Racecars typically use a wide range of performance-enhancing goodies to produce massive power figures, impressive amounts of traction, and gut-wrenching braking power. And usually, any factory racer is going to be a bit more aggressive than its road-going counterparts. No so for the Audi RS3 LMS, however, which actually uses a turbocharged inline-four, as opposed to the famous turbo-five under the hood of the production model available to average customers any day at their local Audi dealer. But as a new video posted on YouTube clearly shows, the RS3 LMS certainly looks more radical than the standard iteration—and its four-banger sounds just as good, if not better.
Blasting Around
Turn the volume up to 11 on this clip, which features a wide range of cars but focuses on a pair of factory Audi RS3 LMS variants, one in silver and one in black, though both wear plenty of decals and stripes galore. The RS3 LMS is offered by Audi for Touring Car racing and leaves the factory producing 350 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque that is routed to only the front wheels through either a six-speed sequential transmission or a six-speed S-tronic, dual-clutch gearbox. Compare that to the standard RS3, with 400 horses routed through a seven-speed trans to all four wheels, and it seems like Audi has shorted the car in some serious ways. But the LMS version is legal for competition under TCR regulations.
Sounds Like Victory
The Audi RS3 LMS has been so effective since its introduction two years ago that it won "TCR Model of the Year 2018." But even more impressive for average fans of the four rings will be the roaring noises as the cars blast around the Zolder Circuit and the iconic Nürburgring in Germany, with plenty of backfires and fly-bys in just over 10 minutes of footage.
Source: Youtube