A backstage look at Audi, Sport

Standing on the outside…

I usually work in the shadows of the motoring.com.au team. Preparing cars, checking tyre pressures and fuel levels, making sure the cars are ship-shape and the crew well catered to… But for this trip I was offered a shot in the hot seat, driving the machinery I usually support, while the guy in the big chair took a back seat and oversaw the whole event.

To say it was an opportunity I’d waited for is an understatement. I was truly blown away as on this occasion I was going to be in the mix with some very well respected motoring journalists and a Bathurst winner.

As you can imagine I did have quite a few doubts – who am I kidding, lots of doubts – about my ability to deliver the sort of feedback necessary at this sort of event. It’s one thing being on the fringe and helping out, it’s something else entirely being in the deep-end and actually passing judgement on the worth of a car – especially as I’d also be at the mercy of the readers. Gulp!

The 2018 Audi Sport line-up on test certainly isn’t ‘average’ transport. From the just released RS 5 Coupe and RS 3 Sedan, to the svelte R8 V10 Spyder and the sledgehammer in a velvet glove that is the RS 6 Avant, this was one heck of a field. And let’s not forget the sizzling TT RS Coupe and limo RS 7 Sportback. All told that’s 2206kW and 3500Nm at my of pure Nirvana. Yes, I was just a bit excited.

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The little things

It’s a massive effort bringing all these cars together for a couple of days. The time spent to get the photos and the video footage that is required can be exhausting, as everything is done to ensure that you, the reader, get the maximum amount of information in the shortest time frame.

The photography crew are the unsung heroes – and what they go through is incredible. Come rain or shine you work hard to keep the cars looking good and I’ve seen photographers almost risk life and limb to get the so called ‘money shot’. We haven’t got the Top Gear budget but the professionalism and quality of work that the video and photography crew turn out is second to none in my opinion.

But it’s all about the cars and how they drive and make you feel.

Now I’ll be honest I’m probably more critical than some of the journalists as I’ve grown up around motorsport, so I always have quite high expectations of a performance car. I try and do as many track days as possible so I have a very good understanding of how a car should feel and react. So as the newbie I do bring some understanding to the table.

I’m not quite the complete hack. So armed with my trusty note book I diligently took notes after each drive section – brief thoughts on the strengths and, if any, weakness of each model. Its ergonomics and ease of use of all its functions. How the car made me feel. Even the way a car sounds can have an impact on your senses – and can make you love or hate a car.

The R8 Spyder with its V10 just short of redline is an incredible sound. It makes the hair on your body stand on end and the ease with which its performance is accessible makes you feel like a driving God. Apart from steering that could do with more feedback it really has no vices.

The RS 6 Avant, and the way it handles its 2025kg on a windy road or even a race track, is simply mind blowing. Physics dictates that such a heavy car should not do what it’s doing, but the ease with which it does everything is a credit to the Audi engineers. The sound of its V8 with the new Audi Sport exhaust is really old school, and makes you want to drive everywhere with all its windows down.

Two very different cars but they both make you feel very special. It’s the same with every model in this test. They all tick various boxes in different ways.

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Maximum attack

The roads on which we get to drive them on are spectacular. The section from Swifts Creek to Mitta Mitta – a road where many a HSV has had its suspension tuned – is possibly the best section of road in Victoria.

The varying grip levels and the challenging corners can really show any weak link in a vehicle. It can turn a hero to a zero in the space of 10km. It was on this section of road I got to experience the R8 and then the TT RS. For this I owe the big guy a big thank you. I’m still smiling just thinking of it all.

Come lunch and then dinner that’s where the discussions on the merit of each vehicle starts. Thankfully it was comforting to hear that some of the points I mentioned were also brought up by some of the more senior members of the team.

This is a great relief as I must have been doing something right. If I keep this up I might yet get another gig. I do enjoy seeing the way Luke Youlden dissects a car as he brings things up that us mere mortals don’t even think of. Everyone has a favourite and will always trumpet that as the best on the day. You can sometimes see the grief on ones face when a negative is pointed out against their darling. This is the usual scenario when a winner needs to be picked. Thankfully a winner is not required for this test.

Being a track junkie the best part of any test is our time at the race track. Finally no speed limits, no worrying about crossing the white lines, no native animals, just you and each car to really see what they can do. As always there are plenty of surprises. What sometimes works on the road may not on the track.

Seeing Luke get the best out of every car is always inspiring. You know that once he comes in and gives his opinion on how it’s like on the track you can set that in stone. Once he is finished we all get a chance to push each car to the limit and for a while live out our dreams of a race car driver.

After two fantastic days I felt privileged for the opportunity the motoring.com.au team has given me. In the past I’ve always had the chance to drive the cars on test (the GTS-R W1 will long live in my memory), but never for this length of time and never have my opinions been judged against the true professionals.

I can truly say that it really is a great group of guys and girls to work with. Everyone has a massive passion for what they are doing.

And as for the Audi Class of 2018? Whichever one you choose you will not be disappointed.