The current crop of Audi R18s are amazing . But it's this particular ancestor that might be the prettiest Audi prototype racer of the modern era.

This is an Audi R8 that ran at the 2001 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was entered and driven by F1 reject Stefan Johannson in a partnership with an American and sponsorship from Gulf Oil, hence the 1960s paint job.

Johannson had won the 24 Hours in '97 in a TWR-Porsche and in 2003 he finished first in class (just behind the two leading works Bentley coupes). In '01, though, he didn't make the finish in this gorgeous 3.6 liter twin turbo V8 R8.