Montreal’s Old Port is no stranger to exotics and classic sportscars during Formula 1 weekend, but spotting Audi’s new RS 5 F1 Pirelli Hot Laps program car parked outside the team’s base at Hotel William Gray stands out for obvious reasons.
For starters, the RS 5 isn’t out yet in the USA and has yet to see an auto show debut on this side of the Atlantic. Secondly, the three RS 5 Sedans built for the F1 Series’ Pirelli Hot Laps Program are an exercise in the most tailored of touches by Audi exclusive while following the color way path of the Audi Revolut F1 Team.
Positioned in the middle of the cobblestone street in front of the hotel, the RS 5 stopped traffic quite literally, immediately standing out from the steady stream of supercars, team vehicles and sponsor activations that descend on the city during Grand Prix week. Notably, this came the night following Audi Canada’s Rue 26 event where the car was also on display alongside an Audi Revolut F1 R26 display car.
Finished in the same Titanium exterior treatment first seen at the Miami Grand Prix, the sedan features Lava Red Audi rings and matching accents inspired by the Audi Revolut F1 Team’s R26 challenger. The effect is subtle from a distance, but unmistakable once noticed.
First introduced at Miami as part of Audi’s expanding Formula 1 footprint in North America, the RS 5 has become another visible asset regularly seen on F1 Grand Prix weekends – at least the two so far in North America.
Seeing the car in a real world location like the stone streets of the Old Port where traditional Quebec buildings are interspersed with the most modern architecture of some newer hotels made for a great opportunity to take it in. The RS 5 likely won’t be seen on North American streets before the end of the year at the earliest, yet here it drew plenty of attention constantly.
As a valet pulled an Audi RS 6 Avant out of the William Gray’s underground garage and parked it next to the RS 5, this gave further comparison of just how much the RS 5 differs from the RS 6 both in appearance an also in size.
Audi has confirmed the cars used for Hot Laps duty are not mechanically modified beyond their event role. That means guests experience the same fundamental package customers will: a new-generation RS 5 powered by Audi Sport’s first high-performance plug-in hybrid powertrain, producing up to 639 horsepower while introducing Dynamic Torque Control, an electromechanical rear torque-vectoring system developed to sharpen handling response.
For race fans and brand aficionados wandering the streets of Montreal during Grand Prix week, seeing the RS 5 sitting outside the William Gray was a special treat. Amid the crowds, sponsor events and race-week chaos, it served as a reminder that Audi’s Formula 1 era is here and, quite literally with it, a new generation of Audi performance.
PHOTO GALLERY
