/Eras/Audi Sport Competition Cars R Era /Audi R7 (1993-1998)
MODEL DETAILS
What: Audi A4 quattro Super Touring
Model Family: A4
Model / Generation Code(s): type 8D, R7
Chassis / Matrix: B5
Class: FIA Class 2 / Super Touring
Era: Audi Sport Competition Cars R Era
Built By: Audi Sport
Year Built: 1996
Competition History: STW, Campeonato de España de Turismos, Macau Guia Race, STCC
Championships: 1996 STW, 1999 STCC, 1996 Cameonato de España de Turismos, 1996 Macau Guia Race
OVERVIEW
Audi A4 Super Touring Chassis ST22 won championships with both Emanuele Pirro and Mattias Ekström. Built by Audi Sport in 1996, it subsequently raced in Spain, Macau and Sweden. Its documented drivers also include Yvan Muller, Frank Biela, Tommy Kristoffersson and Magnus Krokström.
1996 STW CHAMPIONSHIP
Pirro competed as number 5 in the 1996 Super Touren Wagen Cup Series for AZK ROC Competition, with silver mirrors distinguishing his A4 from its factory teammates. Nine victories and 678 points secured the drivers’ championship, ahead of BMW’s Steve Soper and Peugeot’s Laurent Aïello. Pirro clinched the title at AVUS before winning both races at the Nürburgring finale.
The campaign combined victories with consistent finishes: Pirro completed all 18 races, reached the podium 15 times and never finished lower than tenth. Double victories at Zolder, Hockenheim and the Nürburgring accounted for six of his nine wins.
STW RACE RESULTS
| DATE | CIRCUIT | RACE 1 | RACE 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 1996 | Zolder | 1st | 1st |
| May 19, 1996 | Assen | 3rd | 2nd |
| June 2, 1996 | Hockenheimring | 1st | 1st |
| June 30, 1996 | Sachsenring | 3rd | 1st |
| July 14, 1996 | Wunstorf | 2nd | 1st |
| August 11, 1996 | Zweibrücken | 2nd | 3rd |
| August 25, 1996 | Salzburgring | 8th | 10th |
| September 8, 1996 | AVUS | 4th | 1st |
| September 22, 1996 | Nürburgring | 1st | 1st |
Results: Emanuele Pirro, number 5 Audi A4 quattro.
SPAIN AND MACAU
Following STW, Yvan Muller drove ST22 at Jerez in the Spanish championship. The register identifies this entry as a two-wheel-drive A4; its results were DNF and DNS.
Biela then drove the number 3 A4 quattro at Macau on November 17, 1996. He finished second in each leg but won the Guia Race on aggregate, ahead of fellow Audi driver Brad Jones. The overall victory therefore differs from the individual leg results.
SWEDISH COMPETITION HISTORY
Kristoffersson Motorsport acquired ST22 and entered it for Tommy Kristoffersson in 1998. Updated with a newer engine specification, larger brakes and revised suspension, it became Ekström’s championship-winning car in 1999. Magnus Krokström subsequently raced it in 2000 and 2001.
Mattias Ekström’s Swedish title was his first championship with Audi, achieved at age 21 while still a privateer. He joined Audi’s DTM program two years later, beginning a career that would include two DTM titles with the marque.
1999 STCC RACE RESULTS
| DATE | CIRCUIT | RACE 1 | RACE 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 25, 1999 | Mantorp Park | 3rd | 1st |
| May 15, 1999* | Knutstorp | 1st | 2nd |
| May 30, 1999 | Karlskoga | 2nd | 1st |
| June 20, 1999 | Anderstorp | 23rd | 17th |
| July 18, 1999 | Falkenberg | 3rd | 6th |
| August 1, 1999 | Anderstorp | 3rd | 8th |
| August 15, 1999 | Mo i Rana | 6th | 7th |
| August 29, 1999 | Mantorp Park | 1st | 2nd |
Results: Mattias Ekström, number 21 Kristoffersson Motorsport Audi A4. Four victories included the opening race of the final weekend at Mantorp Park.
DOCUMENTED ENTRIES
| Year | Series / Event | Driver | Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | STW | Emanuele Pirro | 5 |
| 1996 | Spanish championship — Jerez | Yvan Muller | 114 |
| 1996 | Macau Guia Race | Frank Biela | 3 |
| 1998 | STCC | Tommy Kristoffersson | 25 |
| 1999 | STCC | Mattias Ekström | 21 |
| 2000 | STCC | Magnus Krokström | 20 |
| 2001 | STCC | Magnus Krokström | 13 |
Chassis assignments follow the Super Touring Register.
LATER OWNERSHIP
The register records ST22’s purchase by Trond Gulbrandsen and Sven Runar Nilsen in 2003.
PHOTO GALLERY
SOURCES AND NOTES
- Chassis history: Audi A4 ST22 — Super Touring Register.
- STW season and results: 1996 Super Tourenwagen Cup — Wikipedia.
- Swedish results: Mattias Ekström — Super Touring Register.
- Macau overall result: 1996 Macau Guia Race — The Third Turn.
- Configuration: The register specifically lists the Jerez entry as two-wheel drive.
- Macau: Biela’s victory was the aggregate result, rather than a win in either individual leg.
- Date discrepancy: The register dates the 1999 Knutstorp races May 15; Wikipedia’s season calendar gives May 16.
- Coverage: This entry follows documented chassis assignments; no 1997 competition entry is listed.