Top award for RS 3 LMS

For the third time in five years, the Audi RS 3 LMS has been named the ‘TCR Model of the Year’ adding to its unprecedented success in race series around the world.

The entry-level model from Audi Sport, the four-door race car is based on the hugely popular road-going RS 3 Sedan, and competes in TCR (Touring Car Racing) series on five continents. With no fewer than 16 manufacturers taking part TCR series internationally, the RS 3 LMS’s success has been nothing short of spectacular since the first generation of the car was first introduced in 2016.

“For the third time in five years, the WSC evaluation proves that the Audi RS 3 LMS was the world’s most successful touring car,” says Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. 

“The program has traditionally been a pure customer commitment in all national and regional competitions, so our thanks go to the teams on five continents. They chose Audi in an attractive competitive environment and clinched these successes with the RS 3 LMS.”

That first generation car enjoyed success from the very outset. With 180 cars produced and delivered to customers between 2016 and 2021 it continues to deliver wherever it is raced. The

second generation RS 3 LMS was only introduced last year and has enjoyed immense success since its introduction. To date, some 80 cars have been delivered to customers around the world.

In the past year of racing alone, the Audi RS 3 LMS started in 287 races worldwide, clinching 84 wins and a total of 222 podium finishes. The Audi RS 3 LMS accounted for five drivers’ titles and an additional 18 international championships in 2022, including the renowned Macau Guia Race on the torturous Macau street circuit, while Tom Coronel clinched a gold medal at the FIA Motorsport Games.

In Australia, Melbourne Performance Centre which prepares the Audi Sport customer racing vehicles across all categories, again enjoyed tremendous success with the RS 3 LMS in 2022. Will Brown came close to wrapping up the TCR Australia Series with the championship result coming right down to the final race of the year, while Jay Hanson too had a strong season in his MPC-prepared RS 3, notching up four wins and several pole positions throughout 2022.

The RS 3 LMS differs from the road car on which it is based in a number of key areas. In accordance with the regulations, the TCR cars all use a 2.0-litre turbo engine capable of 250kW, (not the famed 2.5 TFSI five-cylinder of the road car) while drive is through the front wheels as opposed to quattro all-wheel drive as is the case with the road-going version.

The RS 3 LMS is the only model in Audi Sport’s four-model lineup that doesn’t use the R8 as its basis, with the R8 GT3 and GT4 Las cars based on the R8 road car and the R8 GT2 based on the R8 Spyder.

The RS 3 LMS was previously awarded the TCR Model of the Year for 2021 and 2018.