Audi

[Koz]

Why is Audi involved in the WRC these days?
They could easily use the A/S3s. They have their almighty 4wd system. Has a great history in rallying. They seems to have more than enough money for it.
So where are they?

Or does this have something to do with them being luxuary and comfort and the WRC dont go hand in hand?

[gloomyDAY]

Reference: R10 (http://www.audiusa.com/audi/us/en2/experience/motorsport/r10.html)

They're having too much fun being successful in other series such as LeMans and DTM.

[Gard]

Why is Audi involved in the WRC these days?
They could easily use the A/S3s. They have their almighty 4wd system. Has a great history in rallying. They seems to have more than enough money for it.
So where are they?

Or does this have something to do with them being luxuary and comfort and the WRC dont go hand in hand?

You're right Rally is just not part of their image any more. they have just another target than Impreza, C4 and Focus customers

[Daniel]

I'm sure if the FIA made it an advantage to run Turbo Diesel engines you might see Audi in the WRC. But Audi don't want to lose so they either wouldn't be there at all or they'd put so much money in that they would almost surely be guaranteed success. But of course Audi's image doesn't quite lend itself to cars being dirty and so on :) I predict Audi staying on the track until Peugeot gets close enough for them to get scared and then they will go "Ummmm errr we won lots we have nothing to prove now" and leave rather than having to play second fiddle to a "lesser" brand like Peugeot.

If there's one thing that's as sure as the sun coming up in the morning and setting in the evening (unless you live very far north or south of course) it is that Audi will come into a series and dominate and when their advantage disappears they will quickly go off to another series and do the same thing there :)

[Koppomsbo]

As said abowe, i think these guys cost a looooooot of money,,, But i would love to see an Audi in the WRC stages..

Four rings to rule them all ;)

[MikeD]

Reference: R10 (http://www.audiusa.com/audi/us/en2/experience/motorsport/r10.html)

They're having too much fun being successful in other series such as LeMans and DTM.

Yes I agree even though they are not fully covering their market. The LeMans series cover their american market, which is big and therefor very important, but DTM only cover their domestic market in Germany and is especially geared towards their rivals from Mercedes. (and btw DTM sucks. What happened last year with all driver being asked to take each other out was simply pathetic. I will never watch that crap again)

Back to topic...

I think they are still not covering the rest of Europe, even though they are winning almost every year at Le Mans. But those Le Mans victories are getting a little hollow because all they beat are private teams like Pescarolo. All their rivals on the car market (Ferrari, Mercedes and BMW) are in F1, but I still don't expect AUDI to go down the F1 road ever.

I think they should pull the pluck on DTM and chose WRC or WTCC, because their is a fair chance that they would score impressive results and get better marketing value out of it.

[Koppomsbo]

In Wtcc there are already Seat, part of the VAG group. So room for Audi there.

[Mirek]

In VAG there are strict rulles where any brand of the concern can compete and Skoda is the one choosed for rallying.

[MikeD]

In Wtcc there are already Seat, part of the VAG group. So room for Audi there.

You are right, my mistake. And SEAT is indeed a very good bet for both championships this year.

That aside, it's still a strange mix of brands in WTCC. BMW and Alfa Romeo were good brands against each other for marketing values, since they share the same possible consumers, but with Alfa Romeo out where does that leave BMW for the future?

Audi would be a better brand to put up against BMW and Chevrolet than SEAT, but maybe that's not going to happen.


]In VAG there are strict rulles where any brand of the concern can compete and Skoda is the one choosed for rallying.

But maybe not a clever choice. How much success have Skoda achieved in rallying...pretty close to nothing! So there is room for AUDI succees if they want to.

[Mirek]

MikeD: Don't think so since the people were practicly the same. Skoda Motorsport boss in Fabia era was Martin Muhlmeier from Audi. I only hope that now with completely different people behind the S2000 it will be better...

[Daniel]

But maybe not a clever choice. How much success have Skoda achieved in rallying...pretty close to nothing! So there is room for AUDI succeed if they want to.

What does "room" have to do with it? Seat and Skoda had all the room they needed and were crap. Do you think VAG is going to risk tarnishing their crown jewel (Audi) and having them fail in the WRC? :laugh: Audi is not in motorsport to compete and be an also ran. Audi's philosophy is to go into a series and win at all costs. The WRC is too competitive for them so they don't compete in it now.

I move that words like Audi and Lancia be banned from this forum unless people are discussing old cars. People have been going on about Audi returning ever since I joined this forum in 2001 and people have been going on about Audi returning all the time. VAG dipped their toes in with the Skoda and got burnt bigtime. VAG won't come in with an Audi unless Skoda suddenly starts winning with their S2000 car.

[Koz]

All their rivals on the car market (Ferrari, Mercedes and BMW) are in F1, but I still don't expect AUDI to go down the F1 road ever.

Now this sparked something in my brain... (Bad sign)
Would it not be in Audi's best interests to buy an F1 team, call it Lamborghini F1 and have that race against their rivals, it would help both Lamborghini and Audi, wouldn't it? :s (If they had success that is)

[MikeD]

Now this sparked something in my brain... (Bad sign)
Would it not be in Audi's best interests to buy an F1 team, call it Lamborghini F1 and have that race against their rivals, it would help both Lamborghini and Audi, wouldn't it? :s (If they had success that is)

Hi Koz,

I don't think you can justify a formula 1 budget for the Lamborghini brand. Lamborghini already had a 1 year spell in F1 in 1991(?) and it was a disaster. The brand is too small and Lamborghini's biggest market is in the US that no longer has an F1 GP.

I think VAG has considered F1 many times but has come to the conclussion that it's too expensive despite the marketing posibilities.

On the positive side Renault managed to win 4 titles with 1/4 of the budget of Ferrari and McLaren, so it can be done.

On the negative side, the results from Honda and Toyota might convince VAG to stay away and maybe...hopefully...they will have a second look at WRC once they adobt the marketing values and learnings of F1.

[MikeD]

]MikeD: Don't think so since the people were practicly the same. Skoda Motorsport boss in Fabia era was Martin Muhlmeier from Audi.

I didn't know. Thanks for the info.


]I only hope that now with completely different people behind the S2000 it will be better...

Yes, let's hope so.

[pantealex]

Lamborghini was in F1 in early 90´s, it was not part of VAG then.