Paragon 1:64 2019 Audi R8 LMS: 24 Hour Daytona WRT Speedster #88

The Audi R8 (Type 42) is the first generation of the R8 sports car developed and manufactured by German automobile manufacturer Audi. Conceived in 2003 in concept form, the R8 was put into production in June 2006. The Type 42 is based on the Lamborghini Gallardo and shares its chassis and engine. Audi's parent company Volkswagen Group owns Lamborghini as well and components of both of the cars were shared mainly to save development costs. Production of the Type 42 ended in August 2015, following the introduction of the Type 4S at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show which was based on an entirely new platform.

The first Audi R8 LMS (chassis number 101) was delivered to Audi Sport Italia in 2009.

Despite the development of the car, Audi itself had stated not to enter any races with the new GT3 car as an official 'factory' team. The car was unveiled at Essen Motor Show.

In the 2009 24 Hours Nürburgring, and preceding VLN endurance races, Audi privateer teams had entered four cars, operated by the Abt Sportsline and Nürburging-based Phoenix race teams. Until the 19th hour, two of these R8 remained challengers for the lead, against two Manthey-operated Porsche GT3 in the same lap, before the leading #99 car[87] suffered suspension problems. The #97 finished 2nd,[88] and despite electrical and gearbox problems, the other two cars finished 23rd or better.

Australian Mark Eddy participated in the 2010 Australian GT Championship with the first R8 LMS in the Southern Hemisphere.[89] In the 2010 24 Hours Nürburgring, the first four spots on the grid were occupied by Audi R8.

Audi's Le Mans 24 Hour team, Joest Racing ran a pair of R8 LMS GT3's in the 2011 Bathurst 12 Hour held at the Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia on 6 February 2011. The #7 R8 driven by an all-Australian crew of Mark Eddy, multiple Bathurst 1000 winner Craig Lowndes and Warren Luff qualified on pole alongside teammates Marc Basseng, Christopher Mies and Darryl O'Young in the #8 car. Bessing, Miles and O'Young won the race from Eddy, Lowndes & Luff by just 0.71 seconds with Lowndes setting the races fastest lap and a new class lap record of 2:09.0861 for the 6.213 km long circuit on lap 267 of the 292 ran in the 12-hour time frame. FIA GT3 and Australian GT Championship cars were included in the 12 Hour for the first time in 2011. The race had previously been the domain of Group 3E Series Production Cars. Phoenix Racing returned to the event in 2012 and won the event again with Christopher Mies, Darryl O'Young and Christer Joens.

Two Audi R8 LMS customer race cars purchased by Flying Lizard Motorsports entered the GT Daytona class of 2014 United SportsCar Championship. Testing took place in Sebring on 2013-11-16, with the first race for both Flying Lizard Audi R8 LMS cars taking place in 2014 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Paul Miller Racing entered GT Daytona class of 2014 United SportsCar Championship with an Audi R8 LMS.