Throwback: The World’s Angriest Audi A3

For much longer than Speedhunters has existed, Gatebil occasions have been on the coronary heart of Scandinavian modified automobile tradition. Whereas loopy automobiles and equally loopy drivers have been a staple of the scene lengthy earlier than Gatebil made its mark, the impression these occasions have had in preserving and rising that wild spirit is plain.

We all the time sit up for seeing new builds come out of the woodwork annually once we go to Mantorp Park in Sweden and Rudskogen Motorsenter in Norway. Subsequent yr, we’ll be including Circuit Meppen to the record when Gatebil makes its debut in Germany from August 21-24, 2025.

Whereas Volvos are a favourite at Gatebil (and no shock why), Audis have all the time had a robust presence too. Ten years in the past, we featured the most effective – a 1,000+hp A3 hatchback. Let’s make a journey down reminiscence lane and revisit that story for this week’s throwback publish.

2014 Function

Today, most individuals know all concerning the Scandinavian automobile scene and the way the individuals inside it prefer to get issues finished (we prefer to assume Speedhunters has had a giant hand in that). On the level the place most different lovers would cease and say ‘that’s sufficient’, the Scandinavians appear to not know the that means of the phrase. They press onwards, chopping, altering, boosting – all with the purpose of making a few of the most excessive modified automobiles on the planet.

Inside the Norwegian and Swedish scenes, requirements for what could possibly be thought of excessive are understandably a lot larger than in most different elements of the world, so you recognize that when a Scandinavian refers to a automobile as “spectacular”, you recognize it’s going to be good.

That is precisely what occurred when buddy of Speedhunters’ and Norwegian native Egil Håskjold talked about Tommy Schönberg’s 2006 8P Audi A3. A fast dialog that included the phrases “boosted five-cylinder”, “over 1,000hp” and “quattro driveline” sealed the deal – it was time to get a greater have a look at this vicious machine.

As soon as we bought to Gatebil Rudskogen within the 2014 summer season, it didn’t take us lengthy to identify the A3. As quickly because the observe periods for the Gatebil Excessive time assault class rolled out of the pits, you could possibly hear the Audi and all its horsepower reverberating throughout the Norwegian panorama, a symphony of spooling turbo, screaming wastegate and an unmistakable five-cylinder thump.

The speed at which this automobile positive factors velocity is nothing wanting phenomenal. Standing on the straight at Rudskogen Motorsenter in Norway, you’ll be able to watch because the Audi blows previous different extraordinarily quick automobiles as in the event that they’re standing nonetheless.

Tommy and his tuning store, TS-Racing, are well-known in Norway, and this automobile, which Tommy says is a rolling billboard for his store of kinds, has been round in numerous states of evolution since 2007. However it’s now, in 2014, that this weapon of a automobile has exceeded even his personal expectations.

When Tommy first got down to engineer the Audi, he had solely constructed road automobiles up to now. A type of was a really well-known pink-hued monster A4 Avant, constructed to RS4 spec however utilizing the turbocharged 4 cylinder. Race automobile craft was fully new to him, however that wasn’t going to hinder the venture within the slightest. In typical Scandinavian style, Tommy set a purpose of not simply 1,000 horsepower, however 1,000 useable, track-racing-capable horsepower – he simply needed to discover the proper platform to do it with.

The A4, A5 and A6 have been all too massive, and the VW Golf had already been finished domestically, and the primary technology A3 was too ugly (based on Tommy). That left solely the 8P A3, which was model new in 2006 when the construct started.

All Tommy wanted to begin his new venture was the naked shell. Nonetheless, regardless of numerous makes an attempt at negotiation, Audi Norway had little interest in promoting something aside from a totally model new automobile.

Tommy was over a barrel, however as a substitute of caving and shopping for one thing off the lot in Norway, he went and located an ex-demonstrator turbo diesel 4WD A3, full with full leather-based inside and sat nav, at a dealership in Germany for a much better worth, and had it shipped over.

Although he’d nonetheless paid far more than he’d wished to, issues labored out okay as soon as Tommy bought in contact with an area secondhand Audi elements vendor, who not solely agreed to take the whole lot that was popping out of the brand-new automobile, however swap all of it for some essential quattro driveline elements from a a lot older, however stronger Audi RS2.

