Documents: Swiss Carte Grise
Chassis No. WAUZZZ85ZEA905088
Karosserie Baur No. 5350098

During its relatively short yet remarkably intense lifespan, the FIA Group B category represents one of the most exciting, chaotic, and memorable periods in all motorsport history. In effect from 1982 to 1986, Group B was originally intended to cover both rallying and international GT racing. The regulations were famously light on restrictions, with the primary caveat for entry being a requirement for 200 ''production'' examples for homologation. While never fully realized in endurance racing, the rallying world embraced the category with open arms. The ensuing frenzy of development gave us exponentially faster rally cars fueled by massive budgets and fierce competition among manufacturers. Rally drivers achieved heroic status, drawing huge, sometimes unruly crowds, and delivering thrilling and terrifying moments in equal measure which defined the World Rally Championship in the 1980s.

Group B reached a fever pitch as Lancia, Peugeot, and Ford developed rally cars from the ground up, then derived the road-going counterparts from these thoroughbred competition cars. Compared to the minimum production requirement of 5,000 for Group A, and with no need to use an existing production model, some truly incredible machines were developed. Group B cars of the 1980s now count among the most memorable and desirable homologation specials of all time.

Audi, which first turned rallying on its head with the four-wheel-drive Coupe quattro in 1981, was an early adopter of Group B, and thanks to its past success, Audi management insisted on keeping their top-class rally car quattro-based. As the challenges from Lancia and Peugeot intensified with their clean-sheet designs, Audi engineers heavily reworked the five-cylinder quattro to meet the challenge. In 1983, the Sport quattro was unveiled to the world at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Based on the Coupe quattro, the Sport quattro was shortened by 320 mm to aid handling on narrow, twisting rally stages and to reduce weight. The quattro's familiar, angular shape remained, but much of the bodywork was made of lightweight Kevlar, and the arches widened to accommodate larger wheels and brakes. Power came from Audi's proven turbocharged inline-five, topped with a 20-valve cylinder head, but unlike the standard car, the Sport had an aluminum block and a slightly reduced bore size allowing increased boost pressure under the regulations. Power was up from 200 to 306 PS in road trim, with well over 500 PS available in competition cars. Road cars came well-appointed with special upholstery, Recaro sport seats, and other creature comforts clients came to expect. To build the Sport quattro, Audi commissioned Karosserie Baur, and ultimately 214 were produced – 164 going to customers, and the rest retained by Audi Sport for competition use.

According to the accompanying Audi Fahrzeug-Identitätsurkunde this Sport quattro was completed in December 1984. Delivered to its first owner in 1985, it is one of 128 finished in Tornado Red, and features Quartz/Graphite leather and Alcantara upholstery. The car remained in the attentive care of its first owner until 2006, and it has stayed in Swiss ownership through today. The lifetime of meticulous maintenance is documented via two stamped service booklets in the accompanying file.

Showing just 82,229 kilometers from new, recorded at the time of cataloging, this eminently desirable Sport quattro is offered in excellent condition, clearly benefiting from its years of specialist care. It is furnished with period details including the original stamped service booklets, Sabelt shoulder harnesses and spare wheel mounted with a Pirelli Corsa rally tire.

Audi redefined rallying in the 1980s, and the Sport quattro is the pinnacle of the legendary quattro's development. Opportunities to acquire one of the greatest homologation specials of all time come along rarely, and this cherished example represents a superb chance to add a rallying icon for the road to your stable.