SPEED GT: Vorsprung durch Technik thanks to quattro drive
Audi Sport North America is again involved in the GT class of the SPEED World Challenge, whose races are mainly held as part of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) support programme. Last year Randy Pobst won the championship title first time out with the new Audi RS 6 Competition and guaranteed – last, but by no means least, thanks to the permanent all wheel driver of the quattro – that Audi remained unbeaten for the last three years in the SPEED GT World Challenge despite most of the competitors are running GT cars.
Superior starts with quattro drive
“The SPEED GT is one of the few race series in which all drive train concepts are still allowed, and in which our American importer can demonstrate the advantages of quattro drive,” explains Audi motorsport chief Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. The meaning of “Vorsprung durch Technik” was demonstrated particularly impressively to the spectators last year during the standing starts. “Thanks to quattro drive last year we were able to immediately take the lead at every race,” raves Randy Pobst, who, as newcomer to Audi, was able to enjoy the benefits of quattro technology for the first time in 2003.
Race and development by Champion Racing
The two Audi RS 6 Competition cars with approximately 525 hp are developed and raced by Champion Racing and start under the banner of “Audi Certified Champion RS 6 Team” during the 2004 season. The production based RS 6 Competition was re-worked and improved in many details following last year’s successful debut. At the same time the regulations allow the RS 6 wider tyres than in the previous season. As compensation Champion Racing must however cope with reduced turbo pressure and furthermore the RS 6 must weigh more than 1400 kilograms – an enormous load, especially for the tyres and brakes.
Two champions for Champion Racing
Team colleague of defending champion Randy Pobst this year, is again the Sicilian born Michael Galati. The Italian-American won the SPEED GT titles in 2001 and 2002 with the Audi S4 Competition. As a result Champion Racing has two champions in the team.