However wait, isn’t the A3’s Haldex system (additionally present in numerous VWs, Skodas and Seats) east-west in configuration, whereas the RS2’s previous quattro system is north-south? Yep… it most definitely is…

As quickly because the automobile arrived in Norway, Tommy went all the way down to the port, connected the quantity plates from his A4 road construct, and drove residence – there was no level registering the A3 in any case. The automobile was shortly stripped all the way down to a naked shell, and the entrance and rear ends have been unceremoniously eliminated. All have been changed with chromoly tube framing, which was then built-in right into a chromoly roll cage to tie the whole lot collectively.

As you’ll be able to think about, going from an east-west engine and driveline configuration to a north-south isn’t simple, and it’s even more durable while you’re coping with an all-wheel drive system and a comparatively small automobile. However with that stated, the tube chassis ahead of the firewall made issues an excellent deal simpler.

Through the use of a customized driveshaft, which has been hardened by an area Nordic weapons producer utilizing the identical course of used on their rifle barrels, the older quattro system was pieced collectively beneath the automobile, together with the manufacturing facility lockable diffs. Although all of it bodily match (after just a few critical modifications to the gearbox tunnel), the longitudinal format implies that whereas the rear finish is okay, the gearbox sits additional again than it used to, that means that the entrance axles sit at a 30-degree ahead angle. Whereas it’s not dire, the intense angles put numerous strain on the CV joints, and it’s the commonest failure level of the Audi’s driveline.

Although the gearbox could look inventory from the surface, it’s only a shell, and the innards have been changed with a rallycross-style canine engagement setup mated to a Tilton triple-plate carbon clutch, minus first gear. Once we say minus, we don’t imply first is inventory; we imply it’s not there in any respect.

Tommy admits he’s maybe a bit vicious when shifting throughout a race, and one thing concerning the motion of going from second to 3rd sometimes causes first gear to eat itself. Tommy has needed to repair the ‘field many occasions due to this over the past seven years, and at 10 grand a pop, he finally gave up and easily doesn’t run a primary gear. Tommy laughs and says he doesn’t want it anyway; any time he’s out-launched off the beginning line, there’s greater than sufficient energy accessible to meet up with whoever managed to eke out in entrance.

Initially, the quantity plates weren’t the one factor to come back from Tommy’s A4 Avant; he additionally pulled the extraordinarily modified 4 cylinder turbo setup, which was one of the crucial highly effective of its kind on the time. The issue was, with Tommy’s native observe, Rudskogen, being re-vamped and turning into a lot larger in 2011, there got here a necessity for far more torque, and check out as you would possibly, you’re simply not going to get that from the 4 banger – even when it was stroked out to 2.1 litres.

Thus, Tommy together with native engine builders VS Motor, constructed a brand new engine primarily based round an mid-’90s Audi five-cylinder arrange – one thing you would possibly see in a heavily-modified S2 or RS2. The block itself really comes from 2.5-litre diesel variant of Audi’s 2.2-litre 3B and AYC motors (the manufacturing facility S2 engine, relying on yr), and is an effective possibility for growing capability when mated to the DOHC 20-valve head.

This specific motor runs the inventory diesel crank pushing Pauter rods and JE cast pistons. Above sits a heavily-ported and polished ABY head with its particular person coil packs, although trainspotters will discover that the cam cowl itself is from an older 7A engine. The pinnacle runs a set of very aggressive customized cams and larger valves, and sits above the inventory head gasket, which is metal.

Contemplating the forces and pressure that this engine is put underneath, a dry sump setup is essential.

Enhance is supplied by a billet Precision 7175 turbo sitting on a customized stainless manifold, which dumps right into a 4-inch down pipe that then splits into twin 3.5-inch exhausts working out to the edges of the automobile.

With the type of energy Tommy is working, he was combating the mid-range response – it was so vicious that he was having hassle driving it easily. The reply got here with the latest addition of a brand new consumption plenum and particular person throttle our bodies to switch the large single throttle the automobile was beforehand utilizing. Apparently, it has made an enormous distinction and the automobile is now much better behaved and delivers its energy in a a lot silkier style.

How a lot energy precisely? Effectively, on VS Motor’s engine dyno, the brand new 2.5-litre 5 setup simply surpassed Tommy’s unique 1,000hp purpose – so he determined he would possibly as nicely lean on it to see what it might do. They finally stopped at 1,150hp on 2.5bar (36psi) when the turbo reached its most effectivity, simply because the gasoline system was about to do the identical. Tommy says that it was an exquisite factor to look at as this howling five-banger loaded up on the dyno.

