Audi in WRC?

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eMadman
Does Audi do rally anymore? I don't follow racing much and when i do, it's almost always some repeats of a WRC race from a few weeks prior.

I've seen it in vids from the 80's, the company has done all the work necessary on a very high quality AWD system, but when are they going to take their cars offroad? They STILL use those old vids in their ad campaign so...that makes one ask...are they planning something? If so, what could it possibly be? Not one of their current bodies looks like it'll work out in WRC (except the A4) but it would look a bit awkward wouldn't it?
 
There's always the A3/S3, but i don't believe they're that interested in WRC anymore. The ads are there to impress people, i guess. Besides, Skoda is already in WRC for VAG, it'd be pointless to make both compete.
 
not too familiar with the wrc's...what's VAG? and why would it be pointless for the 2 to compete?
 
Volkswagen Automotive Group. Consists of Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda, unless i'm missing another maker. Having two manufacturers from the same ownership fighting for a championship might not be such a good idea, IMO.
 
I think they want Audi for Lemans, because it's more prestigious event than WRC. I'd like to see a Golf R32 WRC car instead of a Skoda though.
 
Originally posted by emad
Not one of their current bodies looks like it'll work out in WRC (except the A4) but it would look a bit awkward wouldn't it?
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Actually, the A3 would be about tailor made for WRC, but the chances of Audi appearing in the WRC are zero - even if Skoda weren't in there. It'd more likely Audi turn up in F1, although given the push upmarket of VW I'd think an F1 engine from that group would be badged VW.
 
Originally posted by vat_man
Actually, the A3 would be about tailor made for WRC, but the chances of Audi appearing in the WRC are zero - even if Skoda weren't in there. It'd more likely Audi turn up in F1, although given the push upmarket of VW I'd think an F1 engine from that group would be badged VW.
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I disagree on the F1 badging thing. With BMW, Mercedes and Jaguar involved, I think you would find any VW F1 engine woudld be branded Audi.

Actually, it would be great, because they could sell the second-string engines as customer deals, badged Seat. It would fit the group profile perfectly!

I think Audi feel that they've done WRC, and that there aren't sufficient numbers of 'prestige' brands in WRC at the moment.
 
audi afaik are more interested in the prestige market rather than sports
 
aww damn...it would have been amazing if they had gone back to rally. But then, it would be just as amazing if porsche was willing to rejoin rally. Didn't they drop rally after the end of the B class?
 
Well wouldnt you be mad if you had just spent lots of money on your newly developed supercar (the 959) and never got the victories you knew you deserved with that car? I know I would had turned my back on rally as well, and left it for a motorsports where safety of one's spectators wasn't as pressing of an issue...
 
If Skôda doesn't improve with their Fabia in 2004 in the few European rounds they'll compete in, the VAG might as well unplug them and put in Audi.
How many more Le Mans titles do they really need?
 
Originally posted by Hell Patrol
yeah Skoda is Audi..they so far they sux
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Excuse me?? :confused:

Audi have just announced a major assault on the DTM, and that they're withdrawing both the Audi and Bentley marques from Le Mans. There is talk of a new sports-prototype called the R9 that may be ready to race in 2005.

So, Audi won't be going rallying any time soon.

I am puzzled by the lack of funding going to Skôda though. One of the things that has always characterised the VW Group's approach to motorsport is that they have always provided sufficient budget, which seems to be palpably not true when it comes to the Skôda team.

I also note that VW are doing Dakar with a Red Bull-sponsored Touareg.
 
why would they withdraw both audi and bently?

The Tuareg will be awesome to watch in Dakar...hopefully it does well. It sucked to see convoys of mitsus taking the top
 
excuse YOU!! skoda didn't do good in wrc.. see the result they are in a same level as honday
 
Originally posted by Hell Patrol
excuse YOU!! skoda didn't do good in wrc.. see the result they are in a same level as honday
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Sorry, it was the way in which you were writing, rather than what you were writing. I was finding it difficult to understand you. I assume that "honday" is meant to mean Hyundai?

emad: the VW Group have withdrawn both Audi and Bentley from Le Mans because it had become more remarkable when Audi/Bentley lost than when they won. There's nothing to gain from motorsport when you're in that position, and it was behind Renault's withdrawal from F1 at the end of the 1997 season.

