Re: First Quattro in F1

[Dave Eaton <dave.eaton@minedu.govt.nz>]

to all accounts (autosport) audi have had an f1 engine project for the last 2
or so years.  no mention on how advanced it was and whether it was ever
benchmarked...

i also think that, as vw's premium brand, audi is headed for f1 (where the
other premium german brands are), while rallying (that 'working class sport')
will be the domain of seat or vw (with the a3 turbo quattro perhaps)...

dave
'95 rs2
'90 ur-q
----------------------

Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 13:43:59 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Graydon D. Stuckey" <graydon@apollo.gmi.edu>

On Sat, 17 May 1997, Brian J White wrote:

> Well...if you look at Quattro to be Audi specific then yes, it would be the
> first Quattro in F1, but AWD is not new to Formula One.
> BRM, McLaren, Lola (or was it Lotus) all tried AWD cars in the mid 70s.   At
> that time AWD would have made a big difference as aerodynamics were just
> then being introduced, and were not fully developed.    But within a year or
> so, aero became the way to go, thus giving alot of the added traction that
> AWD would have producted without the added weight penalty.    

I doubt that Audi would do anything except fund the team initially.  They
don't have the engine or chassis technology that I am aware of.  However,
they put the rally world on their ears when Audi entered rallying with the
first Quattro, so it may be possible in F1.  I also think that AWD was
banned from F1 along with 6-wheels when the Tyrrell P-34 was banned.  That
was a long time ago though, so the rules may have deletd that prohibition.