Post by Oldtimer on Jun 7, 2022 8:55:00 GMT -8
R8 chassis number WAUZZZ8RZAA100403 had a variety of liveries, teams, drivers and entrants, but was a successful car during its two years of racing.
The car carried #77 for the US American Le Mans Series (ALMS) races, and #7 in Europe.
“403” debuted at the 2000 Sebring 12-hours, entered by Audi Sport North America, a team populated by Joest personnel and aimed at giving Audi a marketing platform in the vital North American market.
Allan McNish, Rinaldo Capello, and former Grand Prix driver Michele Alboreto drove the car to second place.
At Le Mans, Alboreto and Capello shared the car with Christian Abt when it was entered by Audi Sport team Joest.
Third at Le Mans was followed by pole position at the Nürburgring for Capello/McNish, but in the 1000km round of the Le Mans Series it spun off and retired.
Back in the US, Chassis 403 won at Sears Point, Mosport and Portland (all with the hugely successful McNish/Capello driver pairing) and finished second at Texas.
It also took the Petit Le Mans title with McNish, Capello and Alboreto sharing the car.
McNish and Capello won again at Laguna Seca and placed second at Las Vegas.
The car was re-liveried in crocodile colors and headed to the Adelaide Race of a Thousand Years on New Year’s Eve, 2000. There the R8 had meagre opposition and won by a massive 21-lap margin.
For 2001, Chassis 403 was sold to former Swedish Grand Prix racer Stefan Johansson and ran in Gulf colors under the Johansson Motorsport banner.
The car started the season with a fourth at Sebring (as #18) in the hands of Johansson and Guy Smith.
It raced in the new European Le Mans Series (ELMS) (as #7 again) with fourth at Jarama, then a retirement at Le Mans (as #4).
It finished out the ELMS schedule, with Johansson and usually co-driver Frenchman Patrick Lamarie’ with a DNF at Estoril, a win at Autodrom Most, before returning for the end of the ALMS schedule.
Chassis 403 (as #18) took a third at Laguna Seca and second at the Petit Le Mans.
I was fortunate enough to see Chassis 403 race three times in 2000 (Sebring, Le Mans, and Texas). Would have loved to be able to make it to Adelaide, however those plans never jelled.
I have attached Screenshots from the Racing Sports Cars website for reference.
Maisto made Chassis 403 in the Adelaide livery only, never creating either an ALMS or ELMS version of the #77/#7.
Recently I was fortunate enough to find a custom version of the 2001 Le Mans #4 Gulf livery and added it to my collection.
Sharing it here with some pictures of the Adelaide version.
Enjoy!
The car carried #77 for the US American Le Mans Series (ALMS) races, and #7 in Europe.
“403” debuted at the 2000 Sebring 12-hours, entered by Audi Sport North America, a team populated by Joest personnel and aimed at giving Audi a marketing platform in the vital North American market.
Allan McNish, Rinaldo Capello, and former Grand Prix driver Michele Alboreto drove the car to second place.
At Le Mans, Alboreto and Capello shared the car with Christian Abt when it was entered by Audi Sport team Joest.
Third at Le Mans was followed by pole position at the Nürburgring for Capello/McNish, but in the 1000km round of the Le Mans Series it spun off and retired.
Back in the US, Chassis 403 won at Sears Point, Mosport and Portland (all with the hugely successful McNish/Capello driver pairing) and finished second at Texas.
It also took the Petit Le Mans title with McNish, Capello and Alboreto sharing the car.
McNish and Capello won again at Laguna Seca and placed second at Las Vegas.
The car was re-liveried in crocodile colors and headed to the Adelaide Race of a Thousand Years on New Year’s Eve, 2000. There the R8 had meagre opposition and won by a massive 21-lap margin.
For 2001, Chassis 403 was sold to former Swedish Grand Prix racer Stefan Johansson and ran in Gulf colors under the Johansson Motorsport banner.
The car started the season with a fourth at Sebring (as #18) in the hands of Johansson and Guy Smith.
It raced in the new European Le Mans Series (ELMS) (as #7 again) with fourth at Jarama, then a retirement at Le Mans (as #4).
It finished out the ELMS schedule, with Johansson and usually co-driver Frenchman Patrick Lamarie’ with a DNF at Estoril, a win at Autodrom Most, before returning for the end of the ALMS schedule.
Chassis 403 (as #18) took a third at Laguna Seca and second at the Petit Le Mans.
I was fortunate enough to see Chassis 403 race three times in 2000 (Sebring, Le Mans, and Texas). Would have loved to be able to make it to Adelaide, however those plans never jelled.
I have attached Screenshots from the Racing Sports Cars website for reference.
Maisto made Chassis 403 in the Adelaide livery only, never creating either an ALMS or ELMS version of the #77/#7.
Recently I was fortunate enough to find a custom version of the 2001 Le Mans #4 Gulf livery and added it to my collection.
Sharing it here with some pictures of the Adelaide version.
Enjoy!
