Audi's trademark quattro four-wheel-drive system is proving as high-performance on Kiwi race tracks as it is on the country's tarseal and gravel roads, said the 2010/11 New Zealand Production Racing Championship defending champion Simon Sceats.
At the annual New Zealand Grand Prix meeting at Palmerston North's Manfeild circuit over the weekend, Sceats' Audi Dealer Network/Mondiale-sponsored Audi S3 Sportback enjoyed another competitive showing in the series, finishing fourth overall behind Logan Childs, John Rongen and series points leader, Grant Liston.
"It's certainly ticking all the boxes as far as we are concerned," said Audi of New Zealand General Manager, Dane Fisher."
He explained that it was a challenging task to take a brand new car off the showroom floor and put it on the racetrack, particularly in a class which, up until now was dominated by limited-edition factory racing specials.
"Our initial goal was just to get the car out there, put it on the racetrack and say to people, 'here you go: this is what an Audi can do,'" added Fisher.
Since then, the progress had been "nothing short of phenomenal," with a maiden race win in the car's third outing and podium finishes at two meetings: second equal at the third round and second at the fourth.
"We had expectations," said Fisher,"but the S3 has definitely exceeded those. The plan now is to continue our development programme so that, next season, we'll have a bona fide title contender."
That's a goal both Fisher and Sceats share with International Motorsport, the team developing and running the car.
Sceats said that he has thoroughly enjoyed helping fine-tune the car and now has it to the point where it fits him like a glove.
"I like a car that drives and handles in a particular way and that's exactly what we've got with the S3. Power-wise, we're competitive with all the other front-running cars now and the quattro four-wheel-drive system takes care of everything else. No matter what we throw at it - wet tracks, dry tracks and everything in between - the S3 just takes it in its stride."
The weekend's round was the fifth of sixth of the 2010/11 New Zealand Production Racing Championship, with the Taupo Motorsport Park set to host the final in a month's time.
Heading into the final, the series continues to be led by Grant Liston from Grant Aitken, Logan Childs and Sceats in the Audi S3 Sportback.
