Audi 200 Trans-Am onboard: Time For Tea?

Thought the only awesome five-cylinder Audis were on rally stages? Think again...

Discuss Audi's five-cylinder heritage and one car comes to mind immediately: the Quattro. Various images of flame spitting cars in forests, its transformation of world rallying and the iconic road cars have largely seen to that. But, as many will know, five-cylinder, four-wheel drive Audis didn't just enjoy success on the stage.

30 years ago this year, an Audi 200 won the drivers' and manufacturers' SCCA Trans-Am titles. Sure, perhaps not Audi's most notable motorsport success, but a win is still a win. Plus the fact that any success on American soil for overseas manufacturers is a considerable achievement. And any touring car that looks like this is going to be rather fondly remembered.

This video will only help with the affection. One of those people who remembers the 200 is Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing. He's the man driving the 200 Trans Am in this Racer's Channel vid, filmed over the summer at Laguna Seca. Brown can certainly drive it, too, bringing together a 500hp tin top racer, one of the greatest circuits in the world and a sound like little else for a compelling watch. The wastegate in particular is most entertaining.

So take a pew and immerse yourself in a couple of minutes of five-cylinder nirvana. As modern racing cars become less and less interesting to listen to, hearing cars like this at classic events will become even more of a privilege. Click the link below to hear exactly why...