MODEL DETAILS
What: Audi Coupé GT Group 2
Series: European Touring Car Championship
Class: Group 2
Era: Audi Postwar
Model Family: Coupé
Market / Zone: EU
Season: 1980, 1981, 1982
Model / Generation Code(s): type 85
Chassis / Matrix: B2
SUMMARY
The Audi Coupé GT Group 2 is a touring car racing variant of the first-generation Audi Coupé, homologated for competition under FIA Group 2 regulations in the early 1980s. Developed shortly after the debut of the production Audi Coupé in 1980, the Group 2 model played an important role in Audi’s motorsport history during a transitional era—arriving just as Audi Motorsport was focused on rallying with the newly introduced quattro system, yet still supporting privateer circuit-racing efforts. The Coupé GT Group 2 became one of the most powerful front-wheel-drive racing cars of its time and delivered Audi’s first-ever victory in a European Touring Car Championship event.
BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT
The production Audi Coupé, based on the technology and platform of the Audi 80 (B2), was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in March 1980. Production began in the summer and sales commenced in October. By this point, the Audi 80 had already proven its competitiveness in touring car racing, making the Coupé a natural choice for further motorsport development.
Although Audi’s newly established motorsport department was deeply committed to rallying—particularly the groundbreaking quattro programme—circuit racing remained active through factory-supported private entrants. These operations received technical assistance and components from Audi but were not full factory works teams.
HOMOLOGATION AND TUNING
Under FIA Group 2 rules, the Coupé GT retained much of its production architecture but was extensively reworked for racing. Several well-known German tuning firms prepared cars for competition, including:
- Bergmeister
- Dupré
- Kilian
- Nothelle
- Seikel
- Spiess
Central to the car’s capability was its naturally aspirated five-cylinder engine, derived from Audi’s EA 827-based inline-five family. Displacing just under two litres for Group 2 compliance, the engine demonstrated exceptional potential under race tuning. With high-revving cam profiles, competition intake and exhaust systems, and upgraded internals, tuners achieved outputs of up to:
- 230 hp (approx.) at 8,300 rpm
At the time, this made the Group 2 Coupé the world’s most powerful front-wheel-drive racing car.
FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE IN COMPETITION
Unlike Audi’s rally machines of the era, the Coupé GT Group 2 remained front-wheel drive. Despite inherent traction limitations compared to rear- or all-wheel-drive rivals, its lightweight chassis, rev-happy engine, and well-balanced handling made it surprisingly competitive.
Factory support expanded from 1981 onward, enabling private teams to field upgraded versions in both national and international touring car series.
COMPETITION HISTORY
The Coupé GT Group 2 made its major competition debut in the 1981 European Touring Car Championship (ETCC). One of the earliest and most successful entries came from Bergmeister, whose preparation and engineering expertise quickly proved decisive.
The highlight of the programme occurred during the 1981 season:
- Victory at Zolder (1981)
Drivers: Willi Bergmeister and Peter Seikel
Achievement: Audi’s first-ever win in a European Championship circuit race
This victory marked a significant moment for the Audi brand, demonstrating competitive strength in circuit racing even as the company’s motorsport identity was becoming defined by the quattro in rallying.
The Coupé GT Group 2 also saw entries in various national touring car series across Europe, including Germany, Austria, and the Benelux region. While not as heavily developed or widely campaigned as later Audi touring cars, it established a technical and sporting foundation that influenced Audi’s return to professional circuit racing in the 1990s.
RALLY APPLICATIONS
Although primarily intended for touring car competition, the Group 2 Coupé did appear in rallying. However, these entries were limited and operated exclusively by Schmidt Motorsport, a specialist team with longstanding ties to Audi. These rally variants remained front-wheel drive and were overshadowed by the emerging quattro platform, which would soon redefine rally competition entirely.
LEGACY
The Audi Coupé GT Group 2 occupies a unique position in Audi’s motorsport history. It represents:
- A bridge between early Audi touring car successes with the Audi 80
- A parallel programme to the revolutionary quattro rally project
- An early example of Audi’s commitment to supporting private teams
- The brand’s first major circuit racing victory at European Championship level
The car’s high-revving two-litre five-cylinder engine and its record as the most powerful front-wheel-drive race car of the period remain key elements of its legacy. While often overshadowed by the quattro’s dominance in rallying, the Group 2 Coupé GT stands as an important milestone that contributed to Audi’s later touring car achievements, including the Super Touring successes of the 1990s.
PHOTO GALLERY
