At the Wheel of the Audi Sport TT Cup
Audi has been very successful in motorsport, with the most obvious example being its recent dominance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, claiming 13 victories between 2000 and 2014. To lay the groundwork for continued success, the Audi Sport Division created the one-make, Audi Sport TT Cup championship last year. This is where young hopefuls can compete in rigorously identical sports cars based on the TT Coupé.
During a brief test session that took place on the training circuit at the Competence Center Motorsport in Neuberg, Germany, I got the chance to drive one of the cars from this series. This all happened under the supervision of Markus Winkelhock, Audi pilot in the GT Series and coach of the TT Series pilots, and of Marco Werner, three-time 24-Hours of Le Mans winner.
Very serious stuff
First off, the Audi Sport TT Cup is a genuine race car. The aluminum and steel monocoque structure is taken off the production model assembly line, but the passenger compartment has been stripped to make room for a safety cage and a competition seat borrowed from the racing R8 LMS. The cockpit comes complete with a removable racing steering wheel on which you’ll find the main commands and shifters.
The engine is same on that equips the TTS Coupé. Namely, it’s the EA888, 2.0-litre four-cylinder paired with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. No quattro all-wheel drive in this race car, though; instead, it’s got a front-wheel drivetrain that features a Haldex limited-slip differential.
Finally, the Audi Sport TT Cup has a competition exhaust, a modified suspension, competition brakes, and rims fitted with Hankook slicks. It weighs in at a mere 1125 kg. Since its engine generates 310 horsepower, and even 340 for 15 seconds when the driver presses the Push-to-Pass button, thrills are guaranteed.
A car that’s practically alive
Once firmly strapped in, all I had to do was activate the main switch and then the one for the ignition and press start for a short, five-lap session. I immediately noticed the very prominent – thank you, competition exhaust – engine sound.
I had previously done a few laps to get to know the track in an R8 V10, but that was totally different. It took almost a full lap to discover how the car reacts and to warm up the tires, and then I got into it. The Audi Sport TT Cup, on the other hand, let itself be tamed and incited me to go faster and faster.
During my test drive, the car proved very agile and balanced. It reacted instantly whenever even the slightest need arose. By releasing the brakes while plunging toward the apex of a turn, you can get the car to rotate by fishtailing ever so slightly. I didn’t manage to do it perfectly every time, but I sure had fun trying!
Pure happiness
The Neuberg training circuit is both short and tight. The maximum speed at the end of the straightaway is barely over 160 kilometres per hour, but it’s the passing speed in curves that’s truly surprising. Also, the engine delivers maximum torque at 5500 rpm, so you have to shift quickly to avoid activating the contact breaker set for 6800 rpm.
Toward the third lap, I started to think that this engine’s torque curve was kind of like what you get from a diesel engine. No big lyrical take-offs, just a linear, sustained boost toward the next turn. I was just beginning to feel comfortable when Markus Winkelhock told me over the radio that my time was up. There were just two race cars available that day for more than 20 journalists from around the world.
So it was brief but intense and I feel privileged to have been the only Canadian journalist invited to this very select program organized by the Audi Sport Division. After all, there’s nothing better than doing a track test drive under the watchful eyes of experts like Markus Winkelhock and Marco Werner. Things like that don’t happen every day, and I would do it again at the drop of a hat.
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