The word 'Quattro', chosen by Audi for its pioneering high-performance
four-wheel-drive cars, immediately captures glamour and excitement in
the minds of all motorsport enthusiasts. This book, written by a leading
journalist and Quattro devotee, explores 24 years of factory-prepared
and factory-supported Quattros in motorsport, from 1980 to 2004. It is a
tale that extends from rough rally stages to race tracks, from
pine-fringed ice trails in the depths of European winters to the
shimmering heat haze and melting asphalt of Texas street racing. Along
the way, it explains how Quattros collected four world rally
championships, five American driver/manufacturer crowns and a
single-year haul of seven international touring car titles, plus
numerous other honours.
With the five-cylinder turbocharged Quattro in its original form,
rallying in the early years yielded numerous wins, most of all in 1982,
when seven victories in 11 world championship rallies brought the first
title. With the short-wheelbase Sport added to Audi's armoury, 1984
became an all-action, all-conquering rallying season with two more world
titles won, for drivers (Stig Blomqvist) and manufacturers. Three
stunning Pike's Peak wins were achieved in America in successive years,
for Michele Mouton (1985), Bobby Unser (1986) and Walter Röhrl (1987).
Starting with double championships for the 200 quattro in TransAm (1988)
and the 90 Quattro in IMSA (1989), racing success unfolded in America.
Exuberant Hans Stuck was the star driver, but consistent team-mate
Hurley Haywood captured that 1988 title. Touring car campaigns during
the 1990s brought huge success, starting with fearsome V8 Quattro
'racing limos' in Germany. Global achievements followed with A4 Quattros
in many national Super Touring series throughout Europe and in
Australia, including Frank Biela's 1996 title-winning campaign in
Britain. Audi continued to win on track in the new millennium as race
versions of the S4 and RS6 captured five SCCA GT Championship titles in
America.