Tommy doesn’t often run all 1,150 horses on observe although, and winds the increase again all the way down to a extra smart 2.0bar (29psi), leading to a ‘conservative’ determine of slightly over 1,000hp. This, as you could possibly think about, requires some critical cooling, taken care of by an enormous rear-mounted radiator that’s clearly seen behind the automobile.

The cooling setup gulps down enormous volumes of air by means of massive vents within the haunches and the roof of the automobile and is accompanied by the Peterson dry sump tank and gasoline system, which makes use of two massive Bosch pumps ingesting from a 30-litre gasoline cell to feed the large 2,000cc Precision injectors up entrance. A Perspex firewall retains Tommy secure ought to something go incorrect throughout a race.

Ahead of the firewall, issues are easy, as you most likely assumed. Carbon door playing cards and sprint, Sparco seats and a MoTeC digital sprint are all Tommy wants; this automobile is about going as quick as potential and that’s it!

To be very clear – this Audi, which weights in at 1,200kg moist with driver and makes over 1,000hp all day, day by day – is extraordinarily quick. However there may be in fact extra to hurry than simply  energy and weight – it wants to remain out of the kitty litter, too.

Tommy is aware of the fellows at KW Suspensions nicely, and so they’ve been an ideal assist with the construct, supplying no matter he wants, in a single day from Germany. The A3 presently runs a customized set of KW Competitors coilovers, which spring fully customized adjustable tubular suspension arms and adjustable blade-type sway bars to offer as a lot management as potential; one thing that’s simpler stated than finished while you’re pushing this a lot energy, even with an AWD driveline.

Traction is clearly going to be a serious situation, and should you take a look at Tommy’s in-car video on the backside of this chapter, you’ll see that the Audi is not any stranger to oversteer. To finest fight this, the automobile runs massive 30/65/18 Michelin slicks wrapped round 18×12-inch OZ Racing Alleggerita mono-block wheels.

Enormous 8-pot Brembo brakes and floating 2-piece rotors will be seen by means of the spokes on the entrance, whereas the rears have not too long ago been downgraded to 4-pot models in an effort to scale back the stopping energy out again and stability the automobile higher underneath braking.

Beforehand, Tommy had run a lot narrower rolling inventory on the automobile, and was capable of get away with utilizing over-fenders from an Audi Allroad wagon, however that was by no means going to fly while you’re working 12-inch extensive wheels and a reasonably low offset. For some time, Tommy wasn’t positive how you can proceed, but it surely all clicked into place one winter’s day when he was sitting in visitors and noticed an Iveco industrial automobile up forward. The truck had the right form of fender overlaying its twin rear wheels – a fast telephone name was made and shortly there have been 4 model new truck fenders sitting on the store.

These have been minimize up and reshaped till they match the A3’s physique completely, then taken off once more and used to create a mould, which Tommy might then use to provide as many carbon fibre fenders as he wished.

Carbon was additionally used to create the bonnet, boot lid and aggressive entrance bumper. The doorways, nonetheless, stay metal, as though the composite materials could be very sturdy and light-weight, Tommy has all the time been weary of what occurs when it does fail, and prefers the predictability of metal ought to the automobile undergo a facet impression.

The dealing with, the braking, the acceleration – all of them type into one cohesive package deal that equates to nothing wanting warp-speed out on the tightly cambered hairpins, undulating sweepers and lengthy straights of tracks like Rudskogen. The automobile is an absolute animal and positively requires massive quantities of each focus and testicular fortitude to drive.

We will’t assist however surprise how a monster like this is able to honest not simply attacking the native tracks of Norway and Sweden, however maybe a few of the world’s finest hill climbs too; Eschdorf, St Ursanne, and even Pikes Peak. That a lot energy and velocity ripping by means of the tight roads of a mountain move, the distinctive five-cylinder howl echoing by means of the steep hillsides? Feels like pure heaven to us…

Take a look at this in-car footage of Tommy wrestling with damp circumstances at Rudskogen. Though the clip is slightly on the beginner facet, it definitely provides you a good suggestion of what it’s like making an attempt to tame this beast!

The Speedhunters
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Peter Kelly
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