RE: Myths or truths (long)

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

>  >no, a fully-fledged factory effort has the factory producing and
>  >developing hte cars.  audi is not doing this with the a4 this year,
and
> > has no intention of doing so.  
>
[snip]
> 
> I believe that "fully-fledged" is a vague term.  Audi "farmed" out the
racing
> effort to these affiliates from the get-go, so per your above
definition Dave,
> Audi NEVER had a "fully-fledged" factory team in  TCC.  With Factory
support,
> and factory dollars.   Audi never 'ran' the race teams per say.  The
> affiliates did.  Bintcliff and Biela didn't work for Ingolstat, they
worked
> for Audi Sport UK, one of the "affiliates".  Not sure your point, sir.

no not true.  you seem to have some difficulty with this, but i guess
you don't have the information.  happy to oblige.  press release from
audi (30th january)...

"The Audi marque is set for another good showing in the German Super
Touring Cup 1998. The four rings will be represented by a strong trio
comprising Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Christian Abt. Because of the
company's withdrawal from works racing in the Super Touring Cup - a
result of the ban on the quattro drive - the Kempten-based ABT
Sportsline team will be taking on responsibility for the appearance of
the three Audi A4s, which will be using Michelin tyres. 

"The ABT team will receive technical support at the track from the
French ROC team, which has co-operated on development with Audi for many
years. ROC took on the task of further developing the Audi A4 some time
ago. Technical co-operation with Michelin, the new tyre partner, is well
under way. 
 
[more major snippage]

> Lesson?  Well, you are running with a scutinized quattro chassis, that
most
> likely will fall to the rules.  You have bought the best drivers (I
remember a
> quote about Biela could win driving a Yugo), you have the commitment
of Dunlop
> for tyre development.  Make no mistake, if audi is forced to run fwd
chassis,
> the challenge will reside in that engine bay.  King already addressed
that.
> Was audi comfortably beating the fords because of the quattro layout
chassis
> with better drivers?  Quite possibly.  King himself points out that
the high
> and forward engine puts them at a distinct disadvantage when racing
fwd.  Take
> the awd chassis out of the equation.  Problem gets more obvious.  A
look to
> the Accord vs the Civic in TCC shows the importance of engine and
drivetrain
> layout.  Don't forget either, that King's background is with the FORD
team you
> reference, Dave.  Audi has big expectations for the boy I'd say.

errrrrr,
1) dunlop have not been providing tyres for audi this year.  michelin
are...

2) biela is not racing in the btcc this year, bintcliffe and muller are.
biela is buried in germany and is looking very ordinary.  the abt
brothers are kicking his arse in the abt-prep'ed cars.  perhaps he's
just not a fwd guy...

3) whatever king acknowledges as the *dis*advantages of the a4, he's not
too forthcoming about the *ad*vantages of the same car.  which are
clearly there.  king in "pr" mode so to speak.  as expected.

[more snippage]
>
> Per your definition of "fully-fledged".  I'm still a bit fuzzy on your
> definitions, Dave.  Given the commitment to King (a fwd guy) and no
plans to
> "pull" A4's in terms of backing or racing, your comments seem centered
around that
> definition.  Speculation is fine Dave, time will tell.  My prediction
is that
> if Audi gets nixed on the awd rear, audi won't have the wins you have
been
> quoting.  Then, either audi pulls out, or puts up with the transverse
motor.
> I predict the former myself.  But there is no doubt in my mind that
the N/S
> motor, chassis and tyre will be the best possible when the decision is
made.
> Is it a winner?  Time will tell.

and so you are in agreement with me?  you take 200 lines to agree that
audi are likely to pull out of class 2 racing, rather than invest in a
new chassis, now that their focus is on sports car?

sigh....

> 
> Me, I'd like to focus on the U and O.  I know why you can't, I
understand that
> may be a private thread.  Happy to entertain it Dave.
> 

yeah right, focus is a good word.  know what it means?

dave
'95 rs2
'90 ur-q