Audi have enjoyed an enormous success with their customer motorsport program – meaning they have made a lot of money from the R8 LMS – to justify adding a new model to its range. The new model is the Audi RS3 LMS which is based on the new RS3 sedan unveiled at the Paris Motor Show.

Looking more like a full-on DTM challenger in these pictures, the Audi RS3 LMS is an entry-level model for customer sport in the TCR category, touring car events being held as part of the FIA Formula One World Championship supporting program. It can also be used for all sorts of endurance racing events such as Nurburgring 24 Hours.

The LMS RS3 has a four-cylinder two-liter TFSI engine with 340 horsepower instead of the big 400 hp five-cylinder in the road-going versions. But even so, because it’s lighter and more focused, it can still do 0 to 100 km/h in about 4.5 seconds and achieve a top speed of about 240 km/h. The stirpped out sedan comes with a safety package including an FIA-conformant safety fuel tank, a racing safety cell, the PS3 safety seat, FIA safety nets on both sides of the seat and a rescue hatch in the roof.

Unlike the Audi RS3 sedan which is a pricey little thing, Audi RS3 LMS counts as an affordable racing car with a price tag of 129,000 euros for the TCR version with a sequential six-speed racing transmission and 99,000 euros for a club sport version. Deliveries begin in December so customers will have enough time to prepare the cars for the 2017 season.