Re: Audi Rally cars + others (tryII)

[ti@bazooka.amb.org (Ti Kan)]

B C van Vught-Kues writes:
> Does anybody remember the Audi 5000 quattro that raced 
> in the US, I think on the oval tracks, maybe NASCAR ?
> I believe it set up a few records just after being introduced,
> but I'm not sure about these and whether it won a championship.
> Was it 'banned' or did Audi just leave ?

I think you are referring to the SCCA Trans Am series of 1988.
Audi participated with the 200 quattro (with Hans Stuck and
Hurley Haywood as drivers), and absolutely dominated the entire
season.  Although the Audi was disadvantaged in terms of horsepower
and weight compared to its competition, Audi was able to out-corner
other cars with its AWD and gain time.  This in spite of mid-season
rule changes in Audi's disfavor, forcing Audi to reduce horsepower
by installing turbo restrictors.

It was an unprecedented event.  I don't think there was ever any
other team that could bring in a brand new, unproven race car,
and win flat out in the first season.  Not to mention that
the Audi was a car based on production unit steel body (other
SCCA Trans Am cars have tube frames).

SCCA changed its rules after that season, and basically ruled
out Audi.  I don't remember the details, but I think AWD was
banned, and only front engine, RWD V8 American iron is now
allowed.

Audi went on to the IMSA GTO series in 1989, with a newly developed
90 quattro turbo (this time with a tube frame chassis).  The
development work was not complete until two races into the season,
thus the Audi team lost many points not having raced in those events.
When Audi did come, it was virtually history repeating itself.
With Hans Stuck, Hurley Haywood and Walter Rohrl as drivers, Audi
again dominated most of the remaining events.  That, unfortunately,
was not enough to offset the points lost initially and Audi had to
make do with second place in the manufacturer's title. The highly
competitive Mercury Cougars took the champion.

Audi Sport had a limited racing budget and they did not continue
with the IMSA series.  They focused on the German Touring
Car championships (with the Audi V8) for several years thereafter
and again dominated that series.

Isn't it amazing, that time and time again, Audi was able to produce
winning race cars first time out!  I didn't even mention the Audi
quattro rally cars that started it all...

Imagine if Audi had the racing budget of other teams, like Ford
or Toyota...

-Ti

P.S. You can get a glimpse of all this quattro racing action in
     two separate videos "The Audi Quattro Experience" and
     "Quattro Racing in the USA" available from EWA Miniature Cars
     (800)EWA-4454, (908)665-7811.
-- 
    ///  Ti Kan                vorsprung durch technik
   ///   AMB Research Laboratories, Sunnyvale, CA. USA
  ///    ti@amb.org
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