1985 Audi Quattro E2

Simply put, when the Audi Quattro appeared, it immediately had its detractors. The immense power output with much of the weight at the front looked impossible to take seriously. Then it ran, and the detractors quickly went quiet. It was indeed a beast of a car to drive, but it became arguably the most attention-getting and revered rally car of all time.

Back in that period, I was on the press waiting list to try a sporting version of the new Quattro. My turn never came, as the cars were damaged by journalists almost every time they went out on loan. They were truly difficult cars to manage, so now through the good offices of Audi UK and Lord March, the Goodwood Media Day would provide my first chance to see how much of the legend was truth and how much myth. I’ve always had trouble getting used to serious rally cars because they all insist on being driven 11/10ths from the off…I found this with the Lancia 037, turbo Fiats and rally Abarths. We at Vintage Racecar drive cars gently and smoothly, and rally cars are allergic to that! This would be a real test.