NEW YORK MOTOR SHOW: Audi R8 LMS GT4

Audi has become the latest European brand to confirm it will go GT4 racing, joining BMW with its M4 GT4, Porsche with its Cayman GT4, Aston Martin with its Vantage GT4 and KTM with its X-BOW GT4.

GT4 racers like them and the Ford Mustang GT4 are less modified that the popular GT3 racers and therefore cheaper to produce and run.

In the case of the Audi R8 LMS GT4, which made its world debut at the New York motor show overnight, Audi claims it's closely related to the road-going R8 Coupe V10.

Audi has offered the R8 LMS GT3 to customer race teams since 2009, after which it was replaced by a second-generation model in 2015, and also joined the TCR category with its RS 3 LMS in 2016.

Slotting in between is the GT4 version of the R8 LMS racer, the newest addition to the Audi Sport customer racing program.

"Directly derived from the road-approved Audi R8 Coupe V10, the GT4 is powerful and offers a high level of safety," says Audi.

"At the same time, it is an affordable choice in terms of purchasing price and cost of ownership. It is the ideal race car for amateur campaigners, in line with the spirit of the GT4 regulations that continue a great sports car tradition, as fascinating road-going sports cars were a popular base in GT racing around the world more than half a century ago."

The R8 LMS GT4 will debut at the Nürburgring 24 Hours over May 25-28, when Audi will join another international motorsport category, which will be heavily promoted from this year, when GT4 race series will take place in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.

“Thirteen racing series in which GT4 models can compete worldwide already exist today worldwide,” said Audi Sport GmbH managing director Stephan Winkelmann.

“Audi Sport GmbH is one of the leading manufacturers offering cars in the GT3 and TCR customer sport categories. Now we’re targeting the GT4 class at exactly the right time. These fast-growing business segments and the DNA shared by our racecars and production vehicles underscore our ambition to become a true global player in the high-performance league.”

According to Audi, the GT4-spec R8 shares more than 60 per cent of its assembly components with the road-legal Audi R8 Coupe, alongside which it is produced at its Böllinger Höfe facility.

"Customers of the new race car benefit from these synergies in terms of purchasing price and cost of ownership," says Audi, adding it will offer an extensive network of service, spare parts logistics and professional support for the GT4.

Producing 364kW depending on category rules, the R8 GT4 is currently under development before final homologation, racing approval and production begins in the second half of this year, followed by first deliveries by the end of 2017.

The German car-maker also used the New York show to unveil the R8 Coupe Audi Sport Edition, which will be limited to 200 units worldwide.

Draped in the silver, red and black colours of Audi Sport both inside and out, the R8 special-edition goes on sale in may ahead of first deliveries by August.