Demand for old Audi race cars exceeds supply
The “Audi Sport racing legends” program, which offers the purchase of genuine race cars from past years, has faced unexpectedly high demand. The company is receiving orders so actively that its workshops cannot prepare the cars for sale quickly enough. This has led to the formation of a queue which, according to brand representatives, will stretch well beyond the 2026 season.
Why have old race cars become so popular?
Rolf Michl, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH, admitted that interest in race cars from past years has exceeded all their expectations. The program involves a complete factory restoration of each race car so that it is ready to hit the track immediately after delivery to the owner. It is this lengthy restoration process that creates the queue, which, according to him, will stretch “well beyond the 2026 season”.
Rolf Michl, Audi Sport GmbH Managing Director, revealed that interest in the retired racing weapons has exceeded their initial expectations. The program requires a complete factory restoration of every race car to ensure they are track-ready upon delivery. This lengthy process has created a waiting list that now stretches “well beyond the 2026 season”.
The company began selling factory race cars, such as the Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO from the movie “Gran Turismo”, back in 2024, but this initiative turned into a separate division only in 2025.
Most popular models: DTM and LMP
According to Audi, the revival of interest in historic racing series has boosted demand for cars from the Class 1 DTM era, which lasted from 1993 to 2020. That is why three examples of the Audi RS 5 DTM have been sold over the past year. This race car differs radically from the road-going RS 5 Coupe, using a carbon fiber monocoque and extreme aerodynamics. Models after 2019 received a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 610 hp (455 kW / 618 ps) instead of the old V8.
Among the cars sold are also more extreme LMP prototypes, notably the 2013 Audi R18 e-tron quattro, which has already found its owner in a private collection. This race car is equipped with a mid-mounted V6 TDI diesel engine and a complex hybrid system that helped Audi secure several victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Engineers are working on new lots
Audi Sport engineers are currently working on preparing additional prototypes for sale. They carefully restore complex components to factory standards after they have been used at the limit of their capabilities in grueling races. For the lucky owners who have already received their cars, the team provides technical support so they can enjoy them on the track, rather than just storing them as museum exhibits.
Plans for the 2026 season
The 2026 season includes appearances at classic races in Hockenheim, Le Mans, the Nürburgring, and the Red Bull Ring. At the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe, Audi will showcase its dominant endurance racing heritage by fielding the diesel R10 TDI with a V12 engine alongside the hybrid R18 e-tron quattro.
Interestingly, such a frenzy around old race cars indicates a shift in priorities among wealthy collectors. Instead of investing in new supercars, they are increasingly choosing genuine racing artifacts, which have not only historical value but also the ability to deliver unique sensations on the track. It also underscores how deep Audi’s racing heritage is, continuing to pay dividends even years after the cars’ active careers have ended. The sale of such cars is becoming for the brand not just a business, but a way to preserve and promote its own history among new generations of enthusiasts.