Re: torsen in racing

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

no wrc rally cars use anything like the technology used for the road.  state of
the art has existed in the wrc for several years, as well as in the class 1 itc
(german) race cars (2 types of which, the opel and alfa) were awd.

both use active diffs where possible with computer mappings of locking rates
dependent upon myriad inputs from the vehicle.  wrc rally cars all use active
centres and rears, with some moving to active fronts.

audi did not rally the torsen because it was not available until after audi
withdrew from the sport.  they raced the torsen in a number of circuit series,
the german dtm, the class 2 touring cars and the later american series. 
exactly what they ran from race to race, and why is obviously not known.

dave
'95 rs2
'90 ur-q

>------------------------------
>
>Date: Tue, 05 May 1998 08:59:53 -0500
>From: Bruce Aukerman <Bruce@mannlawfirm.com>
>Subject: Torsen in racing...a real question
>
>This torsen debate seems to be going the route of most long threads
>here, to-wit:  People getting stuck on their view and then getting
>pissed.
>
>I would like to move away from the emotional side of this and onto the
>factual.  As I have said before, I have not been "bitten", at least
>that I know of, so...to the question:
>
>If the torsen is as good as some here have argued, and argued well I
>might add, where is it in rallying?  The cars that seem dominate [WRX;
>Cosworth; Toyota (was); Mitsubishi; etc.] what are they using? I
>realize there are high-tech parts on these cars [tranny brains], but
>even their streetable siblings seem to get awesome press that hardly
>ever mentions Audi cars, unless a historical reference is made.  
>
>Really, what I am wondering is why Torsen is not used more than it is,
>if it is as good as advertised?
>
>thanks for non-flames:)
>
>Bruce
>
>ps  about the Audi law department thing?  Unless Audi is different
>from the manufacturers I have wrestled with, the first line of defense
>is usually an allegation of misuse of the product.  This is seen under
>some pretty amazing [amazingly simple and benign] factual scenarios.  
>   
> 
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 10:11:52 -0400
>From: quattro <quattro@acacianet.com>
>Subject: RE: Marketing 101
>
>Let's remember just exactly who Audi is/was marketing the =
>Torsen-equipped quattros to: street drivers and not track racers. Based =
>on what I've been able to learn from the 3.14159 posts I've read on the =
>Torsen subject, it would appear that the Torsen works very well on the =
>street right on up to 7/10ths driving. As street driving is (or should =
>be) at < 7/10ths then the Torsen seems to be a reasonable compromise to =
>achieve close to 100% mechanical locking-like traction and always-on ABS =
>while eliminating the need for the driver to 'think' about such mundane =
>and boring things as diff locks and ABS-off switches and lock w/out ABS =
>Vs open/w ABS tradeoffs. It also would appear that most (all?) quattro =
>competition vehicles did not use the Torsen, but then they did not need =
>the compromises that exist in street cars that made the Torsen so =
>attractive for street use in the first place.
>
>- -glen
>
>>> So, basically, is consensus that a q-car with torsens handles corners =
>like
>>> crap?
>
>>Yeah - no Audi has gone round a corner successfully since 1987, if you
>>believe some of the utter bullshit now being posted.
>
>>--
>> Phil Payne
>> Phone: 0385 302803   Fax: 01536 723021
>> (The contents of this post will _NOT_ appear in the UK Newsletter.)