AUDI’S R8 supercar was a revelation when it launched in 2006, proving that the Ingolstadt brand could build a mid-engined, two-seater sportscar to take on the best from Porsche and Ferrari.

 

In second-generation form, Audi ditched the entry-level 4.2-litre V8 for a Lamborghini-sourced 5.2-litre V10 powering the coupe and convertible supercar range in two different tunes.

 

Audi has added a new entry-grade R8 – one that retains the free-breathing V10 engine, but ditches some equipment and the brand’s signature quattro all-wheel-drive system.

 

With a risk of throwing the baby out with the bathwater, can Audi’s R8 RWS (Rear Wheel Series) actually hold its own against some of the finest automotive metal available on the market with power sent to just a single axle?