RX Audi Sport quattro S1 E2 – Olle Arnesson

Published on: Jan 17, 2016 @ 20:40
Originally Published in: 2015 (old website)
(C) Jay Auger - website owner & author
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HISTORY
SPECIFICATIONS
VIDEOS
REFERENCES

HISTORY

Swede Olle Arnesson already was a veteran of rallycross when the Group B era came along: he had already won the 1979 and 1980 European Championship title in the GT division while driving a Porsche 911 Carerra. In 1982 he made the switch to the new crop of four wheel drive rally cars: an Audi quattro – capturing the 1983 and 1986 Division 2 European titles.

For the 1987 season, due to the mass importation of Group B supercars into the sport, Arnesson traded his quattro for a short wheelbase Audi Sport quattro S1 E2, chassis #19 from Audi Sport, in hopes to remain competitive. Olle ultimately finished third overall in that year’s European championship.

Arnesson affectionately nicknamed his S1 E2 “Flat Out” due to the raw and unbridled performance of the Audi’s 20V turbocharged engine.

In 1989, as the maximum power output of turbocharged engines seemed out of control, the FISA augmented the multiplication factor to 1.7 which meant that most rallycross supercars now had to carry extra weight. This would render Arnesson’s Audi less competitive versus other models. As such Olle would quit the European circuit to compete in his Swedish National series instead, albeit citing personal commitments such as his family’s transportation business (Arnessons Åkeri AB) as the main reason for his departure.

Over its racing history, Arnesson’s S1 E2 went through several liveries and aerodynamic variations up until the Group B cars were forcefully retired from rallycross at the end of 1992.

Little is known about the full specifications of Arnesson’s S1 E2 but since the WRC “works” rally version was known to produce up to 600 BHP it is safe to assume that it probably had been augmented in the area of 700 to 800 BHP in the later rallycross horsepower wars.

Olle Arnesson had planned to return to the European circuit in an Audi A4 Supercar but the idea did not materialise. Arnesson later competed for a time in local Swedish rallycross events driving an Audi 80 quattro with a familiar “Grimstad” livery.

Olle Arnesson’s S1 E2 at Hedström Motorsport (2014)

In 2014, Arnesson was invited to join other period competitors at the Lydden Hill Retro Race event for a demonstration race of the legendary Group B supercars. Hedströms Motorsport would step in to give Olle’s car a well-deserved refresh to make it viable for competition again.

Olle Arnesson’s appearance at the event was a delight for the fans of this legendary competitor – both man and machine.

SPECIFICATIONS

Group/Class	Formula A / Division 2	Championships: none
Years active	1987~1989	Best finish: 3rd (1987)
Engine
Type	I-5, DOHC 20v, gas engine	located front longitudinal with 27.5^oright inclination
Displacement	2110 cc

Compression ratio	7.5:1
Output power – torque	600+ HP @ – rpm	– lb-ft @ – rpm

Materials	block: aluminium	cylinder head: aluminium

Aspiration	turbocharger air/air intercooler with water injection Bosch LH-jetronic multipoint electronic fuel injection		Boost: N/A
Ignition	electronic / firing order 1-2-4-5-3
Cooling system	water-cooled
Lubrication system	dry sump with 1 oil cooler

Transmission
Type	four wheel drive	5 or 6 speed manual gearbox
Gearbox ratios	N/A	–	–
Differential ratio	N/A	Torsen centre differential with Ferguson viscous coupling and adjustable torque distribution 20%-80% to 80%-20% front to rear automatically
Clutch	dry – double plate

Chassis-body
Type	Steel monocoque Typ-85 chassis version of VW B2 platform shortened by 320mm with roll-cage. Typ-81 windshield. Front steel subframe. 2 door coupe steel/kevlar bodyshell with plastic front/rear bonnets and bumpers. Aerodynamic spoilers to the front and rear of the car to increase downforce.
Front suspension	McPherson strut with lower wishbone, coil spring, gas shock absorber and antiroll bar
Rear suspension	McPherson strut with lower wishbone, 1 longitudinal radius arm, coil spring, gas shock absorber and antiroll bar
Steering system	rack and pinion with hydraulic power assistance	12.4:1
Brakes	front/rear ventilated rotors with 4 piston calipers	dual circuit with servo

Dimensions
length: 4240 mm (166.9 in)		width: 1860 mm (73.2 in)	height: 1344 mm (52.9 in)
wheelbase: 2224 mm (87.6 in)		front track: 1520 mm (59.8 in)	rear track: 1502 mm (59.1 in)
Rims – tires	16 inch	Firestone
Dry/Unladen Weight	1050 kg (2315 lb) *estimated	Bias: N/A
Weight/power	N/A
Fuel tank	25 litres