Following its domination of rallying due to its revolutionary four-wheel-drive Quattro system, Audi decided to transfer it into a circuit application and this is before its participation in Super Touring.
Nearly a decade before Audi dominated the world of Super Touring with the A4 and two years before Nissan’s Skyline GT-R was termed Godzilla, the four rings took on America’s SCCA Escort Trans Am Championship.
In 1988, Audi took on this series known for its muscle cars and took it by storm in its heavily modified 200 featuring many developments from its Group B campaign, which had ended once the rallying formula was banned in 1986.
Although its five-cylinder turbocharged Audi 200 Quattro was technologically advanced compared to the V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive opposition, its body was still road car based placing it at a disadvantage compared to its hand-built bodied rivals.
The driving attack was strong too as Le Mans winner Hurley Haywood was joined by former Formula 1 drover Hans-Joachim Stuck and rally ace Walter Rohrl, with each taking victory throughout the season.
In doing so, it ended Scott Pruett’s domination of the category in the Ford Merkur XR4ti or here in Australia known as the Ford Sierra.
The Audi proved a revelation as its centre and rear differentials ensured the 200 was almost unstoppable to catch out of corners as it greeted the chequered flag eight times in 1988, with Haywood winning the title.
In fact, Audi also was victorious in the Manufacturers’ Championship as well, with Trans Am organisers the SCCA placing a 100kg penalty, smaller tyres and a severe air restrictor to limit its success, however this proved fruitful.
For 1989, all-wheel-drive was banned thus ending Audi’s involvement in Trans Am abruptly as one raced with reasonable success in South Africa.
Undeterred from being banned in Trans Am, Audi elected to race in the high-tech IMSA GTO Class competing against the likes of Nissan, Mazda and Mercury where the 90 model was utilised.
It was a much more difficult task for Audi as it stayed away from long distance races, namely the 24 Hours at Daytona as it still won seven races to take second in the points.
Below is a documentary based on Audi’s 1988 season.