Monday 20th October 2014

Audi TT Cup race series announced

DTM support series will see 24 TTs race with push to pass boosts as well

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From the ridiculous to the sublime for the Audi TT! Following the 'openly sporting' TT Roadster and four-door Sportback, we now have the far more interesting TT Cup. A racing version for a 2015 championship of the same name, it will support the DTM across six rounds. Why Audi chose to announced this on its US media site is another matter entirely...

Needs more wing

Anyway, to the car. The 310hp 2.0-litre turbo and six-speed DSG are carried across largely unchanged from the roadgoing TT S. However with the Cup stripped out for racing it weighs 1,125kg, a big chunk less than the road car's 1,460kg EU kerbweight. Furthermore, a push-to-pass function with another 30hp should liven up the car (and the racing). Quattro will prepare all 24 TT Cups for each round, the grid comprised of six 'changing guest drivers' and 18 private racers.

Dr Ulrich Hackenberg is always good for a soundbite in situations like this and so it proves with the TT Cup: "For me it was clear that a driving machine like the new Audi TT belongs on the race track as well... The TT is going to thrill fans and drivers". Let's see.

Of course we can't see a racing version of a new road car without speculating on the prospect of a road car. Reducing weight always get the PH thumbs up but it's usually a headline-grabbing power figure that typically sells. Something like the TT Quattro Sport concept then. Fingers crossed. And if Audi is ever short of a guest driver...

 

[arkenphel]

IF audi made a road car like that, I think it would probably masculinize the target demographic quite a bit!

[mrclav]

Aside from the rear wing, which I'm sure is a necessity to be that size for downforce, that looks brilliant. If only they could sell that to the public...

[nedge2k]

...but why the 4-pot 2.0L and not the 5-pot 2.5?

[Clivey]

Actually, this looks really, really good. Will this one actually retain the AWD system, unlike the VLN car?

Oh, and anyone else notice that this actual racing version has a single exhaust? Much better.

[kambites]

nedge2k said:

...but why the 4-pot 2.0L and not the 5-pot 2.5?

Because that's what's in the road car so it's better marketing.

[anonymous-user]

The usual haters will no doubt hate, but I think that looks great. Hopefully some of the stylisng will find it onto the RS version, or even better a quattro sport like the mk1.

[redroadster]

They are getting so much power and speed out of these price range models super car makers are going to have to really push the boundaries to open a gap as even the styling is getting better .

[ManOpener]

Really hope the road-going TT RS looks like that. Very mean.

[unpc]

redroadster said:

They are getting so much power and speed out of these price range models super car makers are going to have to really push the boundaries to open a gap as even the styling is getting better .

[jamespink]

I think "push to pass" is a great idea for the road. I would end up with "push to pass thumb" a medical condition closely tied to the Piston Heads demographic...

[andy97]

It should be built to GT4 spec so that it has utility in international GT racing too.

[Matt Bird]

Clivey said:

Actually, this looks really, really good. Will this one actually retain the AWD system, unlike the VLN car?

Oh, and anyone else notice that this actual racing version has a single exhaust? Much better.

Press release is a little confusing, I think it's FWD from this:

"An active differential that is electronically variable from the cockpit ensures optimal traction at the front axle". When there's something more concrete we'll cover it.

And yes, there might be something in this one exhaust thingy. Could catch on