Audi Sport – Page 3

Ken Block’s Audi Sport quattro Replica is Bonkers

Ken Block's Audi Sport Quattro Replica

Next-gen electric cars will deliver amazing performance, but they won’t sound anything like Ken Block’s Audi Sport quattro replica.

When Ken Block was tapped to work with Audi on electric vehicle development, we knew the partnership would pay dividends. The long game, of course, is about keeping future Audi product as fun to drive as possible. But in the short term, we also knew we were going to get some killer videos. And while we’re still waiting on the long-promised Electrikhana, the reigning king of hoonage has just released a first test video of his Audi Sport quattro replica.

Now, this car was actually done in time for the SEMA show last year. Thanks to his busy schedule, however, Block hadn’t gotten a chance to test the new whip until now. It’s basically the same setup that sat in the Borla booth at the big show in Sin City, though there have been some small changes here and there. For instance, the steering wheel has been swapped out, the giant e-brake handle has been relocated, and because Block wants to daily this in his hometown of Park City, there’s an actual parking brake!

One thing which hasn’t changed is the weapons-grade 2.5-liter turbo I5 under the hood. While road-going versions of the quattro made around 300 horsepower, and Group B spec racers topped out around 600 ponies, Block’s machine is significantly more powerful. Thanks to a tweaked 20-valve cylinder head from an S2 and a huge amount of boost, this baby is pushing a whopping 730 horsepower to all four corners. So yeah, it’s a proper beast.

It’s also sporting a trick Borla polyphonic exhaust which uses a quintet of pipes in the muffler to enhance sound, without compromising flow-though. The result is an absolute riot of noise, which serves to remind us that while we’re sure to see crazy performance from the next-generation of electric sports cars, they’ll never wail like this glorious piece of rally-derived kit. So turn up the volume on this clip, and stay tuned for the Electrikhana video!

Photos: Youtube

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Audi F1 Confirms Grand Prix Return From 2026

Audi Shocks with Own Engine on Expected F1 Entry News

Audi has confirmed that it will race in Formula 1 from 2026. There were no surprises at the Ingolstadt carmaker, which won several grands prix as Auto Union in the 1930s, making the announcement ahead of this weekend’s Belgian F1 Grand Prix. But news that Audi will build its own engines, and that it is still to acquire a team to run the effort, were both unexpected.

Audi’s entry, heralded by these images of an F1 showcar in its colors, marks the Volkswagen Group’s first major step into Formula 1 following the FIA last week rubber stamping greener F1 rules from 2026. Audi is set to be joined on the grid by sister brand Porsche. The Stuttgart brand is in the throes of finalizing its partnership with Red Bull from 2026.

Its Own Audi F1 Powertrain is the Big News

The biggest news is that Audi will not after all share engine and power unit technology with Porsche. Led by Adam Baker, Audi will now develop its own F1 power units at its Neuburg facility. Test benches are already in place, with plans in place to expand personnel and infrastructure for the F1 project by the end of the year.

“Motorsport is an integral part of Audi’s DNA,” company chairman Markus Duesmann pointed out. “Formula 1 is both a massive global stage for our brand, and a highly challenging development laboratory. “The combination of high performance and competition is always a driver of innovation and technology transfer in our industry.

“With the new rules, now is the right time for us to get involved. After all, Formula 1 and Audi both pursue clear sustainability goals.” Audi’s arrival in Formula 1 follows years of links to a potential F1 entry. The company has traditionally focused on sportscar racing, Formula E and the Dakar Rally. Audi has canned its planned sportscar return to concentrate on F1.

Formula 1 is Delighted By Audi’s Arrival

Audi’s news is a major coup for Formula 1, “I am delighted to welcome Audi, an iconic automotive brand, pioneer and technological innovator,” F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali pointed out. “This is a major moment for our sport that highlights our great strength as a global platform and a huge nod to our sustainably fueled hybrid engines from 2026.”.

“You can imagine there was a huge discussion,” Markus Deusmann explained. “But we decided, as both our brands have a lot of fans and their own special character, that we should keep it separate and do two operations. “We will have different teams, and each powertrain will be designed especially for each chassis.”

