Audi Sport – the sporting wing of Audi, is to offer an exclusive racing sports car based on its recently launched R8. Christened R8 GT3, Audi says, the car has the capability to put out a max 500-plus horsepower.

Once launched, the R8 GT3 will conform to the production-based GT3 regulations allowing the car to be fielded in numerous race series. This mid-engined sports car will no longer have the quattro permanent four-wheel drive as standard due to regulations prohibiting the use of such system in GT3 races. Instead, the R8 GT3 will feature the typical GT rear-wheel drive. Power is transmitted via a newly developed six-speed sequential sports gearbox.

The R8 GT3 is slated for launch in Europe in 2009.