Dakar could be interesting this year, with the BMW X5 and Nissan entries now having had some development, and the Touareg in as well. Should be able to take the fight to Mitsubishi.
 
Would VAG enter a Murcielago R-GT into Le Mans? A works one, that is
 
As others stated above, there's a very slim chance Audi goes back to WRC (which is sad).

Here in Canada Frank And Dan Sprongl love to use their S2, which is awesome. That's the last Audi I see nowadays in rally.
 
Audi are now concentrating on the DTM and sportscar racing. They are supporting customer teams in the 2004 LM/LMES/ALMS and are designing a new Le Mans prototype for 2005 or 2006 when Porsche, Nissan and maybe some other major manufactuers are expected to return. The new Audi will eventually have a turbo diesal engine.

VAG are also backing the new Lamborghini R-GT which will race in the ALMS with Dick Barbours team from Rnd.2, and in FIA GT with DAMS etc. 2 cars will be out for Donnigton with more customer cars to follow in all sportscar championships.

Audi have said they will not race in F1, and can you blame them after the disaster of Jaguars F1 program.
 
PunkRock
Volkswagen Automotive Group. Consists of Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda, unless i'm missing another maker. Having two manufacturers from the same ownership fighting for a championship might not be such a good idea, IMO.
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ahem, what about Citroen / Peugeot??? they both come under the same governing body; PSA Peugeot - Citroen. i'll admit that having 2 manufactureres in the sport fighting for the same trophy might be some what pointless, but damn it is exciting to watch. as for actual combinations of VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda, if VAG were to put in another team, thats up to the powers that be.
This has been a Streaming Freedom Network Hack.
...Eyes Only...
 
Can you imagine the legendary Audi quattro coming back to rallying with it's notorious in line 5 turbo and chattering wastegate? I wish! It would be good to see Audi returning to WRC though. Mind you, I still get to see those old rally cars at a race circuit in England now and then. Glorious sound.

It's a little bit boring watching Audi win Le Mans, time after time. F1 is a massive challenge, but is it really worth all the money and investment that Audi would have to put in? I don't think so.

Hope they do well in DTM.
 
But Audi will at last get some competition at Le Mans in the next few years with Porsche and other manufactuers returning. Audi will run a diesal btw.
 
Roo
Would VAG enter a Murcielago R-GT into Le Mans? A works one, that is
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Not factory.

Dick Barbor has a pair of R-GT's in the ALMS.
 
Roo
Would VAG enter a Murcielago R-GT into Le Mans? A works one, that is
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There actually is a Murcielago R-GT racing in ALMS. It did pretty well in it's class.

^Like Darin said.
 
PunkRock
Volkswagen Automotive Group. Consists of Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda, unless i'm missing another maker.
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Lambourghini and Bentley

Now, the Barbour car and the R-GT car in general. :sick:

Don't expect much support on the R-GT from Audi Sport. You saw that the R-GT was withdrawn from Mosport? You saw why?

I can't say too much more on this, but do believe that this is a lame duck program. :yuck:
 
I wouldn't say so. It should have won in FIA GT earlier this season, but for a silly problem, and showed it has the pace of the Prodrive 550s.

It has not run much in ACO spec, so testing is being carried out on the track.

The suspension problems were apparently due to a faulty batch of components.
 
If you are the same Jag on, ten-tenths and ALMS.. you have email.
 
RacyBacy
Can you imagine the legendary Audi quattro coming back to rallying with it's notorious in line 5 turbo and chattering wastegate? I wish! It would be good to see Audi returning to WRC though. Mind you, I still get to see those old rally cars at a race circuit in England now and then. Glorious sound.

It's a little bit boring watching Audi win Le Mans, time after time. F1 is a massive challenge, but is it really worth all the money and investment that Audi would have to put in? I don't think so.

Hope they do well in DTM.
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yeah well dreams on...
2.0 T 4 cyl is all u have to play with

It's going to take more than being a legend to compete in WRC.
 
Hell Patrol
yeah well dreams on...
2.0 T 4 cyl is all u have to play with
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Audi have been there, done that. They don't need to come back to rallying. They have already proven themselves. All these rally cars are just as fast as the ones in the olden days even though they have smaller capacity engines.
Hell Patrol
It's going to take more than being a legend to compete in WRC.
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It takes a lot of things to compete in any motorsport nevermind rallying. I'm sure Audi's knowledge from their rallying days would be useful though.
 
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