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 Given the success of the Audi AG driving schools in Barcelona for the past two summers, does it come as a surprise that this year's event would be any different? In summer 2003 Audi AG got the excitement going by putting the driving school students in the newly released V8-powered S4. Last year, students piloted the 2005 TT 3.2 DSG. And this year, students had the great pleasure of sitting behind the steering wheel of the 2006 preproduction RS4. It was a privilege to "play"? with the most powerful 4 series platform Audi available to date. This year's event was different, however, in that it raised the bar for driver school experience.
Audi chauffeured club members from the Barcelona airport to their hotels via an A6. Several participants arrived early and spent time either relaxing at the hotel or soaking up the many city sights. The start of the event was held at the Hotel La Florida on Aug 1. At 6 p.m., Audi welcomed participants to the 2005 Audi driving experience.
Lead instructor Oliver Rudolph introduced the other Audi instructors, Sepp Haider and Marcus Fiechtl, as well as the Audi coordinator, Alexandra Hase. Other staff members, including the Audi mechanics and our guide for the sight-seeing tour, were also in attendance. Afterwards, the participants mingled and got to know one another, and before we knew it, it was time to leave for dinner. The participants ranged from first-time Audi driving school attendees to experienced race car drivers. 
A sight-seeing tour was strategically planned along the route to our restaurant. Our hotel was located on the top of a hill, offering a spectacular view of the city. Descending from our hotel in the shuttle down the winding road, we headed toward the beautiful city of Barcelona. Our guide described Antoni GaudÃ, a unique artist who helped shape the city's architecture. One of the stops was the famous GaudÃ-designed church of the Sagrada Familia, which has been under construction for the past 123 years, and will not be completed for another twenty to forty years. We also learned about the history of Barcelona’s architecture through the buildings constructed for the World’s Fair in 1929 and the Olympics in 1992.
At a tapas bar, we all got seated and ready for authentic Spanish food. We all had a great dinner and then it was back to the hotel.
The next morning, we loading on the bus and headed off to the track. Our guests, in the meantime, enjoyed a day of sight-seeing. The Formula One Circuit de Catalunya is a magnificent track. It is 4.627 km (2.875 miles) long and a generous 12 m (39 ft) wide, and features five left turns and eight right turns. The lap record is 1:17, held by Michael Schumacher in a Ferrari Formula One car. This will be a bit quicker than our lap times in the RS4. More information can be found by visiting the track website at www.circuitcat.com.
We exited the bus into briefing room, where we meet up with Oliver again. We found our assigned seats, on the table in front of each of them was an Audi hat, a RS4 pen, and our nametag. Oliver had a PowerPoint slide presentation to review with us along with additional training to ensure that we were ready for the next steps in the event.
We learned all about the car: its pre-production status, 420 hp, 8k+ redline, push-button start (race-car style), sport mode, technology background on enhancements of the quattro system as well as the two levels of ESP (Electronic Stability Program) and the DRC (Dynamic Ride Control). The DRC system was originally offered on the 2003 RS6 and has been enhanced for the new RS4. By diagonally linking the dampers hydraulically, the DRC system effectively keeps the car planted on the road under aggressive cornering. We also learned that the power is split 40 front / 60 rear. This helps the car turn into the corners better and minimizes understeer.
Oliver also covered the day's schedule, which was to involve three exercises (slalom, quick lane change, and right corner oversteer recovery) in the morning, and in the afternoon a follow-the-leader orientation, with the track divided into thirds, and different instructors leading the way on each leg, with the participants following behind. This, Oliver declared, would ensure that we learned the track in manageable sections rather than getting overwhelmed by taking on the entire course at once.
After the briefing came the time we all waited for: To go see the cars and get behind the wheel. We left the briefing room and went downstairs, where there was plenty of food and drinks to keep us alert as well as hydrated. Along the pit lane were the students' cars and inside one of the garages was a blue RS4, the same color as the original S2 of the early 1990s. The RS4's appearance was impressive, with its muscular shape, dual exhaust, 19 in. wheels, and huge brakes.
Marcus reviewed the car's features with the participants. All aspects of the car were covered, including such fundamentals as how to adjust the seat. A correct seating position plays a crucial role in maintaining control in vigorous driving. The buttons on the steering wheel were described, including the "sport"? button, which when engaged gave the exhaust a gusty tone and moved the seat bolsters inward. The sport mode also changes the throttle control mapping to give it a sharper response. Starting the car was demonstrated: Turn the key to the "on"? position, depress the clutch, and push the start button, which brings the car came to life with a purposeful exhaust tone. This sound got the participants even more eager to get behind the wheel of this impressive car.
After the overview of the car was complete, we got sized for helmets with Alex, and then it was time to pick a car along with a partner to drive with. Quickly folks jumped in the cars, which all were positioned in the pit lane. There were three vertical rows with four student cars positioned behind the instructors' cars. The yellow RS4 was Oliver's, the black one was Marcus's, and the blue was Seth's. The students' cars were silver or red. Within a few minutes the drivers adjusted their seats and were ready to go. All the cars in a row were equipped with walkie-talkie radios set to their specific channel. These radios allowed the instructors to communicate with the students and the students to acknowledge instructors' comments. Before we knew it we were off to the first exercise.
