Audi Sport has found an unexpected source of demand. Private buyers are lining up for former factory race machines, and the restoration department now works through a growing queue because delivery capacity no longer matches incoming orders.
The project runs under the Audi Sport racing legends name. Each vehicle goes through a full return-to-factory process before handover. Rolf Michl, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH, said interest in these retired competition cars moved beyond internal expectations. He also stated the waiting period now stretches well past the 2026 season because every example needs full preparation before release.
Audi began this activity in 2024 with race cars linked to the Gran Turismo film, including the Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO. One year later, in 2025, the work became a formal division inside the brand. The cars do not leave in preserved condition only for display use. Audi Sport engineers continue supporting owners after delivery so track use stays possible, with technical help available once the cars reach private garages.
Demand has centered around machines from the Class 1 DTM years, covering 1993 through 2020. Audi connects part of this renewed interest with current revival racing series. Three Audi RS5 DTM cars changed hands in less than one year, which explains why workshop space now fills quickly.
The racing RS5 DTM differs sharply from the road-going RS5 Coupe. Audi built the competition version around a carbon-fiber monocoque and developed the body for extreme aerodynamic load. Post-2019 cars moved away from the earlier V8 layout and adopted a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 610 horsepower, 455 kilowatts, and 618 PS.
Another completed sale involved a 2013 Audi R18 e-tron quattro. This LMP prototype already entered a private collection. Audi equipped this car with a mid-mounted V6 TDI engine and paired the unit with a hybrid system. The same package helped secure several wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Engineers inside Audi Sport are preparing further prototypes for sale. Their task starts with worn race parts and ends only after every major system returns to factory-standard condition. These cars reached customers only after heavy race use, so preparation takes time.
Audi listed Nürburgring and Red Bull Ring among circuits included in the 2026 season appearances. The program also keeps older endurance machines in view, placing the RS5 DTM beside the hybrid R18 e-tron quattro during scheduled outings. That pairing, slightly unusual, reflects what buyers currently request most.
