Audi's S3 Sportback has made a strong race debut. In the hands of champion New Zealand driver Simon Sceats the four-cylinder turbo showed plenty of track potential at the opening round of the 2010/1 New Zealand Production Racing Championship at Pukekohe Park Raceway over the weekend.
'The S3 was fantastic," said Sceats. "It handled very real, rode the bumps very well and was amazingly stable under brakes. There's still plenty of development to go too so it is only going to get better."
After qualifying fourth in class and seventh overall (out of 18) with a best lap of 1.09.369, Sceats finished ninth in the first race, sixth in the second and eighth in the third. After the first of six rounds of the 2010/11 championship, he lies fourth in class and seventh overall in the series points standings.
The Production Racing class gives manufacturers an opportunity to showcase their products, and fans a chance to see how a car they might be interested in buying compares with the competition on the track.
It is governed by strict rules, for this reason the A3 Sportback remains virtually identical to its road-going siblings, the only major changes being the addition of a roll cage, racing seats, harnesses and sport compound (though still road legal) tyres.
Because the programme is a first for Audi New Zealand and its partners, General Manager Dane Fisher was happy just to see the completed car out on the track at the opening round of MotorSport New Zealand's summer motor racing season. But, like everyone else involved, he got caught up in the buzz as the sleek silver S3 circulated the high speed Pukekohe Park Raceway circuit.
"It was certainly good seeing an Audi in what up until now has been an arena dominated by Japanese manufacturers. We knew the first weekend was going to be hard but we now have a benchmark to work from. We are very committed to a significant improvement for the Christchurch round of the championship later in the month."
