Announced for the 2009 FIA GT3 European Championship, the R8 LMS GT3 took Audi’s 21st century starlet racing on an international level. Featuring a 500 PS version of Audi’s 5.2-litre V-10 engine mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox, the road-cars trademark quattro four-wheel drive system was dropped and replaced with a rear-wheel drive setup to adhere to GT3 regulations. In the same vein, power was set at 500 PS (493 bhp). By the time production transitioned to the R8 LMS Ultra in 2012, the R8 LMS GT3 proved to be highly competitive worldwide, with the model achieving over 100 wins including securing the FIA GT3 European Championship in 2009, a class win at the Nurburgring 24 Hours in 2010, and overall victory at both the Spa 24 Hours and Bathurst 12 Hour races in 2011.

For 2012, Audi introduced a single-make series for the R8 LMS GT3 called the Audi R8 LMS Cup. Taking place entirely in China, the series consisted of ten rounds across five weekends (two rounds per weekend) at the Shanghai, Zhuhai, and Ordos circuits. Looking to bring some star power to their new series, Audi managed to secure one of Asia’s biggest celebrities for the new series; Aaron Kwok, who was allocated this very car.

Kwok is very well known throughout Asia as one of Hong Kong’s “Four Heavenly Kings” a true singing, acting, and dancing superstar. Off stage, one of his other passions is motorsport, having started out in the Formula Renault Asian Challenge in 2004. Following several years in the Renault Clio Cup China, the Audi R8 LMS Cup China was a natural next step. Taking part in all ten races, Kwok finished the season with 10 points and placing 17th in the driver rankings. While Kwok proved to be quick in some events, it was certainly his star power that gave his car the most attention over any given weekend.

The winners of the inaugural Audi R8 LMS Cup was another Hong Kong driver, Marchy Lee, and to celebrate their victory, Audi allocated him this car to run in the GT Asia Series alongside his brother, Jeffrey as the official Audi works supported entry to the series. One step up from the Audi R8 LMS Cup, this saw chassis 0323 competed in a truly international FIA GT3 championship alongside Ferraris, Porsches, and Lamborghinis. Consisting of six race weekends split across 11 rounds the season was split between Malaysia and Japan before culminating at the final round at the Macau Grand Prix. The Lees emerged victorious at the 9th round of the GT Asia Series leading from the start at Japan’s Autopolis International Circuit.

In the ensuing years, the car was kept in mainland China and continued to race in regional events. Purchased out of China in 2024 and subsequently shipped to the U.K., the car was entrusted to Pursuit Racing in Bicester to be fully stripped and prepared to return to the racetrack, as well as returned to the livery it wore in the 2012 GT Asia Series. Work was completed in the summer of 2025 with only test miles accrued since completion. Receipts for this work are on file totaling just over £94,000 of work.

Ready to go for the 2026 season, historic GT3 racing has become hugely desirable with both Motor Racing Legends offering their GT3 Legends series and Peter Auto offering their GT3 Revival Series, allowing for wheel-to-wheel racing at iconic circuits across continental Europe and the UK. In period, the R8 LMS GT3 was renowned for its durability and versatility, a car that could be driven hard for long hours, in the hands of both top-tier professionals as well as gentleman drivers. This makes the R8 LMS GT3 an excellent candidate for historic racing today, especially for a newcomer to the grid.

Asked during an interview with Yahoo News in 2012 if racing was his secret to staying young, Kwok responded: “As a singer, actor and performer, I require a high level of fitness and physical condition. I need to be in good shape when I take on my work. Racing is exercise and I like exercise. It is a form of fitness for me and maintains my fitness levels very well. Hopefully I will get more chances to race and keep getting younger and younger!”