalism profession, I’ve by no means pushed a brand new R8. Whereas attending my first Monterey Automotive Week, I lastly had an opportunity to alter that.

DrivingOnRoad had the chance to drive a 2023 Audi R8 Coupe, the ultimate mannequin 12 months of the long-lasting mid-engine supercar, round one of the iconic racetracks on the earth, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. This might seemingly be the ultimate probability for media to drive a brand new R8 earlier than it goes away, that means my first-ever drive might also be my final. Maintain studying till the top, however I can affirm that the R8 was the whole lot middle-school me wished it to be.

Selecting The Proper R8

Audi rolled out two variations of the R8 to drive, each wrapped in particular liveries to commemorate the ultimate drive at Laguna Seca. The pink automotive was an R8 V10 efficiency Coupe quattro, whereas the gray automotive was an R8 V10 efficiency Coupe RWD. Each are powered by a 5.2-liter V10 engine, however the quattro automotive will get 602 horsepower in contrast with 562 within the rear-drive automotive. It additionally has a bit extra torque (413 vs. 406 lb-ft).

Although the R8 RWD is lighter and sure a bit extra playful on the observe, I knew my first drive needed to be within the quattro automotive. AWD is such an essential element of what made the unique R8 so particular, and it could have felt flawed to expertise it for the primary time with out quattro. Having 4 pushed wheels helps the R8 hit 60 mph in simply 3.1 seconds in comparison with 3.6 seconds within the RWD automotive. The highest velocity can also be a bit larger at 206 mph in comparison with 204 mph.

Following Greatness

I solely had sufficient time for a few laps in a lead-follow format. Guiding me round Laguna Seca was Audi Model Ambassador and former racing driver Tom Kristensen, driving an all-electric Audi RS e-tron GT. Kristensen owns the file for many Le Mans victories with 9 complete, of which six had been consecutive. We had been following greatness, so we did our greatest to maintain up regardless of being within the quicker automotive.

Like me, Kristensen has a deep connection to the Audi R8 after successful Le Mans for a then-record-breaking seventh time behind the wheel of 1 in 2005. He then bought his eighth victory in 2008 driving an Audi R10 and his last win in 2013 driving an Audi R18 e-tron quattro. His 9 victories have earned Kristensen the title of “Mr. Le Mans.”

The Excellent Monitor

As with my connection to the R8, I’ve a powerful affinity for Laguna Seca. This was my favourite race observe rising up, taking part in video video games like Forza Motorsports. I’ve recorded extra digital laps right here than another race observe on the earth, and I’ve even had the prospect to drive it a number of instances in actual life on numerous drive occasions. In case you’ve solely ever had the prospect to expertise a spot like this in a racing sport, do not let anybody inform you the real-life expertise is not worthwhile.

In fact, driving the observe for actual is totally different from utilizing a controller, however video games like Forza assist you to study corners and braking zones and strengthen your confidence. Laguna Seca is a difficult course with 180 toes of elevation change, together with blind uphill sections and essentially the most notorious nook, the corkscrew: a five-and-a-half-story left-hand drop from Flip 8 into Flip 8A. Such a spot was the right venue to train the R8 for its last laps.

Residing Up To Expectations

After a fast security briefing and a chat with the unique R8 designer, Frank Lamberty, I hopped into the automotive, shortly adjusted my seat, and did my finest to maintain up with a nine-time Le Mans winner. My first lap was taken at a brisk tempo to turn out to be accustomed to the course and reacquaint myself with the braking factors. The subsequent lap was seemingly an off-the-cuff cruise for Kristensen, however it allowed me to flex the R8’s muscle tissue nicely into triple-digit speeds.

On the opening straight, the very first thing you discover is that wonderful wail from the V10 engine. That is the primary factor I’ll miss from this automotive within the electrified period. After the exhaust be aware, the second most obvious element is the quattro system, which retains the R8 balanced even when you do not nail an ideal line by a nook. I by no means as soon as felt in worry of dropping the rear finish, giving me the boldness to push tougher on a number of the most difficult corners. Flip 6 felt essentially the most treacherous because it units the automotive as much as climb the Rahal straight into the corkscrew. The camber adjustments arriving mid-apex can simply throw a automotive off stability for those who hit it on the flawed angle. Fortunately, Kristensen within the lead automotive confirmed the perfect line by at tempo, and following as carefully as I might, I bought by it in a single piece.

Goodbye, R8

Nobody is aware of precisely what comes after the R8, because the Audi model makes a monumental shift in the direction of electrification. Audi will launch 20 fashions globally by 2026, half of which can be electrical, and each new automotive launched after 2026 can be totally electrical. Earlier than the model turns into all-electric in 2033, Audi guarantees that its finest internal-combustion sports activities vehicles are nonetheless to return. After driving vehicles just like the RS e-tron GT, I’m assured that Audi will determine the best way to make electrical autos that match the joy of supercars.

It’s nonetheless with a heavy coronary heart that I write this last drive of the R8, a automotive that meant a lot to me and impressed my profession path in automotive journalism. I am so lucky to be a small footnote within the bookend for a automotive that meant a lot to the Audi model.

The R8 rocketed Audi into final cool standing for my era, a feat that few different autos in historical past can declare for his or her respective manufacturers. I would put the R8 on my private Mount Rushmore of automotive greats that outlined their manufacturers for an period, making Audi the “it automotive” to drive within the late 2000s. Although I want I bought the prospect to spend extra time with it whereas it was nonetheless in manufacturing, maybe I’ll get to personal an R8 sometime. For now, it is goodbye to an icon.