Audi’s DTM champion has gone for a revamp for the 2008 season, and can be spotted menacing at the Geneva Motor Show for its world premier. Codenamed R14, the A4 DTM has been a work-in-progress since March 2007.
Because of DTM racing regulations, Audi cannot use its FSI, Quattro or TDI technologies, but yet has found over 460 bhp out of the V8 it uses. Weight has been depleted to a minimum to ensure maximum performance. The body is made of carbon-fiber of course, and Audi’s LED daytime lights are present just as they are in the road-going version.
Differences are plenty true, one of which is the F1-like cockpit that is built for safety more than comfort. Not to say driver is uncomfortable, but at this level of competition cars are much stiffer than a monk trying to dance at a club. Mattias Ekström will test just how talented this new car is in only a matter of days when he faces up to his challengers.
Press Release
To make a championship winning car even better – the Audi Sport engineers and technicians faced this delicate task when the job of developing the DTM race version of the new Audi A4 arose. From the visual aspect they certainly succeeded: The new A4 DTM, which was publicly unveiled for the first time at the Motor Show in Geneva, spontaneously appears even more dynamic than the successful predecessor model with which Mattias Ekström won the DTM title last year.
The fourth-generation Audi A4 DTM, which bears the project name "R14” internally at Audi Sport, is also futuristic from the technical aspect. With the help of state-of-the-art CFD calculations (Computational Fluid Dynamics) particular attention was paid to the air flow running around and through the car. "In doing so we completed what we had already started last year with the R13,” explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. "We are convinced that we have achieved the most logical optimisation of the aerodynamics allowed within the framework of the regulations.”
During the twelve month development period, which started in March 2007, a predominantly new DTM car differing in many details to its predecessor was created in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm. "Ground breaking technical innovations on a par with quattro, FSI or TDI are not possible owing to the restrictive nature of the regulations,” says Dr Martin Mühlmeier, Head of Audi Sport Technology. "In the DTM it’s more a question of the logical interpretation and implementation of the technology allowed.”
In the process it was possible to reduce the car’s centre of gravity height and to further reduce the dry weight, which in turn gives the race engineers more flexibility to set the car up to suit specific race tracks and the weight distribution.
The technicians even found development potential in the four-litre near 460 hp V8 engine used in the Audi A4 DTM. The internal friction was further reduced which in turn benefited the power produced and torque curve.
The basic principle of the vehicle, which is stipulated by the regulations, remains the same: The A4 DTM is a thoroughbred race car with the silhouette of the new Audi A4. The chassis has a hybrid concept. It consists of almost 31 metres of steel tube of the type also used in the aerospace industry. The driver sits in a carbon fibre safety cell that actually resembles a Formula 1 monocoque. This combination guarantees the highest torsional stiffness and safety.
The bodywork is made from carbon-fibre composite and is – in spite of all the aerodynamic gadgets – immediately identifiable at first glance as an Audi A4. The distinctive brand styling-elements like the Single Frame grille and the white LED daytime low-beam lights ensure that the face of the A4 DTM has the same unique look like the road going model.
The most important components of the new DTM were tested immediately after the end of the 2007 DTM season. The first R14 prototype completed its roll-out shortly before Christmas at Le Castellet (France). Before its race debut on 13 April at the Hockenheimring, the new Audi A4 DTM will have spooled off several thousand test kilometres – including endurance tests.
"The new road going A4 has already won many international awards in a very short period of time,” says Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. "We aim to do these awards justice with the new DTM. We are convinced that the new Audi A4 is an excellent base for a successful DTM car.”
Defending champion Mattias Ekström, who unveiled his new company car in Geneva together with his boss, prefers not to make any predictions at the moment: "If the new A4 DTM is as quick as it looks then I’ll be satisfied,” says the Swede diplomatically.
The new Audi A4 DTM meets its future opponents for the first time at the official DTM test between 10 and 12 March in Mugello (Italy).
Source: Audi
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