Audi AG’s involvement with motorsport seems fairly recent compared to their competitors Mercedes-Benz and BMW whose trophy cabinets bulge with silverware from many decades past, however, three of the companies that merged to form Auto Union AG and subsequently Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer, have very respectable histories in circuit racing and hill-climbs so the DNA was undoubtedly there. Not long after Auto Union and NSU merged to become the current day Audi AG, a motorsport programme was on the agenda and the name is now synonymous with success having dominated Group-A rallying in the 1980s, years of good results in the DTM and other Touring Car and Supertouring Championships in the 1990s and beyond, followed by starting the new millennium with three consecutive victories at the ‘24 Hours of Le Mans’, a race widely regarded as the pinnacle of motorsport.

During these periods, Audi released sportier versions into the top-end of their road-going model line-up as a nod to the success they were enjoying in motorsport. The RS4 and RS6 were most notably well received and led to RS versions of most of the model line up, however, Audi didn’t have much supercar heritage until, in 2006, they took a bold step to show the world that they could also build such a car and the R8 was the result.

The R8 is a two seat, mid-engine supercar positioned as Audi’s flagship model (a title it still holds today). It was launched in 2007 with two engines, the 4.2-litre FSI V8 and the 5.2-litre FSI V10 and uses Audi’s legendary Quattro four-wheel drive system which has been honed through decades of motorsport. It’s cutting-edge design, and performance to match, gained great acclaim in the motoring press and proved the car earned its place in the supercar arena along with the likes of Porsche, Ferrari, and McLaren.

But can you make the best even better? Audi AG’s private subsidiary company ‘Audi Sport GmbH’ answered that question in 2011 by developing a very special model in-house which would be produced in limited numbers and named it the R8 ‘GT’. The brief in short was simple ‘more power, less weight’. Introduced at the 2010 Wörthersee Tour, the Audi R8 GT (coupé) is a high-performance variant of the R8 V10 and was followed by its sunshine sibling, the R8 GT Spyder, unveiled at the 2011 '24 Hours of Le Mans'. Limited to only 333 units worldwide, the R8 GT Spyder combines the aggressiveness of the R8 GT with an open top driving experience.

At £158,145 when new, the R8 GT Spyder was Audi’s most expensive road car to date (over £40,000 more than the standard V10 Spyder). Specification highlights include a power increase of 35bhp to 553bhp, carbon ceramic brakes, and a traditional spring suspension set-up (that sits 10mm lower than the standard V10’s variable Magnetic Ride system). The engine frame is made of ultra-light magnesium and the soft top cover and the large side panels at the rear are formed from carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP). CFRP is also used for the modified front spoiler, the fixed rear spoiler, and the new rear bumper and even the seats are made of carbon fibre which result in a weight saving of 32kg alone. Together, these components provide a weight saving of 85kg compared to the standard V10 Spyder and the resultant 197 mph top speed and 0-62 mph sprint time of 3.8 seconds make the GT a true supercar – but one you could easily use every day.

The car presented here is a UK-supplied (one of just 33 we understand) 2013 Audi R8 (Type 42) GT Spyder, presented in striking Sphere Blue matt paintwork (a rare colour chosen by Audi for many of the PR images of the GT model at launch) and has been enjoyed by just two owners (in total), with our private vendor having purchased it in 2016. Naturally, it has a full Audi service history (see images; N.B. there is a typo written in the service booklet - the service at 6,506 miles should read 14/05/15 as per the Service History Certificate) ensuring that its highly conservative 22,000 miles have been enjoyed in fine mechanical health and the appearance and condition of the whole car reflect its fastidious upkeep, garaging and low mileage shared between just two diligent owners. Our guide price is truly attractive given all the factors – ability, rarity, history, condition, and sheer usability for what is arguably the world’s most approachable ‘supercar’.

(The registration 'R8 XDT' will be coming with the car)