Our silver group of cars followed Marcus's black RS4 to the first challenge: the slalom. Marcus got us down to the area on the track were the cones were setup. We parked our RS4s and watched as Marcus demonstrated how to drive the slalom with his car. Then we all had a chance to jump into his car and get a live demo of task at hand. After that, it was our turn to drive the slalom with our cars. We accelerated up to second gear and then navigated through the cones. We were instructed to be hard on the throttle and then quickly off as we turned around the cones and then back hard on throttle. It was evident that the RS4 was extremely powerful and responsive as it easily glided around the cones at high speeds. After four or five runs per driver we switched and then, after everyone finished their runs, it was off to the next exercise: the quick lane change.
The objective in the quick lane change, Oliver explained, was to accelerate at full throttle from a standing start up to 4k rpm in first gear, then shift into second, and then, still at full throttle, enter a lane about 25 feet in length marked with blue cones. At the end of the lane was a dead end. We had to quickly turn the wheel to the right to miss this dead end, and turn into another lane just to right. This right lane also ended in about 25 feet. The challenge to keep control of the car despite the quick lane change to the right. Another challenge was that level 1 of the ESP was disabled. This allowed the rear of the car to slide a bit, but not enough for the driver to completely lose control of the car. Oliver provided real-time feedback after each run. After all the students had four or five runs, it was time to move on to the third and final exercise: right corner oversteer recovery.
In the final exercise the ESP system was completely disabled. The right corner oversteer recovery exercise entailed driving at a high rate of speed and then turning left until the right rear tire broke free. When this happened, the driver was to regain control of the car by applying the brakes. When Seth demonstrated this exercise, it looked intimidating, as the car appeared to skid out of control in the corner. Most of our team in the beginning tried to replicate Seth's actions, but we had problems getting the car to break free in the corner. The enhanced RS4 quattro engineering was not helping us as the car stuck to the track. After adding speed several participants were successful in getting the car to let go. Regaining control was another problem. Finally, after we all completed the exercise, it was time for lunch.
During lunch - which was an excellent catered buffet - some of the folks talked about the RS4 and how stable it felt. Others discussed how challenging the exercises were, while still others were kept busy eating to recover from the morning track exercises.
After lunch came the follow-the-leader track orientation. Our silver team got the chance to learn one section with Marcus. Instead of having an instructor sitting with you during a track session, you follow the instructor's car in a pack of four cars. The instructors demonstrate how to drive the line on the track. Feedback is given real-time while the instructor is driving in front of you. Each lap the lead car following behind the instructor's car was changed, thereby giving everyone a chance to closely follow and observe the instructor.
After the end of the day it was back to the hotel and then off to an excellent dinner on the pier, called Barceloneta. This meal got the team together again away from the track to discuss the day's events. Everyone was tired from a demanding day of driving and intensive learning. Though exhausted, it was apparent that everyone had a great time, as all the smiles attested.
All of day two was dedicated driver training. As in the first day, we departed the hotel at 8:15 a.m., and the guests left at 9:30 a.m., for a half-day of sight-seeing, after which they were scheduled to come to the track at noontime to have lunch with us. This day was the more enjoyable of the two days as everyone got plenty of track time. The morning session involved the students driving behind the instructors over the entire length of the track. This session was similar to day one, where everyone got a chance to follow immediately behind the instructor's car. This progressed to having the students lead the pack with the instructor following the lead car. Switching the lead car continued as instruction was provided real-time and a full lap was completed. After all drivers had a chance to lead the pack, it was time to come into the pit to change drivers. Guests, by the way, were able to ride with instructors to get a feel of the potential of the RS4.
Throughout the second day several cars received new tires as well as new front brake pads, common in view of the grueling driving these cars were put through. During the afternoon the instructors allowed the participants to run the full track without having the instructors' cars in the run group. The instructors felt confident that all participants were ready to drive on their own. Instruction was still given as needed from various locations on the track, where the instructors were located. After a full afternoon of driving the session come to close and it was time to board the bus and reflect on all we had learned.
Specifications of 2006 Audi RS4:
Engine:
4.2L V8 - 254 cubic inches
Horsepower: 420 hp (cracking 100 hp per liter)
Max torque: 317 lb-ft - 90% available from 2,250-7,600 rpm
Compression ratio: 12.5:1
Redline 8,250 rpm Curb weight:
3850 lbs (est.) Drivetrain:
Six-speed manual
Torsen differential with 40/60 split on power distribution front/rear Brakes:
365 mm cross-drilled rotors front
324 mm cross-drilled rotors rear
Eight-piston calipers in front
Optimized ventilation for brakes drop temperatures as much as 200 degrees F Suspension:
Enhanced DRC (Dynamic Ride Control)
Two levels of ESP (Electronic Stability Program)
1.18 in (30 mm) lower than standard A4 Wheels/Tires:
19� / 255/35 ZR 19 Performance:
0-62 mph: 4.8 sec.
0-125 mph: 16.6 sec.
Top speed: 155 mph, electronic controlled Availability:
Spring of 2006 in Europe;
2007 in U.S. Cost:
Undetermined at moment, but as much as $78k |
