Audi 200 quattro Trans-Am

Audi
200 quattro Trans-Am
Production period:	1988
Class :	race car
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Otto engine : 2.1 liters (375 kW)
Length:	4897 mm
Width:	2033 mm
Height:	1340 mm
Wheelbase :	2687 mm
Empty weight :	1100-1200 kg
Previous model	Audi 200 quattro rally (R3)
successor	Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO (R5)

Rear view of the 200 quattro Trans-Am

Cockpit of the 200 quattro Trans-Am

The Audi 200 quattro Trans-Am (internal R4) is a racing car from the Audi brand , which was used in the 1988 Trans-Am series in the USA . The Audi 200 C3 served as the basis . The vehicle was Audi's first factory racing car for circuits since the 1930s. At that time, Audi was active in international racing as part of Auto Union with the legendary Auto Union Silver Arrows . From 1981 to 1986 Audi was very successfully represented in the World Rally Championship with the Audi quattro and the Audi Sport quattro . In 1988 the aim was to demonstrate the performance of the quattro drive in circuit racing as well and at the same time to strengthen the market position in the USA, where rallying enjoys little media interest.

drive

Unlike the Audi Sport quattro S1 , Audi used the 5-cylinder in-line engine with the old two-valve cylinder head for the 200 quattro Trans-Am, which is based on the engine that was last used in the Audi 200 quattro Rally. The turbo engine with a displacement of 2.1 liters develops 375 kW (510 hp). This meant that the Audi engine was significantly smaller and also weaker than the competitor's naturally aspirated V8 engines. The KKK - turbocharger operates at up to 2.8 bar boost pressure; above this limit the durability of the 10-valve, 5-cylinder engine would suffer. The power is transmitted to the road via a 6-speed manual transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive.

body

Audi had already built a 200 quattro in accordance with the NASCAR regulations in 1986 and sent it to record drives with Bobby Unser on the Talladega Superspeedway . The result was a new course record for all-wheel drive vehicles. This Audi 200 quattro was converted into the first Trans-Am in 1987. In contrast to the competition, including Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mercury , the Audi 200 quattro Trans-Am is based on a steel chassis from the series. According to the regulations, the length profile without bumper and spoiler must correspond to the series. You have a free hand in terms of width. The 200 quattro grew to over 2 m in width and just under 4.90 m in length. These dimensions make it the largest racing car ever built by Audi to this day. The vehicle initially weighed 1100 kg, later due to changes in the regulations approx. 1200 kg. Since Goodyear in 1988 still relied on diagonal tires instead of the usual radial tires , Audi was unable to set a camber , which, however , did not have a serious effect due to the very wide wheels (14.75 inches , later 14.25 inches). Special hubcaps are mounted on the rims, which direct the air to the brakes without causing many disadvantages in terms of aerodynamics .

driver

As a driver for the 1988 season were Hurley Haywood , Hans-Joachim Stuck and Walter Röhrl used. Walter Röhrl served as a substitute driver for Stuck, as he competed in several races for Porsche in 1988, the dates of which overlapped with races in the Trans-Am series. Röhrl was used in a total of six of the 13 races of the season. At the last race of the season in Saint Petersburg , Audi started with 3 vehicles and thus, uniquely, with all 3 drivers. Haywood was the only driver to contest all races and was set for the title from the start.

Commitment and success

The use of the Audi 200 quattro in the Trans-Am was supervised by Team Group 44 under the direction of Bob Tullius . This team was already able to celebrate successes with Jaguar in the 1970s . Over the course of the season, the regulations were adapted again and again in order to slow down the Audis. Audi had to make the car almost 50 kg heavier each time. In addition, the air flow limiter has been reduced from 64 to 54 mm. The tires also narrowed by half an inch over the course of the season. Nevertheless, Audi was still able to ride at the top.

Audi won eight of the 13 races of the season. Audi was competitive from the start, even though the vehicle was completely redeveloped. Haywood finished second in the first race of the season. At the second run in Dallas he was able to take his first win of the season. In Niagara Falls , Walter Röhrl lapped the entire field and won confidently. Audi won the constructor's title and the driver's title with Hurley Haywood early. Due to the superiority of the 200 quattro Trans-Am, the regulations were changed for the 1989 season. All-wheel drive was banned and only vehicles powered by an American make of engine were allowed to start. However, Audi had already planned to leave the Trans-Am series and to compete in the IMSA GTO series, which is still more permissive in terms of the regulations, in 1989 with the Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO .

Results

→ Main article : 1988 Trans-Am season

date	route	Round	Hurley Haywood	Hans-Joachim Stuck	Walter Röhrl
April 16, 1988	Long Beach (USA)	58	2nd place	Failure (accident / 16th round)
May 1, 1988	Dallas (USA)	105	1st place		Failure (accident / 69th round)
May 29, 1988	Sears Point (USA)	40	6th place		5th place
June 18, 1988	Detroit (USA)	40	1st place	Failure (wheel suspension / 18th round)
June 26, 1988	Niagara Falls (USA)	94	13th place		1st place
July 2nd, 1988	Cleveland (USA)	40	4th Place	1st place
17th July 1988	Brainerd (USA)	33	2nd place	1st place
July 23, 1988	Meadowlands (USA)	84	2nd place	1st place
August 6, 1988	Lime Rock (USA)	66	4th Place		5th place
3rd September 1988	Mid-Ohio (USA)	42	3rd place	1st place
September 11, 1988	Road America (USA)	25th	4th Place	2nd place
September 25, 1988	Mosport ( CDN )	50	22nd place		4th Place
October 23, 1988	St. Petersburg (USA)	63	18th place	Failure (engine / 14th Rd)	1st place

Driver ranking

Pl.	driver	Points
1.	Hurley Haywood	152
2.	Irv Hoerr	141
3.	Scott Pruett	117
4th	Jim Derhaag	104
5.	In it Brassfield	100
6th	Hans-Joachim Stuck	99
9.	Walter Röhrl	80

Brand valuation

Pl.	Manufacturer	Points
1.	Audi	92
2.	Chevrolet	63
3.	Oldsmobile	51
4th	Mercury	48

literature

• Walter Röhrl, Reinhard Klein, Wilfried Müller: Aufschrift . Memories of a world champion. 1st edition. Reinhard Klein, Cologne 2002, ISBN 978-3-927458-04-8 , pp. 251 .
• Alexander von Wegner: 30 years of Audi Sport - 30 years of quattro , Hansmann Verlag GmbH, 2010, ISBN 978-3-940672-22-3 .