Photo: Audi
Audi is poised to enter the GT4 market, with the German manufacturer confirming plans of an expansion of its customer racing vehicle lineup beyond the ultra-successful Audi R8 LMS GT3 car.
It’s Audi TT Cup car, from the recently launched single-make series in Germany, took part in SRO’s Balance of Performance test last month, for what new Audi Sport customer racing boss Chris Reinke said was to evaluate its performance alongside existing GT4 cars.
“There is for sure a vision in mind to expand the product range of customer vehicles that Audi Sport customer racing should supply in the future,” Reinke told Sportscar365.
“To help with that evaluation process, we went to the test to evaluate the TT, which was available for us, against the competition, to see what kind of performance range a GT4 car should have.”
Reinke has ruled out the TT Cup car, in its current form, being homologated for GT4 competition but was pleased with the results of the test.
“It did meet my expectations and it did confirm what we’d have to change on the car to maybe field there,” he said.
The former Head of Audi’s LMP1 program attended last weekend’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in his first official race in his new position and was pleased with the level of interest in GT4, particularly in America.
Multiple GT4-based cars compete in IMSA’s Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, while Pirelli World Challenge’s newly forged relationship with SRO Motorsports Group could lead to its GTS class becoming full GT4-spec in the future.
“What’s encouraging to me is a lot of dialogue that I had at Sebring last weekend because to really create a solid business case around the car, I need volume,” Reinke said. “Therefore, I need commitment around the world in the GT4 category.
“We won’t build a GT4 car just for Europe. If we could get the support from IMSA and also in Pirelli World Challenge that they will adopt GT4 regulations, then that would [help].
“It’s good practice with the GT3 as that’s now worldwide and marketable. If we can foresee a situation as such for GT4… at the moment I cannot see myself not doing a GT4 model.”
Reinke wouldn’t reveal which model Audi would opt for, but said the GT4 platform is under evaluation.
“When it comes to extension of product range, the GT4 is hopefully the next we can announce,” he said. “It’s priority one regarding product range.”
Audi is the latest manufacturer to either confirm or express interest in GT4, with McLaren having launched its new 570S GT4 last week.
Both Ford and GM, meanwhile, are understood to be developing GT4-spec versions of its Shelby GT350R and Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R as well.
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