The competitiveness of the Audi R8 LMS ultra in GT world championships lends itself to the widely known belief that the car is as good a racer you can get. That competitiveness is expected to continue in the 2014 season, specifically at the Nurburgring 24 Hours->ke999 where as many as eight R8 LMS ultra cars are tipped to compete.

Ahead of the actual 24-hour race this coming June, the R8 LMS ultra was put through the paces over the weekend in qualification for the endurance race. While it failed to upend the BMW Z4's dominance, don't expect for one second that the R8 LMS ultra won't be a contender when the real race at the "Green Hell" commences this coming June.

All in all, five teams will be fielding the R8 LMS ultra at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, with some notable drivers in the mix, including Le Mans winners Frank Biela, Marcel Fässler, Stéphane Ortelli, and Marco Werner. These four drivers have accounted for 11 wins at the 'Ring, and will be complemented by former GT1 World Champions Marc Basseng and Markus Winkelhock, defending FIA GT Champion Laurens Vanthoo, and three-time Porsche Supercup Champion René Rast.

That's as good a lineup to drive the R8 LMS ultra at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring. It's going to face some stiff challenges, especially with the BMW Z4 and the defending-champion Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 in the fold. But don't expect the R8 LMS ultra to just sit idle and let the rest get the spoils. The racer is tipped and ready to make some waves when the endurance race kicks off this coming June.

Click past the jump to read more about Audi R8 LMS ultra.

2014 Audi R8 LMS ultra

Specifications
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  • Model: 2014 Audi R8 LMS ultra
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Audi R8 LMS ultra in detail

This isn't your standard Audi R8->ke1440, folks. Certain elements have been upgraded to ensure it's competitiveness in a race as arduous as the 24 Hours of Nurburgring. Numerous aerodynamic components have been added, including the under-floor element that made its debut in last year's model, further improving the flow of air into the wheel arches. Likewise, the race car's diffuser was also tweaked, as was the front suspension to help drivers speed through the raceway without losing grip.

For this year's R8 LMS ultra, Audi has developed a powertrain that can produce 562 horsepower -- 12 horsepower more than the road-going R8 V-10 Plus. This engine mates to a six-speed sequential gearbox that delivers power to the rear wheels.