“It costs time to integrate the electrified powertrain with the chassis,” Audi development boss Oliver Hoffmann added: “So Audi will have our own, completely different operations. “It will be a challenge to get this done by 2026, but I think we will find some compromise in the rules so we can arrive in F1 on equal terms with our new rivals.

Competitive Audi F1 Powertrain a Challenge by 2026

“We were able to develop the Dakar car, which is also a very complex drivetrain, in less than one year. “I think we will be able to develop this power train also by 2026. “We love the challenge!” Audi’s revolutionary Dakar program continues as planned.

While Porsche has remained focused on its pending partnership with Red Bull, Audi has explored options with several teams including McLaren, Williams and favourites Sauber. Swiss team Sauber operates the Ferrari-powered Alfa Romeo squad. Audi was expected to confirm its team partner today, but that announcement will now follow later.

“The long lead is the powertrain, so we had to decide on the power unit. “That’s what we announced today,” Duesmann pointed out. “Regarding a team, there are several fantastic chassis partners on the grid, and we have spoken to them. “We inform you as soon as we know who our chassis partner will be. “We will do the decision within this year.”

Is Sauber the Audi Formula 1 Team Favorite?

Like it did with Joest in Sportscars and does with Quandt at the Dakar, Audi will not form a brand new F1 team. “We will have an Audi powertrain in an existing car, but we won’t set up a new team,” Duesmann concluded. “The starting position is much better with an existing team and car.”

In a twist shortly after Audi’s announcement, Sauber F1 partner Alfa Romeo Thursday confirmed that it will exit F1 end-2023. A deal with Sauber would likely see Audi take a stake in the team to return it to a works squad, as it was as BMW-Sauber until 2009.

Teaming up with an existing outfit also avoids the $200-million fee required for new F1 entrants. Duesmann however refused to comment on Sauber links. Watch this space!

Images: Audi

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Veteran Driver René Rast to Leave Audi Sport

Rene Rast Leaving Audi Sport

Active with Audi since 2011, ace shoe Rast says he “still has a few goals in motorsport that I want to achieve.”

Audi Sport driver René Rast has announced his intentions to leave the team at the end of the 2022 DTM season. That means his final appearances for the Four Rings will be October 8th and 9th for the finale at Hockenheim. Rast has been with Audi Sport since 2011, and has been a fantastic performer for the squad, notably winning three DTM championship titles in four years. Here’s what he had to say about the move:

“This decision was anything but easy for me,” says René Rast. “Audi has been my life over the past few years. We’ve worked fantastically together and celebrated many great successes. I’ll never forget these moments, nor the many great people who made my victories and championship titles possible.”

Along with his three DTM championships, those great successes include winning the title during his rookie season, a 2014 ADAC GT Masters championship, and multiple victories at 24-hour endurance events like the Nürburgring (2014), Daytona (2014, 2016), and Spa (2012). In 2015, he also drove a Audi R18 e-tron quattro to a top ten finish at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. In response, Oliver Hoffmann, Board Member for Technical Development at Audi, said “René Rast will always remain a friend”

Of course, while Rast and Audi Sport had plenty of good years, the German driver was often victim of bad timing during his tenure, as he touched upon in his statement:

The Class 1 era in the DTM was the absolute highlight for me. The Audi RS 5 DTM, with its four-cylinder turbo engine, was a fantastic race car. Unfortunately, this era came to an end far too quickly. In both the Le Mans prototypes and Formula E, I also had the misfortune of having just joined the team when the programs ended. That was a real shame. I’m enjoying the DTM with GT3 race cars much more than I could ever have imagined. But I still have a few goals in motorsport that I want to achieve.

At this point, the smart money says that Rast will head back to Formula E, where he campaigned for Audi between 2019 and 2021 seasons, to drive for the new McLaren team. Until then, however, he’ll be focused on trying to win another DTM championship, for which he’s very much still in the running. Watch the video below to hear Rast describe some of his accomplishments in his own words, and keep your fingers crossed for him going into the last eight races!

Photos: Audi

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650 HP 1991 Audi S2 Mops the Floor with Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R

1991 Audi S2

Both powerplants in this video produce 650 HP. But only one of these revamped classics features quattro all-wheel-drive.

