Audi’s R8 GT3

How would you fancy one of these on your driveway? Seriously. It’s Audi’s R8 GT3 racer, which was officially launched this week. And to make sure it meets FIA regulations, Audi has to build a few road-going versions. Something about homologation, which sounds complicated, but basically means the race cars have to be based on road cars.

But not just any road cars. The regular, V8-powered R8 wouldn’t be enough – it’s got the wrong engine. The GT3 version uses a V10, see, so they have to make some of those with number plates on.

They probably won’t make many, so get your order in quickly. Expect performance to be slightly diluted from the full-on racer, which has 5.2-litres, 500bhp, a six-speed sequential ’box with tech borrowed from the R10 Le Mans car – good for 0-60mph in under four seconds and go on to break 200mph…

The racing version costs £206,000, so expect the homologation cars to fetch around the same (it’ll be extremely rare, after all).

And if you miss out on one, don’t stress too much – there’ll be an all-new, mass-production R8 V10 by the end of 2009, one you can buy from your dealer, with a few more home comforts.

Until then though, just have a long look at this pic.