Audi news and Rumours

Two works Audi 80s will be seen in International Rallying this season as the Ingolstadt company gains experience ready for a major effort in 1980. The Group 2 80s, crewed by Harald Demuth/Arwed Fischer and that popular veteran racing and rally driver Freddy Kottulinsky, co-driven by Michael Schwagerl, will have 160 b.h.p., 1,588 c.c., dry-sumped engines and will appear in to qualifying events for the 1979 World and European Rally Championships. Jurgen Stockmar is the Audi Competitions Manager, with Reinhard Rode as team manager.

Audi aren’t looking for spectacular successes in this first season, but rumour has it that the team will be aiming for outright wins in 1980 with a 5-cylinder engined version of the 80 from which the factory have already seen well over the 270 b.h.p. claimed for the best works Escorts.

Our spies also tell us that Audi will soon be joining the growing band of turbocharged car manufacturers; a 170 b.h.p. turbocharged version of the 5-cylinder Audi 100, to be called the 200, is scheduled to make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Stories that the name of Horech would be resurrected for a big luxury Audi are apparently unlikely. This stretched Audi 100 will probably be called the 300 and be powered by an in-line, six-cylinder engine driving the rear wheels.

Back to confirmed Audi facts, the company will be offering greater support in 1979 to private Audi teams and tuners in the form of new regulations for the Audi Trophy; this award scheme has been made more attractive with individual cash prizes and insurance cover for events all over Europe and more active technical back-up and advisory services. Details from Audi Motorsport, Audi NSU Auto Union AG, 8070 Ingolstadt, Offentlichkeitsarbeit, Germany.

C. R.