audi has unveiled a new competitor in the badass gt3 racing class, with the audi r8 gt3. currently referred to internally as the ‘R16’, the R8 GT3 will be available for customers to buy in the fall of 2009, with the first races planned for later the same year.

with dedicated rear wheel drive (per gt race regulations no awd), the r8 gt3, will put out more than 500hp, sent through a sequential 6spd gearbox. i don’t come close to being able to afford even the stock audi r8 (~$100k) and i imagine this will run upwards of $150k, but i can still admire and dream, can’t i?