When it comes to motorsports, Audi has an illustrious racing past. The Bavarian carmaker has conquered the Nurburgring 24-hour race five times since 2012. Audi has shattered several records with its diesel and gas-powered cars, and it appears that it is all set to do the same with its EVs.
Audi has taken a huge step forward with its all-electric 2021 Audi RS e-Tron GT. The futuristic electric vehicle shares a significant number of similarities with its sibling vehicle, the Porsche Taycan. Furthermore, the RS e-Tron GT is equipped with dual electric motors.
The standard e-Tron GT has 522 hp, whereas the RS model packs 646 hp.
This power is translated into pin-you-back-in-your-seat acceleration thanks to an innovative two-speed transmission. The E-Tron’s first gear is purely for launching, while the second gear is used to improve efficiency.
We have an R8 to represent the past, which Audi plans to discontinue. The mid-engined supercar first appeared in back 2006, and Stark purchased one around two years later. The car used in this drag race is a second-gen 2021 R8 V10 Performance – Green Hell Edition. Now that’s a mouthful. The design pays homage to the R8 LMS GT race car. It is Audi’s badge of distinction for dominating the Green Hell.
The normally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine is plenty powerful on its own. It produces 620 hp and is coupled to a 7-speed S-Tronic gearbox with all-wheel drive. The R8 V10 Performance sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and tops out at 206 mph.
The R8 is down on power when compared to the RS E-Tron GT, but the EV has the drawback of being heavier than the R8. We know that Supercars with V10 engines are quick but quicker than electric cars? Let’s find out.
Let the Race Begin
Both cars line up and launch. One of them pulls ahead. Which one, though? Both Quattro cars had nearly identical launches although, the RS E-Tron GT took the lead almost immediately and does not let the R8 gain on it.
The race was over rather quickly. The E-Tron GT took 2.85 seconds to get from 0-60 mph and the Quarter mile was done in a blisteringly fast 10.69 seconds. The R8 meanwhile wasn’t far behind with a 0-60 time of 2.95 seconds and 10.95 seconds to complete the quarter-mile.
The drag race demonstrates how formidable electric cars are becoming. While the R8 lost the race with honor, it is clear that EVs will continue to grow and evolve.
Final Thoughts
The RS E-Tron GT is a 4 door practical family sedan capable of transporting five passengers in utter silence around the Nurburgring. The R8 on the other hand is a purpose-built race car for the road. We can see how the gap in performance has closed between gas-powered cars and EVs.
Prior to the actual race, Auditography issued a disclaimer declaring that the showdown was held on a closed bit of road and. They, urge their audience to not attempt the same on public roads.