This ‘Green Hell’ Audi R8 pays tribute to the Nürburgring

Apparently it was three-time F1 World Champion Jackie Stewart who first called Germany’s Nürburgring the “Green Hell”. 60 or so years later the nickname stands – the 13-mile Nordschleife, that runs through the heavily wooded Eifel Mountains, has changed a bit in the last few decades, but it remains a formidable track that takes precisely no prisoners.

Audi is especially proud of its record there. Since 2012 it’s won the Nürburgring 24hrs a whopping five times with the R8 LMS. So, the week before it goes for gold again in 2020’s race, it’s revealed this: the Audi R8 Green Hell.

Mechanically it’s the same as the normal R8 Performance, with a nat-asp V10 making 612bhp, all-wheel drive, a 0-62mph time of 3.1 seconds and a 206mph top speed. But it’s greener.

No it’s not gone hybrid, Audi has simply painted it a rather lovely shade of green. Though weirdly you can have it in white, grey or black if you prefer. Costing the equivalent of £216,000 in Germany and limited to just 50 cars worldwide, the Green Hell R8 also gets matt black foil-wrapped details and special red-rimmed alloy wheels. Inside there’s lots of Alcantara, lightweight seats and special stitching.

The design is supposed to match the #1 R8 run by Audi Sport Team Phoenix in this weekend’s N24. A good looking pair, no?