RE: Leaders Hillclimb Challenge - Audi S8

RE: Leaders Hillclimb Challenge - Audi S8

Tuesday 18th August 2015

Leaders Hillclimb Multi Car Challenge - Audi S8

Two-tonne uber barge on a hillclimb? It can be done, and very quickly too!



There was a hint of mutiny within the Multi Car Hillclimb Challenge's ranks when discussing which car we'd like to tap up Audi for. One half argued eloquently for something with 'RS' at the start of its badge and that made a lot of sense. However, I'm deeply drawn to the S8 and it was the only car I fancied from Audi's brochure, so S8 it was.

They were laughing to start with...
They were laughing to start with...
Happily, the idea also tickled Audi's funny bone and they offered up the £80,735 super limo with not so much as a hint of concern. After all, a 1,990kg luxobarge is not the most obvious choice for hillclimbing on the UK's 12-foot wide tracks. Given the S8's giant two-metre width, the Primo PLC-sponsored team would be occupying more than half the road.

Arriving early at Shelsley Walsh, teammate David Finlay and I were able to bag a top 30 place in the signing on queue. This means an extra practice run was guaranteed on the Saturday and we needed all the experience possible.

Hopping into the lavish leather driver's seat for my first run, I had no idea what to expect of the S8. Previously, Mr David (as my teammate is now known in hillclimbing circles) and I reckoned a 35-second time up Shelsley's 1,000-metre course would be admirable.

All the numbers are big bar the time!
All the numbers are big bar the time!
As the timing strut broke the beam at the end of a scruffy first run, I managed 34.52. This blew all expectations out of kilter and Mr David proceeded to lower this to 34.07, which I then matched on my second practice run. Third practice of the day in excellent conditions produced a 33.55 for me and Mr David put in a mighty drive to deliver 33.23 seconds.

By the end of the day, the jokes about a wrong turn on to the start line and the chauffeur not telling the owner where his car was came to a halt. The S8 went from a joke turn to star turn.

I have to acknowledge some superb help and advice from Peter Cox, who was running in his Subaru Impreza in our A2 class. Peter is also an instructor at Shelsley Walsh's driving school and took the time to walk up the hill and show us the right lines during the lunch break. Without Peter's wisdom, we wouldn't have been nearly as quick.

Five metres takes on 1,000 metres!
Five metres takes on 1,000 metres!
To give an idea of how quickly the S8 was going, Tony Bunker in his beautifully driven Nissan GT-R was beginning to look nervously at the timing screens.

There were even more raised eyebrows come Sunday and the competition runs. Despite a scrappy first run, the S8 shot off the line to the 64-feet timing beam in just 2.01 seconds, which is 1g of acceleration. For my second run this dropped to 1.99 seconds and, with a tip-off on best starting practice, Mr David recorded 1.98 seconds. That's an incredible time for a limo on road tyres, even if the S8 has 520hp from its twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8.

My second run was far more enjoyable as the correct lines had sunk in and I concentrated on pushing the car rather than just keeping it on track. The S8 would initially feel like it was understeering into the hedge, but then it settled and gripped. Out of the Esses, the rear would step out a little, but the length of the Audi made it easy to catch.

And a comfy journey home too!
And a comfy journey home too!
In the end, I managed 33.39 seconds for a personal best in the Audi and at Shelsley in any car to date. David had already stuck in a 33.14 on his first competition run and there was much anticipation that he could dip into the 32s. As it turned out, he stopped the clock at 33.05 seconds, which is incredible for a car of the S8's size, weight and aristocratic bearing. Even Mark Spencer, who set a new class record of 31.50-seconds in his Porsche 911 Turbo, was bowled over by the S8.

So, was the big Audi the right choice after all? It was perfect for us to enjoy a weekend's motorsport in absolute comfort and raise awareness of the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes. It also generated more conversation and amusement than any other car we've competed in, so job done in the least likely hillclimb car out there.


Previous reports:
Mercedes A45 AMG

Abarth 695 Biposto

BMW i8

Vauxhall Corsa VXR

Ford Fiesta ST
Seat Leon Cupra ST

Watch the video here.

 











[Photos: Rich Danby]

 

Author
Discussion

griffdude

Original Poster:

1,819 posts

247 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
Blimey Alisdair, that's astounding. Well done!!!!

RegMolehusband

3,958 posts

256 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
Those are hugely impressive times for such a large car! The 500-600+bhp/tonne Caterhams/Westfields were only three seconds quicker.

