![]() The test spoilers fitted on Zanussi’s car In the qualifying sessions preceding the race, the ultimate quattro expertly driven by Walter Röhrl was about 4 seconds per kilometer faster than Peugeot’s improved 205 T16 “E3”, out of three cars ( Ari Vatanen / Andrea Zanussi / Shekhar Mehta), entered in hopes to stop Audi’s reign at the event. ![]() #Colin mcrae dirt 2 voiture manual#Ironically, the all-out Pikes Peak engine was not married to the then top of the line dual-clutch, power-shifted “PDK” transmission that were used on a few WRC Group B works E2s and retained the proven 6-speed manual transmission with Saxomat clutch activation on the gear lever. ![]() Pikes Peak engineĪll of this speculating was put to rest when Walter Röhrl later stated in an interview that the engine actually had 750 BHP and that the throttle was like an “on/off switch”, partly thanks to the more aggressive “boost into exhaust” recirculating anti-lag system (ALS). The Pikes Peak engine however employed a much larger K28 turbocharger – making some insiders of the time to claim that the car realistically had closer to a thousand horsepower. Audi Sport stated that it had “officially” around 600 BHP which would put it at about the same power range than the E2 works car as used in the fast-paced 1985 Finland rally. Yet more stability and higher cornering speeds were achieved via adding-on more aerodynamic components, such as the “double stack” rear spoilers and a very iconic front spoiler, to the already quite aggressive E2 package.įor power, the car sported the same five-cylinder turbocharged engine found in the Group B rally model albeit again thoroughly revised by the engineers at Ingolstadt. However, the suspension itself was fully revised to even up the quattro’s handling and give the car a more aggressive rake to naturally improve downforce. While the Peugeot engineers tried desperately to stretch the 205 Turbo 16’s wheelbase in hopes to gain more stability, which is usually more suitable to high speed courses such as Pikes Peak, Audi instead retained the same short wheelbase as the S1 rally model. The car was then substantially carved about which allowed to lower its weight to about a metric tonne (2,200 lbs) and improve the bias to near perfect balance (Front 50% / Rear 50%). They elected to use the very same Sport quattro lent to Bobby Unser for his record run of 1986 up the famed mountain. The Pikes Peak quattro no longer had to adhere in any way to the then banned Group B regulations, as such Audi Sport’s engineers would thoroughly revise and improve on the S1 E2 unit beyond those rules. It was to be the ultimate iteration of the quattro… you could even say how the Group B quattro might have evolved into if given the chance! S1 E2 (left) / Pikes Peak (right) The Team was thus allowed to prepare a very special version of the S1 – to prove that the quattro can once again reign supreme. Audi Sport, who’s main motorsport operations were to be shifted to the United States’ own Trans-Am and later IMSA circuit racing, could benefit from a strong, final statement at the country’s most advertised Hill Climb. #Colin mcrae dirt 2 voiture full#Many people within Audi Sport felt like the short-lived Sport quattro E2 didn’t achieve nor had proven its full potential, especially versus arch rival Peugeot and their 205 T16. Group B itself was eventually banned at the end of the same year which would have ended the quattro, S1 and E2’s rally career notwithstanding. ![]() However, some insiders stated that the truth was that Audi was under pressure from parent company Volkswagen to terminate its rally operations since they weren’t competitive any more. Before we get to Walter Röhrl’s very special machine, let’s revisit the events leading to the famous Hill Climb: In 1986, Audi had abandoned their Group B WRC program early in the season due to the spectator deaths in Portugal and other safety concerns. ![]()
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