(QQ, Winter 2002) — Look for a new Audi racing team in the hotly contested Speedvision World Challenge Touring series. Located in the mountains above Santa Cruz, California, is a combination racecar engineering consultation/road car tuning product/Audi race team called Stasis Engineering. Operating out of an old barn, much the same way Ken Tyrell started his famous F1 team way back when, Quattro Club USA member (and QCUSA driving school instructor) Paul Lambert heads up the Stasis Engineering Team and drives the team's Audi A4 racecar.

In 2002 Stasis Engineering will provide US Audi fans an even better reason to follow what is widely regarded as one of the premier touring car championships in the world today. Fields of well over 30 cars from various marques such as BMW, Acura, Mazda, Honda, and others going door handle-to-door handle is what Speedvision World Challenge Touring is all about. The series is attracting top driver talent such as BTCC ace David Leslie, 2000 Porsche Cup winner Mike Fitzgerald, and ALMS BMW driver Bill Auberlin among others. Now, thanks to Paul and Stasis Engineering, Audi will be represented in this exciting series.

The Stasis Engineering team contested three races this season in preparation for a full season effort in 2002 and beyond. Trying to break in to such a competitive series with a new car and team is never easy. The team's debut at Sears Point resulted in an early departure for mechanical reasons. A racing accident at Portland ended Paul's day early.

After much development and testing Paul and the Stasis Engineering team had high hopes for their home track, Laguna Seca. Unfortunately the team was off to a rough start when another car made contact with the Stasis Audi A4 during the brief qualifying session. As a result, Paul wound up qualifying the car a disappointing 34th (out of a 42 car field). In the race 39 cars took the green light for the standing start and Paul's performance was nothing short of stunning. Passing over half of the entire field and running laps on pace with the race leaders Paul wound up a commendable 15th place in the team's first full race distance finish! For this outstanding performance Paul also won the Borla Performance Award, a prestigious award for the driver who finished with the most improvement on their starting position. In Paul's case, 34th to 15th position improvement in a 45-minute race was outstanding! This result should be great for the team to build momentum on coming into their first full season in 2002.

Paul Lambert and his Stasis Engineering Team were kind enough to invite me to their shop for a tour and interview. Stasis Engineering is headed up by owner/driver Paul Lambert. Paul has brought in engineering talent from top racing teams to see his goals come to fruition.

qq: What is your background in motor sports and what motivates you as a driver?

PL: I think motor sport is one of those things that gets in your blood and can't be shaken. For me it happened young, while growing up in Europe watching road races and rally races. I started competing in college at local autocrosses, grew into Porsche club racing, and then graduated to national competition in sports racers and touring cars. I have about 10 years of road racing experience, but the most formative years were probably in sports racers. I ran 34 races one year; won 17, and still fought to the last race to take the championship. That teaches you a lot.

My drive to race combines an enthusiasm for the mechanics and desire to compete. I enjoy the engineering involved in the vehicle and I have always been a competitive person, be it sports, business, or games. To me racing is the ultimate competition; it takes physical ability, mental acuteness, calm emotions, and an amazing amount of strategy.

qq: What made you decide to run an Audi in a series primarily dominated by Acura Integras and BMW 328is?

PL: That dominance is what set the stage. We wanted something that hadn't been done to showcase our skill as an engineering company. The decision was made even easier as the team and I had been looking at Audi for over a year prior. The strength of Audi's new offerings, their growth in the US market and their dedication to motor sports made them an ideal company to work with. I guess I should also admit to being enamored by Audi road cars for many years.

qq: What advantage will quattro AWD provide you when competing against the RWD and FWD platforms that make up the field in this series?

PL: AWD is fundamentally a better way to put power to the ground. On the street and on the track it gives you the ability to apply power earlier and in less than optimal conditions. The mechanicals do create some trade offs in inertial weight and center of gravity. We had some skeptics even within our own team, but they were fully converted at Laguna Seca. You could watch the car gain 2-3 car lengths exiting turn 11 every time. I was on the power more than a second earlier than anyone else, flat on the pedal across the curb on the inside and over the berm on the outside. You can't do than in any other vehicle.

qq: What kind of support does Audi North America provide you?

PL: Audi NA had been reluctant to invest too much time in a new team, but we have begun to turn heads. Our lap times have moved from 20th, to 14th, and into the top 10 in only three races. We've shown a strong path to contention for 2002 and our recent discussions with Audi have turned very promising.

qq: What goals has the Stasis Engineering Team set for 2002 and beyond?

PL: Racing is a showcase for our engineering team and as such we expect to challenge them each year. Next year's goal is to provide a pair of podium potential A4s. We expect the cars to be capable of providing the right driver a shot at the championship. Our next step would be into the (Speedvision World Challenge) GT series with a long-term growth path into international sports car racing.

qq: Besides the race team entertaining us race fans, what does Stasis Engineering offer to QCUSA members and Audi owners?

PL: It would be a shame not to share many of the things we learn with those Audi owners who wish to develop their cars beyond what is designed for the average owner. To this end our business model includes three facets: Competition Development, Engineering Services, and Street Car Products. Racing is a seasonal business for which you need the highest caliber people for nine months of the year. Now they have a focus in the off-season (Street Car Products and Engineering Services). It is a truly synergistic relationship that enables us to keep an engineering staff much greater than either a tuner or a race team could afford. For the Audi owner this provides aftermarket products designed by engineers with many years of true OEM and professional level racing experience.

qq: How many Stasis Engineering Audi A4s can we expect to see in competition?

PL: We will be running two cars for the 2002 season. Our present plan is to continue with the (2001 and earlier) B4 based A4 but our discussions with Audi NA may warrant a switch to the new (2002) B6 model.

qq: If someone wants to get involved in racing an Audi A4 in World Challenge Touring, where would they go for help and advice to get started? What would a team's realistic budget be to be competitive?

PL: We would certainly be happy to provide help to an aspiring race driver or team. Most of the other teams that I know of have focused on the turbocharged platforms, so we may be one of the only groups with experience on the normally aspirated cars. Our yearly budget for operation of the World Challenge touring cars is approximately $120k per car. This does not include the cost of the car itself. The cost of building and developing the A4 was $260k in 2001.

qq: Any closing comments you would like to make for our members?

PL: Thank you for all the support in 2001. One of the best parts of racing an Audi is the outpouring of support. When we lost an engine at Sears Point, fans ran alongside the car cheering as it was being towed off. When we struggled at Portland there was an entire group of QCUSA members ready with local contacts and help. Keep coming to the track. Keep bringing us ideas for sponsorship. The strength of Audi is in the activity and enthusiasm of the street car owners and QCUSA members.

Thank you Paul for opening up your race shop and tuning business to our members. Now that you all know about Stasis Engineering's Audi A4 racecar, be sure to come out to an event in 2002, say hi to Paul and the team in the paddock, and cheer on another Audi in a major US racing series!