The Audi R8 is a sports-prototype race car introduced in 2000 for sports car racing as a redevelopment of their Audi R8R (open top LMP) and Audi R8C (closed top LMGTP) used in 1999. It is one of the most successful racing sports cars ever (alongside such greats as the Porsche 956/962) having won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2005 (five of the seven years it competed). Its streak of Le Mans victories between 2000 and 2005 was broken only by the Bentley Speed 8 (powered by the same V8 twin-turbo engine) in 2003, when the R8 finished 3rd.

The petrol-powered Audi R8 race car was replaced by the new Audi R10 TDI Diesel in 2006; however, the need to further develop the R10 meant that the R8 saw action in a few races leading up to Le Mans.