Audi’s hosted its first Los Angeles women’s only track day, to celebrate the new 2017 Audi R8 Coupe on October 11 at The Thermal Club in Palm Springs. Guests including an intimate group of women lifestyle journalists received racetrack instruction by female pro driver Lea Croteau and got the opportunity to experience the Audi R8 first-hand both on and off the tracks.
An Audi owner before she was a professional racer, Lea has worked as a stunt driver on Film and TV commercials, demonstration driver for various automotive companies, precision and pace car driver for the PPG Indy Pace Car Team, and drift driver for the Marlboro Mustang Drift Hot Lap Program. She’s also been a top competitor in the Tire Rack One Lap of America, 25 Hours of Thunderhill Endurance Race, Rally America, Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, and in NASA Races.
The R8 has been around for over a decade and has been a solid bet in the stables of car collectors, racers and street drivers. Faster, more efficient, and more capable both on and off the racetrack, the 2017 R8 (which come in V10 and V10 plus) is the most powerful Audi production model to-date. Featuring the same V10 engine found in the R8 LMS racecar, a completely new application of quattro all-wheel drive, and a more functional yet technologically advanced cabin, the R8 reaches 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and top track speed of 199 mph. The coupes also have a virtual cockpit with a 12.3 inch screen with a Google earth navigation system.
With the base prices hovering above $164,000, the redesigned 2017 Audi R8 gains a more modern cockpit and more power while still retaining the old model’s easy-to-drive nature and Hollywood style. It’s undoubtedly a top pick for a high-end sports car.
Photo/Video Credit: Stefanie Keenan/ Courtesy of Audi
Video Credit: Steven David Photography