Oz83

687 posts

138 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
What a weapon!

The Audi haters might be silenced for once.

soad

32,828 posts

175 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
Pretty decent run.

Mark A S

1,824 posts

187 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
Brilliant Chaps smile that Audi was definitely THE star, might have been driven rather well also wink

Plainview23

312 posts

211 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
That is incredible. I would never have thought it could achieve those type of times, 1g too pfffff smile

David Finlay

3 posts

105 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
Lord Suttie,

You forgot to mention that I did all the driving while you sat in the back reading the FT. I hope the kerb contact in the Esses on the final run didn't cause you to spill your drink.

Mr David

ol

2,380 posts

207 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
What a coincidence! On Sunday I took part in a Javalin Sprint day at Croft. My kit car wasn't working properly so took my Porsche Panamera Turbo. Stood out like a soar thumb amongst all the stripped out track cars but I won my class and took third fastest time overall for the day, only losing to a radical and a modified Exige driven by one of the track instructors.







Video of fastest run - http://youtu.be/_CUxhwyyiWs

Vocal Minority

8,582 posts

151 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
David Finlay said:
Lord Suttie,

You forgot to mention that I did all the driving while you sat in the back reading the FT. I hope the kerb contact in the Esses on the final run didn't cause you to spill your drink.

Mr David
I specifically wanted to see this happen! The MSA really are spoil sports.

The first 64 ft time was nothing short of astonishing. Very similar times to the single seat monsters and only .15 or so of a second behind that amazing Manic Beattie.

Chapeau

chevronb37

6,471 posts

185 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
Absolutely incredible behemoth to observe at close quarters - loved it! Every bit as dramatic as the Caterfields.

This is the only half-decent shot I managed to take but look at it go. Bloody hell - maximum respect to the pilots.


Pablo16v

2,071 posts

196 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
ol said:
What a coincidence! On Sunday I took part in a Javalin Sprint day at Croft. My kit car wasn't working properly so took my Porsche Panamera Turbo. Stood out like a soar thumb amongst all the stripped out track cars but I won my class and took third fastest time overall for the day, only losing to a radical and a modified Exige driven by one of the track instructors.


Video of fastest run - http://youtu.be/_CUxhwyyiWs
thumbup Nice one.

Mark A S

1,824 posts

187 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URCRZZoX2p8 sadly no Audi in this run but shows most of the class

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyoGsQI8RaA the Audi “cruising” off the line smile

Richair

1,021 posts

196 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
Excellent work chaps, love it! Not to take anything away from you, but the lack of corners at Shelsley really is a leveller for the big, high output cars; small and light really doesn't do you many favours on this hill! I imagine the runs looked pretty spectacular too.

So where do you go from here then eh...

alisdairsuttie

54 posts

180 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
Top work ol in the Panamera!

Next up is Gurston Down in a Toyota GT86, so something very different again and another 'two corner' hill but also very different. Just need to pluck up the courage not to dab the brakes for Hollow...

Victor Hugo

13 posts

120 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
Yes, I was there on Saturday practice, and everyone laughed at the sight of the S8 ploughing up the hill, but pretty soon it was smiles of admiration, it's such a tight course and the Audi looked more exciting than many of the race prepared competitors. My first time at a hill climb event, I have to say it was an excellent day out, probably more fun than circuit racing in many ways. Well done guys, I'm a convert!

robinft

30 posts

161 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
On behalf of sponsors, Primo plc, bl**dy fantastic!

Housey

2,076 posts

226 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
RegMolehusband said:
Those are hugely impressive times for such a large car! The 500-600+bhp/tonne Caterhams/Westfields were only three seconds quicker.
I'm all for big cars out of place on sprint tracks and hill climbs. 530D at Curborough anyone? I'd only had it a few days and felt crap so turned up simply to watch...but then thought I should have a go too smile

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJqSgcsxJRA

This should be a new craze. Taxis on race tracks biggrin

griffdude

Original Poster:

1,819 posts

247 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
alisdairsuttie said:
Just need to pluck up the courage not to dab the brakes for Hollow...
Yeah, it's quite intimidating...

RoverP6B

4,338 posts

127 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
Would have been even more amusing if it had been the old S8 with the detuned Gallardo V10...

Truckosaurus

11,183 posts

283 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
Housey said:
Taxis on race tracks biggrin
BTCC? biggrin