1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2 - Hannu Mikkola-Group B Homage

• Supremely accurate recreation of the 1985 Toyota Olympus Rally winning ‘Group B’ rally Audi Quattro SWB
• Built between by 2017 and 2019 by the renowned historic Audi rally-car builder, Andy Krinks
• The level of construction, quality of engineering and attention to detail bear comparison to the ‘works’ cars
• Stroker, 2.5-litre 5-cylinder with lightened and balanced, Pauter-forged connecting rods and race pistons
• Lightened and balanced comp flywheel, rally paddle-clutch, manifolds and exhaust are by CSK.
• Currently running 1.6 bar boost producing 497bhp. 2.2 bar would produce circa 650bhp
• Suspension is a Proflex System with AP Discs and Calipers. Gearbox is a six-speed dog-box
• Supplied with MSA papers which qualifies it for non-FIA sanctioned events such as the Lombard, Mintex, and various rally festivals/hill climbs in the UK & Europe
• Can be viewed and even demonstrated (subject to negotiation) to any potential bidders   

The original Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2 was introduced at the end of 1985 as a development of the Sport Quattro S1 and featured an inline 5-cylinder engine that displaced 2,110cc and generated an officially quoted power output figure of 473bhp. The turbocharger utilised a recirculating air system allowing the engine to resume full power immediately after the resumption of full throttle, reducing turbo lag considerably. In addition to the improved power output, an aggressive aerodynamic kit was added that featured very distinctive wings and spoilers at the front and rear and the car's weight was reduced to 1,090kg.

The Evo 2 made its debut at the 1985 Rally Argentina, with Stig Blomqvist driving and the car enjoyed much success on the rally circuit, with Walter Röhrl, Christian Geistdörfer and later Michéle Mouton. The S1 E2 would become the final Group B car produced by Audi, with the works team withdrawing from the Championship following the 1986 rally in Portugal.

In the world of rallying, those years represent the golden era. Group B took the World Rally Championship and turned it on its head. In a matter of just a few short years, factory-backed cars doubled their power output and were packed full of cutting edge technology and exotic components. Many people likened them to Formula 1 cars for the gravel, and that wasn't far from the truth. But they were too fast and ultimately too dangerous, which is why we will, unfortunately, never see anything like Group B in the WRC ever again.

However, there will always be enthusiasts who would love to own a mid-eighties Group B car but with such small numbers of competition cars built during the heyday, owning a proper Works-spec machine is a privilege that only a few can enjoy. Most surviving cars are in collectors hands and subsequently don't come up for sale very often and when they do there's the small matter of price, which is anything but. So what to do if you crave a slice of Group B, but can't lay your hands on the real thing? The answer may well be here.

This is a supremely accurate recreation of the ‘Group B’ rally Audi Quattro SWB which won the 1985 Toyota Olympus Rally in the capable hands of the late Hannu Mikkola and Arne Hertz. The level of construction, quality of engineering and attention to detail bear comparison to the ‘works’ cars and very rarely does such an exacting copy of the era-defining Factory Quattro cars come to market. 

The shell was constructed in exactly the same way that the original factory cars were by mating the front half of an Audi 80 bodyshell with the rear end of the road-going UR Quattro. After many hours of preparation, the shell was fitted with a full roll-cage by Custom Cages and is a copy of the original ‘works’ cage but fabricated to modern safety standards (the cage wears ‘Matter’ decals as the works cages were made by them). The build was started in the winter of 2017 overseen by the renowned historic Audi rally-car builder, Andy Krinks, but, such was the need to source authentic parts from all over Europe, that it was not finished until December 2019. Since then it has completed three hundred test miles to ensure it runs and performs exactly as it should.

The Audi 5-cylinder, 2.5-litre inline engine is a ‘stroker’ with lightened and balanced, Pauter forged connecting rods, race pistons, Sputter bearings and ARP fasteners and the head is RS2 ported and polished with CAT Cam rally camshafts with adjustable timing gear. It has a full Titan Engineering dry-sump oil system.

It’s fitted with a lightened and balanced competition flywheel with a rally ‘cerametallic’ paddle clutch and cover and the manifolds and exhaust are by CSK. The ECU is a Syvecs S7 + with a dash-mounted dial for power-range adjustment offering anti-lag on the higher power settings. Injectors are Bosch EV14 1000cc and the turbo is a Xona X3C unit with a ‘Turbo Smart’ wastegate. The suspension is a custom-made Proflex System with AP Discs and Calipers from their historic range and the gearbox is a six-speed dog-box.

The car is currently running with a conservative 1.6 bar boost producing 497bhp for running in, however, adjusted up to 2.2 bar, our vendor understands it would produce circa 650bhp.

The attention to detail in the cabin remains impressive with even the period-correct speedo presenting in KMH although it has been modified to function in MPH (30kph indicated is actually 30mph). It’s fitted with a MOMO wheel, period-correct Halda (not tested), Recaro seats (2023) and Sabelts (2004). The emphasis on historical accuracy is everywhere and you could imagine that the late Mr Mikkola could jump in and find every button and switch without even looking. Naturally, after a two year build and only 300 miles, the car is immaculate and, presented in its plain white 1985 Olympus Rally livery, is so much more subtle than the rather garish HB-liveried cars

This remarkable motor car can be viewed and even demonstrated (subject to negotiation) to any potential bidders in a professional motorsport environment. It’s supplied with MSA papers which qualifies it for non-FIA sanctioned events such as the Lombard, Mintex, and various rally festivals/hill climbs in the UK & Europe and it has a live invite for the Rally Festival Hoznayo, a spectacular event on closed roads around Northern Spain. The MOT is valid until August 2022.

Short of owning an original ‘works’ eighties Quattro SWB, this is without doubt the closest to the original at possibly 25% of the cost. Truly ready to go and set up by professionals.