The 2004 24 Hours of Le Mans produced a significant result in the race's modern history. Car #5, entered by Team Goh under the Audi Sport Japan banner, took the overall win. Behind the wheel were Tom Kristensen, Seiji Ara, and Rinaldo Capello. IXO Models has rendered this moment in 1:43, in the white, black and red livery that made the car immediately identifiable that June weekend.
The Audi R8 LMP: A Dominant Force in ACO Competition
Built to ACO LMP900 regulations, the Audi R8 LMP used carbon-fibre bodywork. Power came from a twin-turbocharged V8 engine. From its debut in 2000 through to 2005, the R8 won Le Mans every year it entered — the sole exception being 2003, when Bentley took the honours. Few prototypes in endurance racing history have achieved that level of sustained dominance over a comparable period.
The Story of Car #5
When the #5 Team Goh R8 crossed the finish line in June 2004, Tom Kristensen extended his own record as the most successful Le Mans driver in history, claiming a sixth overall victory. At the same time, Team Goh became the first Japanese-entered outfit to take the top step. The privateer team, running as an official Audi Sport Japan customer, had delivered a result no factory squad had managed to prevent.
IXO Models and the 1:43 Scale Model
This 1:43 scale model car is produced in die-cast metal by IXO Models. The white, black and red Team Goh livery — the same colour scheme that distinguished the #5 car from the factory Audi entries at La Sarthe — is reproduced across the bodywork.
Frequently asked questions
What is the historical significance of the #5 Team Goh Audi R8 at the 2004 Le Mans?
It was the first Le Mans overall victory for a Japanese-entered team, while Tom Kristensen claimed a record-extending sixth Le Mans win.
Who drove the #5 Team Goh Audi R8 at the 2004 24 Hours of Le Mans?
Tom Kristensen, Seiji Ara, and Rinaldo Capello shared the car and took the overall victory.
What livery does the model reproduce?
The white, black and red livery of Team Goh Audi Sport Japan, the Japanese privateer outfit that entered the #5 car as an official Audi Sport Japan customer.
Who makes this 1:43 scale model and what is it made from?
It is produced by IXO Models in die-cast metal.
