[urq] interesting press release from Audi

[louis-alain.richard at sympatico.ca]

Audi ur-quattro and R8 e-tron win the Silvretta Classic and E-Auto Rally

. Audi R8 e-tron winner of the first "Silvretta E-Auto Rally Montafon"

. 0.5 second lead for e-tron technology demonstrator after three stages

. Audi ur-quattro with blind co-pilot clinches overall win in the Silvretta

The Audi team secured a double victory for the four rings in the inaugural
"Silvretta E-Auto Rally Montafon 2010" and the 13th "Silvretta Classic
Montafon" with the Audi e-tron technology demonstrator based on the R8 and
the Audi ur-quattro from 1988. Three-time Mille Miglia winner Luciano Viaro
clinched first place in the classic car rally. Development Chief Michael
Dick and works driver Lucas Luhr took the Audi e-tron electric sports car
across the finishing line with the best result over a course of 167.5
kilometers (104.08 miles).

"We are delighted at the Audi e-tron's victory in the first E-Auto Rally,"
declared Michael Dick, member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG with
responsibility for Technical Development. "On the Silvretta E-Auto Rally's
challenging route profile, we were able to demonstrate that we are well on
the way to bringing electric drive to production maturity with our e-tron
technology demonstrator based on the R8."

Audi R8 e-tron wins Silvretta E-Auto Rally

In the "Silvretta E-Auto Rally Montafon 2010", the 230 kW (313 hp) R8 e-tron
technology demonstrator had to show what it is capable of over three stages
and ten time trials. The two-seater was pitted against 23 other electric
cars over three days of racing, clinching victory in the overall standings
by more than half a second. This rally was not just about speed. The
vehicles had to achieve specific target times in the time trials.
The biggest challenge for the Audi team came on the second day's racing in
the famous Silvretta mountain and valley time trials. In the fourth time
trial, the Audi R8 e-tron had to drive up the Silvretta High Alpine Road and
handle an altitude difference of 1,000 meters (3,280.84 ft) over the
mountain road's 15 kilometers (9.32 miles). Audi works driver Lucas Luhr
nevertheless managed to finish third in the R8 e-tron. The Audi team even
managed to advance to second place in the overall standings for the second
day. Upon reaching the finishing line in Partenen at the end of the third
stage, Development Chief Dick was able to celebrate overall victory for
Audi. The Audi drive concept was particularly impressive. Four motors - two
on the front and two on the rear axle - drive the wheels of the Audi R8
e-tron, making this experimental vehicle a genuine quattro.

Audi Tradition scoops overall win in the Silvretta with blind co-pilot

A team from Audi Tradition scooped its first ever overall win in the
celebrated Silvretta Classic race. No other competitor in the race drove
with greater precision than Luciano Viaro in the Audi ur-quattro from 1988.
Although the multiple Mille Miglia winner was not thought of as an outsider,
the remarkable fact is that his co-pilot is blind. Enrico Mussinelli read
the roadbook in braille. Audi Tradition has teamed up with Luciano Viaro to
support the Italian-inspired M.I.T.E. project, which has set itself the
objective of making classic car racing equally accessible to the visually
impaired. Viaro will be driving an Audi ur-quattro with blind co-pilots in a
total of five events this year.