Few things can make 90s kids nostalgic about their early years. Grunge fashion was the most popular trend of the era, and for millennial automotive enthusiasts, a 1991 Audi S2 and Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R were the epitome of everything cool. As our avid readers might already know, the S2 was the first Audi S model to hit the streets. In a recent OFFICIALLY GASSED-OG video, the two legends battle it out in a series of exciting drag races.

The proud owner of the R32 GT-R, Billy joins Jamie from OFFICIALLY GASSED-OG and offers an in-depth look at his exciting car. Like the Audi S2, the Nissan Skyline GT-R is a heavily tuned machine. Both vehicles produce 650 HP maximum power. Under the hood of the Skyline sits a 2.6-liter straight-six motor, whereas a 20-valve 2.2-liter 5-cylinder motor propels the 1991 Audi S2.

Both cars also get a slew of performance upgrades. The S2 has a fully forged ABY motor, Supertech valve springs, custom-built GTX3582R turbo kit, methanol injection, and 1000 cc injectors. The German performance sedan rides on Uniroyal Rainsport tires and weighs around 3417 lbs. Under the heart of the GT-R, we find a fully forged RB26DETT motor, TOMEI Type A valve springs, BorgWarner Twin scroll turbocharger, TOMEI Type B Poncams, and much more.

1991 Audi S2

Unlike its Japanese rival, the 1991 Audi S2 benefits from its quattro all-wheel-drive system, which comes into its own during the first run.

The Audi manages to obliterate the R32 GT-R easily. The German coupe hits the 60 MPH mark from a complete standstill in just 3.19 seconds. The Audi S2 manages to cross the finish line in just 11.24 seconds. Billy wins back some points in the first rolling drag race; however, the GT-R is no match for the S2. Audi’s performance coupe wins the final two races and impresses everyone on the track.

“Once again, in an incredibly close race, Audrius (S2 owner) and the S2 managed to just take the win by about half a car length, boy that was close,” shares Jamie. He also proclaims, “So today ends in an old-school German S2 taking home the win.”

Image Source: OFFICIALLY GASSED-OG

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Audi Drag: 2022 RS 3 vs. 1985 Sport Quattro S1

Audi Drag Race

Wonder how a modern performance-tuned Audi stacks up to one of its racing ancestors? Watch this video and find out!

The 1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1 is — to put it mildly — a wicked-fast piece of kit. After all, it was designed to compete in Group B, the most terrifying era of rally that ever existed. But since time waits for no person or car, the fact that it’s nearly four decades old can’t be overlooked. So it’s interesting to see how this purpose-built racing machine compares to one of its modern, street-legal ancestors — like the current Audi RS 3. And fortunately, thanks to our friends across the Pond at carwow, it doesn’t have to be a bench race.

In this video, host Mat Watson lines up Ingolstadt’s latest ferocious compact sedan with the venerable S1, which is being driven by an Audi factory driver. As fans of the Four Rings know, both cars are packing turbocharged five-cylinders under the hood. But here, the power advantage goes to the older thoroughbred, as the RS 3 is producing 400 horsepower to the S1’s 500 ponies. And that’s despite the fact that its modern mill is up on displacement — as it’s 2.5-liters as opposed to 2.1-liters. Just goes to show that when daily drivability isn’t taken into consideration? Output can shoot into the stratosphere.

Given it’s a street car, which has things like air conditioning, infotainment, other creature comforts, and legions of safety nannies, the RS 3 is also over 1,000 pounds heavier than the race car. That’s a serious delta to overcome, even if it’s sporting a lightning-quick seven speed dual-clutch transmission, as opposed to the S1’s old-school six speed. Honestly, even though it’s not directly applicable here — as the S1 was never for sale at a dealership — one phrase kept running through my head watching this video. And that’d be: “The last days of the old technology are better than the first days of the new technology.”

Hopefully, that little tidbit didn’t spoil the video, because it’s amazingly fun, and frankly, it makes me jealous of folks who get to experience the glory of old race cars. Seeing something like this is a reminder of just how unhinged the performance of these old warriors was, and how frighteningly different it was than the road-going vehicles of the time. So check out the clip, and if you’ve gotten to pull a Ken Block and hammer on some old racing cars? Hit me up and tell me about it!

Photos: YouTube

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