For 2010, 034Motorsport changed directions with the Time Attack A4 by committing to run 8 races in the Redline Time Attack Series. The Redline Time Attack series poses unique challenges for a car, reliability and speed are critical factors, however only 1 fast lap is needed so operating and reliability parameters can be pushed to their limits.
In the past the Time Attack A4 was a multi-purpose car. It had to drag race, dyno and go fast around a road course. These 3 different events require vastly different characteristics from a car. Since the car would be competing in such a specific capacity such as Redline Time Attack, 034Motorsport could specialize the car to do the one thing really well - eating up a road course.
The main goal for this series of modifications would be lightening the car. The heaviest assembly in the car was the R32 head/24v block motor. Some testing was done and it was determined that a similarly equipped 4-cyl 20v motor would be approx 100+ lbs lighter than the VR6. While having less capacity for
extraordinary power, a 4-cyl could still be built and tuned for a reliable 600HP while remaining extremely tractable and responsive. The trade off of less TQ and power would more than be compensated for with a lighter, better balanced chassis.
Another area of weight reduction was removal of the ballast, in the past 034 employed 125lbs of free weights in the rear bumper to help balance the heavy nose containing the VR6. By simply swapping to the 4-cyl and removing the ballast, 034 was able to shave over 250lbs of weight from the car. Other things such as a light weight fuel cell, light weight fuel lines and lightening of battery removed an additional 30+ lbs from the car. All parts of the car were built for lightness and simplicity, the header was built as compact as possible, the VR6 header weighed over 25lbs, the new 4-cyl header about 10lbs. The large intercooler was replaced with a lighter EVO 8 intercooler, a weight difference of approx 30lbs down to 9lbs. New light weight wheels shaved 12lbs per corner helping the car to accelerate faster and handle better by reducing unsprung weight.
Other modifications were performed to make the Time Attack A4 optimal for competition. A custom dry sump system was engineered to produce optimal oiling under the heavy g-loads the car would experience, and also eliminates any block breather oil spewing problems that plague the 1.8t. A Precision CEA 5857 Billet wheel turbo, capable of 600+HP, spools up before 4000rpm and provides raw, efficient power. Overall the car has been built, within a hair of the Modified class rules, to go fast and turn precisely.
The result was a car that ran almost 10 seconds a lap faster than it did before, with less power, and of course, less weight.
To maximize power and response from the 4-cyl motor, at first 034 used a 100mm stroke for 2.2 liters of displacement. A tall deck diesel block was used to optimize rod ratio as much as possible. However piston speeds of this motor were astronomical, the 100mm stroke being exactly twice as long as the average F1 motor. What this meant was that 034's 2.2 would have the same average piston speeds as an F1 at half the RPM. This limited revving to 7300rpm, and after several events was determined that some bottom end could be sacrificed for a higher revving motor.
To meet this challenge, 034 built a new motor based on a tall deck 136mm but with 92.8mm crank and 159mm rods, with a rod ratio of 1.7 and lower average piston speeds, this new motor revs and makes power to 8500rpm effortlessly, creating a much broader power-band with an approximately 300rpm slower spool time.
Overall the new modifications have made the 034Motorsport Time Attack A4 competitive in the modified class, watch for exciting future developments with this car.
DETAILED SPEC SHEET - A4 2.0T Quattro
ENGINE:
* Lower Half : The Block & Oiling system
Modified TDI tall Deck 06A/06B Audi Block with 236mm deck height
articles
